bad spectra

is it just me or is anyone else havung problems with KIa
i bought a new spectra in 2004, had it in the shop 5 times for check engine
light, and finally on the 6th time they put a new wiring harness and that
took care of the engine light, they keeo telling my wife she was not doing
the gas cap tight enough. but it still had a shake in the front end they
still could not find so i traded for a 2005 spectra, which is still in the
kia shop, it has been in 9 times for the check engine light, they have
replaced the oxygen sensor , 3 time, some kind of converter 1 time then the
ecm or computer box, 3 weeks to get from Korea, finally about 3 weeks ago
they put the new computer in. it ran 5 days before the light came on again.
with oxygen sensor codes.
well the next monday the factor said they had put in the wrong injectors and
manifold at the factory. so they sent in their best factory mechanic, he
checked it and said it had the right parts in it. they turned it over to the
factory rep. i told the dealer i wanted them to buy it back or give me
another car of equal value.they passed it on to the rep last week, they
dealer told they rep and the rep was supposed to call me as of last tue.
still no call from him.
anyone have any suggestions or phone numbers i can call.

tom spatzer wrote:

is it just me or is anyone else havung problems with KIa i bought a new spectra in 2004, had it in the shop 5 times for check engine light, and finally on the 6th time they put a new wiring harness and that took care of the engine light, they keeo telling my wife she was not doing the gas cap tight enough. but it still had a shake in the front end they still could not find so i traded for a 2005 spectra, which is still in the kia shop, it has been in 9 times for the check engine light, they have replaced the oxygen sensor , 3 time, some kind of converter 1 time then the ecm or computer box, 3 weeks to get from Korea, finally about 3 weeks ago they put the new computer in. it ran 5 days before the light came on again. with oxygen sensor codes. well the next monday the factor said they had put in the wrong injectors and manifold at the factory. so they sent in their best factory mechanic, he checked it and said it had the right parts in it. they turned it over to the factory rep. i told the dealer i wanted them to buy it back or give me another car of equal value.they passed it on to the rep last week, they dealer told they rep and the rep was supposed to call me as of last tue. still no call from him. anyone have any suggestions or phone numbers i can call.

Hi Tom, sorry to hear of your Kia problems. I own an 02 Optima which has been totally free of any problems including adjustments. Several of my friends own Kia models and haven't any real problems with their cars. It sounds like you have real issues that need to be taken care of by the company.

Warning about calling Kia HQ. I worked for Nissan Corp. many years and have dealt with many problem cases in which HQ techs had to be called in to resolve issues. It is never to your advantage to scream att he local dealer or try to get them into trouble with HQ. What happens is that people are turned off to your claims and often will do nothing beyond giving you lip service. It is always better to enter discussions as low key as possible when calling up HQ and only after advising the dealer that you are doing so. Never burn your bridges with the dealer unless you want to get blacklisted in the system. I know of Nissan customers who made a mess out of their relationship with the dealer and HQ and found it hard to get other dealers to work with them for fear of customer headaches.

Phone numbers are found in your owner's manual and also on the Kia web site. Korean HQ phone numbers are at http://www.kiamotors.com and there are e-mail addresses too. Just remember that your dealer can be your best friend in dealing with Corporate. Most dealers want to have happy customers at all cost and I'm sure Kia dealers are no different in most cases.

If things continue to go badly for you, call your state's attorney general's office and the Better Business Bureau. There are lemon laws in most if not all states. BBB can enter into your case and be a mediator between you and Kia. Again, try not to burn your bridges with Kia or as human nature goes, people will drag their feet in helping you. Good luck Tom.