UNHAPPY WITH KIA MOTORS AND THEIR SERVICE

I purchased a brand new Kia Rio 1.2 LS 2021 model on the 8th October 2021 from the KIA dealership in Brackenfell and in less than three months I started experiencing problems with the vehicle. On December 10th, the vehicle's engine light indicator switched on as I was making my way home from work. I then parked the vehicle entire weekend and as I was going to take it to the dealership on Monday 13th December, it started misfiring and wouldn't start.

I called the dealership and was advised to call Roadside Assist, who quickly dispatched someone to assist. Upon arriving at the dealership I was told that the car would be looked at by one of the guys in their workshop and I would receive a call when it's ready. First I was denied a courtesy car, but eventually I was given a demo Kia Picanto. Within two or three hours I received a call from the dealership, the vehicle has apparently been fixed. When asking what the problem was, the manager, Leighton advised that it was due to piston rings that had shrinked, causing missfire. He also mentioned that they sealed the piston rings and test drove the vehicle and it was ok. He said that this was because I had not driven the car on an open road and all I needed to do was just take it for a long drive and the light would eventually disappear. This didn't make any sense to me, but the engine light was off and I left the dealership.

The very next day, 14th December the engine light came back on. I went to the dealership and was told that the computer box wasn't cleared/ reset after the fault was fixed and I was assured that it was popping up from memory and wouldn't happen again as it had been fixed. On the 15 December, the same light came back on and because I was leaving for the Eastern Cape on the 17th, I was given a courtesy car to travel with (Kia Rio 1.2 2020 model). Leighton told me that my car would be fixed and ready when I get back and that he would keep me updated. He sent a WhatsApp message on the 24th December saying that the problem was a valve on a sensor that was sticky and that a warranty claim had been loaded.

The following update I received from him was on the 04 January 2022, saying that the part that needs replacing was ordered from Korea and would take 2-3 weeks to arrive. At this point I was very unhappy with everything from the car and the issues it was giving me and the service received entirely. I emailed my financer (ABSA) and explained the situation in detail and requested that we cancel the deal with Kia and go to another dealership and to this day, I'm yet to receive a response. In three weeks, I haven't received any response regarding my complaint.

Last week on the 17 January, Leighton called to say that the vehicle I was using was sold and he would be coming to pick it up. He said that I would be getting one of their demo's to use in the mean time and that was the last time I heard from him. The reason why I wrote to ABSA to cancel the deal was because I felt I had given KIA sufficient time to fix this issue and they didn't. On the second trip to the dealership on the 14th December, I expressed how unhappy I was with the fact that I bought a brand new car and had already been experiencing problems with it. I also told him that I wanted another brand new car, to replace the one I had because the vehicle is new and clearly had factory/machanical faults and he dismissed this, assuring me that my car would be fixed in no time.

I came to this platform hoping to get some form of help as it really breaks my heart that in a few days I'll be paying an installment for the second month in a row, for a new vehicle that is giving me sleepless nights and that is not even in my possession! I'm appalled at the level of customer service I've received from both KIA and ABSA.