NHTSA Complaint #11399366 — 2013 KIA SOUL

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2020 AND IN JANUARY 2021 STARTED EXPERIENCING STALLING AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS HAVING BAD GAS. IN FEBRUARY 2021, THE CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE, STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AND WAS ALSO SMOKING. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AWAITING THE DIAGNOSIS, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SOUTHSIDE KIA REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $7700. UPON RESEARCH, KIA HAS RECALLED OVER 300K VEHICLES DUE TO ENGINE STALL AND THE RISK OF CATCHING FIRE. THESE ARE THE SAME ISSUES THAT MY MOM'S CAR IS HAVING, HOWEVER, THE DEALER WILL NOT ENTERTAIN OR PAY THE COST AND RATHER ATTEMPT TO SELL HER ANOTHER CAR. I AM STILL AWAITING THE DOCUMENTED ESTIMATE. I HAVE ONLY SPOKEN TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR ON THE PHONE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ENGINE TROUBLE IN JANUARY 2021 AND POTENTIALLY IN MARCH OF 2020 WHEN THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO HER. THIS APPEARS TO BE DISHONEST AND THAT KIA'S STAFF TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A SENIOR CITIZEN. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHILE STALLING AND SMOKING.