NHTSA Complaint #10689953 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT SUNDAY, 2/23/2015. I PURCHASED A BULB FROM OUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE AND WENT HOME , THINKING I COULD CHANGE THE BULB MYSELF. I TOOK OUT MY TRUSTY CAR MANUAL AND TRIED TO GET DIRECTIONS ON CHANGING THE BULB MYSELF. AFTER FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS, I WAS STILL UNABLE TO GET TO THE BULB. AT THIS POINT I WENT TO THE INTERNET. MY KIA WILL BE 2 YEARS OLD IN MAY 2015. LOW AND BEHOLD, I FIND OUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT BUMPER JUST TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT. IN A PANIC, I CALL THE DEALERSHIP, SALE KIA OF KINSTON, NC, THEY INFORM ME THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE BULB, IT WILL COST ME $100.00 TO TAKE OFF THE BUMPER, JUST TO CHANGE THE LIGHT. MAYBE I SHOULD BUY ANOTHER BULB AND CHANGE BOTH AND THAT WAY I COULD BE SAVING MYSELF ANOTHER $100.00. THIS IS THE SECOND KIA I HAVE OWNED. I TRADED MY AMANTI WHICH WAS 6 YEARS OLD FOR THIS VEHICLE. I GOT NONE OF THE ADVERTISED PERKS, LOYALTY BONUS OR ANY OTHER ADVERTISED BONUS THAT I HAD READ ABOUT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY WARNING. TRADING FOR THIS OPTIMA WAS THE WORST MISTAKE I COULD HAVE MADE. I HAD ONE SERVICE CALL WORKED ON THROUGH MY WARRANTY ON THE AMANTI. AFTER 9 MONTHS IN THE OPTIMA THE DEALERSHIP STATED NOTING UNUSUAL WEAR ON MY FRONT TIRES. I FINALLY HAD TO BUY MORE OUT OF MY POCKET. BY THE WAY MY KIA DIDN'T COME WITH A SPARE OR A JACK, JUST A MOBILITY KIT, WHICH CONSIST OF A LITTLE BAG WITH A CAN OF FIX-A-FLAT. SO IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A BRAND NEW CAR, DON"T BUY A KIA. WHEW!! I FEEL BETTER NOW. I'M RETIRED, SO I GUESS MY NEXT STEP IS TO START CHECKING THE WANT ADS TO FIND ME A JOB TO SAVE UP FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON ANOTHER CAR, AND YOU CAN BELIEVE IT WON'T BE A KIA. *TR