I walked in and explained how much I had. I went through a credit check and they said they could "help, but it would be difficult." I decided that if it was that much trouble, we probably could not afford the car. When the salesman returned, we told him that we would look elsewhere but might be back later. He yelled at us, cursed us, stated that we drove around to dealerships making people work for free and laugh at them. He threatened us, told us that we were required to buy a car from him because he'd looked for cars for us, and tried to take our keys. His manager and other members of staff circled us and it was obvious that this was a standard business practice of intimidation and badgering. We walked out while the salesman and his manager screamed obscenities at us.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I purchased a 2007 Kia Spectra from them on 02/14/09. They told me it had been thoroughly checked over, that they wouldn't have it on the lot if it wasn't a "good" car. They asked me what I was looking for and I said, "A reliable little car". On 04/28/09, it stalled out in traffic; the check engine light came on. I took it to Hickory Hollow Kia (closer) and they said it was the canister close valve. I had a warranty until 60,000 miles, buying it used, so they fixed it. Two days later the check engine light came on again. I took it back. They said someone did not tighten a valve correctly, so they fixed it again. In Nov. 2009. the check engine light came on again. I took it to HH Kia again, think it was the timing belt. I spent $838. They offered me a rental car; I did not ask for it. I had it back in the allotted time.
Then I saw a charge for a rental car on my bank statement! I called twice, and they said they would take it off, but they didn't. I had to go to the bank, get a statement from a bank officer, drive all the way down to HH and talk to an office manager, who said he would get a reimbursement on my bank statement. Finally, they did. In March 2010, the check engine light comes on again! It would come on, go off, over and over. Just about the time I would be off from work and be ready to take it in, the light would go off. Steve, the service manager at HH Kia got ugly with me when I told him it was very inconvenient to keep having to take this car to the shop! My sister was dying of cancer and on hospice in the latter part of March, and I did not have time to go sit at a car shop. I wanted to be with her as much as I could. She died March 28th. That afternoon, I was going home for the first time in 3 days, and the car started stalling out at stops, and hesitating the whole time I was driving it.
The check engine light came on again! I made it home, and I took it to a different mechanic on March 30th. They could not figure out what was wrong with it. I paid to have it towed to Rivergate Kia. They kept telling me that they never had these problems with the Kia Spectra. I said, "Well, you are having them and it is happening to me!" They were basically saying, "well, you bought it used, tough luck." Rob **, the service guy there, was the only nice person out of the whole bunch. I told him that this was ridiculous and how much trouble I had with this car and he agreed. I left it there. He called me later in the day and said it was some oil valve in the solenoid (I have all of my paperwork). He said I could come get it. I could not arrange a ride until Thursday, April 15th.
A friend rode with me in a borrowed car. I paid them with a check for $438 and I went on to work. She was going to drive the Kia back to where we live west of Nashville. I found out later it died and the check engine light came on the minute she pulled out onto Gallatin Pike! She took it back in. Now they say it is the canister close valve again. They fixed it at "no charge", then Sean tried to make it look like he was doing me such a big favor by not charging me the $500 he said it would have normally cost! I told him I had just paid to have it fixed and obviously they didn't fix it, so he should have fixed it for nothing! He tried to tell me it was my fault about the canister close valve because I didn't know how to put gas in the car correctly, that I was "topping off". I told him I never do that.
They used every opportunity when something went wrong with this car to make it look like it was my fault. I drove it to Chattanooga on April 16th to teach a class. It drove fine until Sunday, April 18th, when the check engine light came on again! I took it back on Monday, April 19th. Rob's jaw dropped when I walked back in. he kept apologizing. Now they are saying it is the catalytic converter, and it will cost $1300 to fix it. I took it to another mechanic and he fixed it for $447. It is running fine now, but I keep wondering, what's next.
