NHTSA Complaint #10926973 — 2014 KIA FORTE

I PURCHASED THIS KIA NEW. WITHIN ONE WEEK I NOTICE THERE WERE BUBBLES ON THE SIDE WALL OF 2 OF THE 4, NEXEN CLASSIC PREMERE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HIT POTHOLES. THE CAR HAD BARELY BEEN DRIVEN. THE DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. ADDITIONALLY, THIS CAR IS ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE OF ANY KIND. AND NO JACK. THERE IS A COMPRESSION PUMP AND SOME TIRE FIX IT TO TEMP PATCH A LEAK. I TOLD THE DEALER WHAT IF THE SIDEWALL BLOWS OUT. CALL ROAD ASSISTANCE. WELL, THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. MY DAUGHTER HAD DRIVEN TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE. PARKED THE CAR AND CAME OUT TO FIND THE SIDEWALL BUBBLE HAD RUPTURED. SHE COULD NOT LOCATE THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND GOT THE NUMBER BUT THE WAIT WOULD BE AT LEAST AN HOUR. I HANDLED THE SITUATION. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE. THE CAR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A JACK IN IT! THE SIDEWALL SHREDDED. I PUT A GOODYEAR IN ITS PLACE. HOW THE AUTOMOTIVE COMMUNITY CAN LET THIS TYPE OF PRODUCT OUT ON THE STREET - THIS UNSAFE PRODUCT - IS BEYOND ANY REASON. AND AS I HAVE STATED, I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE DEALER WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF TAKING RECEIPT OF THIS BRAND NEW CAR. I HAVE ANOTHER TIRE WITH A BUBBLE AND THEY DON'T CARE. THE DEALER QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $380 TO HAVE A SPARE TIRE AND JACK KIT FOR MY CAR. WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE OEM AND THE CAR COMMUNITY. I DEAL DIRECTLY WITH OEMS. I INTEND TO LITIGATE THIS ISSUE.