Formal Complaint Regarding Service Advisor Misconduct, Improper Maintenance, and Unethical…read moreTreatment of a Pregnant Customer
To: Kia Management
Dear Kia Management,
I am filing a formal complaint regarding a highly concerning experience my wife and I had at your service center.
We brought our vehicle in for scheduled maintenance and clearly informed the service advisor that no additional services were requested -- only an oil change and a recall-related software update.
When my wife requested a Multipoint Inspection report, the advisor provided one marked with red flags suggesting serious issues. Upon review, it was clear these were only recommendations and did not affect the warranty or safe operation of the vehicle.
We explicitly asked the advisor to double-check the oil level, as this dealership has previously overfilled the engine, which can cause pressure issues, foaming, viscosity changes, leaks, and engine damage. Despite this, the vehicle was again returned with overfilled oil. Alarmingly, the advisor did not merely wipe the dipstick; he wiped it down to the marked level to make it appear as though the oil was properly filled. When my wife checked herself, the oil was clearly above the maximum mark.
This conduct is unprofessional and dangerous. Such negligence could result in mechanical failure, for which Kia would be liable under warranty, but the owner would bear costs afterward.
Because our request was ignored, my pregnant wife had to wait while the excess oil was drained, causing avoidable stress and discomfort. It is unclear why your staff continues to disregard explicit instructions.
Additionally, the advisor attempted to charge my wife, despite our prepaid maintenance plan covering service up to 60,000 miles. This information should be clearly visible in your system, as both the vehicle and the maintenance plan were purchased from this dealership. When reminded, he claimed we "should have notified them in advance," which is unreasonable; the system should automatically reflect coverage.
Most troubling is that this poor service targeted my pregnant wife, causing emotional distress. It seems staff assumed she would not notice service details, enabling them to provide substandard care and attempt to upsell unnecessary items. This behavior is unethical and discriminatory.
The service advisor was named Jim. I urge management to investigate immediately, restrict him from handling our vehicles, and provide training for staff to ensure compliance with Kia standards, particularly regarding proper oil service procedures.
If this happens again, we will escalate the matter to the Ohio State Attorney General's Office, the Better Business Bureau, and other consumer protection agencies.