On or about 10-29-01, I purchased a new Kia Sportage shortly after this purchase the dealership was purchased by Leroy Elkins and the dealership is now known as Elkins Kia In Bossier City, La. This vehicle has a 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. This problem began with 34,826 miles on odometer 6/2/03 blowing fuses no dash or taillights.
The problem recurred again on December 15 when the fuses blow causing the vehicle to have no taillights and shifter will not disengage from park to drive.
I brought in vehicle in morning of Wednesday December 15, waited for many hours for diagnosis. Recieved loaner car about 4 hours later. The service advisor states vehicle is unsafe to drive and covered by warranty. Elkins kept vehicle.
Monday December 20 stopped by to check on vehicle. Doors open, interior and dash apart in peices.
Recieved call December 23 vehicle shifter not replaced, claim it was coke spilled and now fixed. Took loaner car back.
Noticed scrape on right rear body cladding and numerous scratches and door dings on left and right front doors, roof edge, interior carpet and headliner trashed with grease, missing screws and cracked console molding or housing. Complained shifter was still not working. Elkins Kia service advisor Gary Waggoner shook his head when shown damage. Drove home wehicle.
December 30 recieved call that parts were in, I asked when to bring it in, possibly Friday morning December 31? Was told lets make it Tuesday January 4. Recieved voice mail about uncompleted repairs late in the day on approximatley 4:45 P.M.
Recieved call Wednesday January 5 as to bring rental car back and they, Elkins Kia would find time to finish damage repair. Exterior paint is being done by a company hired by Elkins. With all the chaos, wasting time, causing our family to miss out Christmas and New Years out of town because our reliable family vehicle has shifter problems and I didn't want to continue driving by having to force shifter from park to drive and so forth and in fear of causing more substantial damage and possibly being blamed if damage occurred.
The service advisor called our car rental company to more of less embarrass me by telling them he refused to pay for a rental car any longer. I do buisness with the car rental agent at our car rental company and he knows i'm a responsible customer. The service advisor makes it a habit of calling late in the day always about 30 minutes of their closing time, expecting people (customers) to drop everything and run to his beckon call. He always has has a at my convenience attitude with no concern for the customers.
After this on behalf of the service advisor, I called Elkins Nissan requesting to speak with the owner Leroy Elkins who was not in but did return my call. I briefly explained the problem and he made an appointment to speak with me. At this meeting the service advisor was allowed to sit in. After all was said and done, Mr. Elkins said he would be out of town until January 20 and would address the problems then.
Recieved call on Tuesday January 18 that ELkins will do the final repairs on January 19. Brought car in and was taken to car rental company.
Picked vehicle up from Elkins Kia late in the evening of January 20 daylight growing short repairs look or appear to be somewhat okay except for interior is still filthy. Took vehicle home and parked.
The next morning, January 21 looked over vehicle over in good daylight repair area has over spray on paint in area near repair and paint bubbles on right and rear bumper near repaired area. Took vehicle to secondary paint shop and the owner showed me over spray and masking area mistakes and also says bubbles in bumper pain near repair area are caused by a solvent that was spilled or dripped on the bumper area during the repair process which was wiped off but, bubbled the paint in the hours overnight.
Called the service advisor explained issued January 21 said he would get back with me, never recieved a call back.
Called back on Tuesday January 25 the service advisor claims he hasn't been able to speak with Mr. Elkins as of yet, but will call back, no call returned.
Called back February 3 left message with no call returned.
Called back February 9 informed still no contact with Mr. Elkins due to him being out of town. No confirmation as his being out of town as true.
Called back Feburary 14 at 8:03 A.M. Was strung along again.
February 15 call returned by the service advisor who informed me Leroy Elkins declines responsibility.
I did some reasearch and decided what to do about this issue. I did attempt seeking legal advise and was reffered to a local attorney who handles these type of cases. After calling his office and talking with a lady I believe her name was Angela who asked about my case, sympathized, and told me her father had been in the car buisness for many years and then told me his name, she called me back the next day and informed me that the attorney could not handle a case against Leroy Elkins because the attorney was already on permanent retainer for Leroy Elkins and his delarships.
After almost 2 weeks pass and running out of options, I contact my insurance agent and explain my issue, he suggests making a claim and they'll pursue damages. State Farm adjuster comes on March 1, damge assessed at $ 1579.04 minus $250.00 deductible, claim being processed at $1329.04 with pictures taken. Recieved payment March 22.
Repairs were done by the secondary paint shop.
Called Kia Customer Assistance:
Thursday March 31
Friday April 1
Monday April 4 talked to Steve at extension 45208 Complaint # 444655
Thursday night March 31 vehicle starts blowing fuses again, no taillights.
April 1 called Kia spoke with service advisor, he tells me, bring it in it should be a quick diagnosis. Daughter was ill and wasn't able to arrive at Kia until about 12:15 P.M. The service advisor took information and asked us to have a seat in the waiting room. After 45 minutes, the service advisor returns asks if we need a ride, I said why, he responds that its going to take longer, I say well I always wait a few hours almost every time I brong it in. He asks again if we need a ride somewhere. Always in the past i'm offered a loner car so I asked about it due to the fact Kia is my only mode of transportation and I live 20 miles out of town of in the country.
The service says no to rental car, turns and almost runs out of the side door. I follow, he's now around the back of the building near the shop getting in my vehicle, starts it and drives very fast, recklessley around to the eastside. I run and stop him asking him what he is doing. My girl friend and daughter have now walked up witnessing The service advisor and myself talking, I'm asking him whats the problem how can he jeopardize our saftey, the vehicle is covered under warranty and it's the same problem with the taillights as before and its unsafe to drive having no tailights. I ask him to please fix my vehicle and provide us alternate transpotation until my vehicle is driveable as they have done so many times in the past, because Elkins has been paid by the factory manufacturer for this problem.
The service advisor states he will fix it at his convenience and starts taling louder at this point to which I also am talking loudly back to him asking to please fix my wehicle, he tears up the service invoice then starts poking his finger into my chest in front of my girlfriend and daughter and then tells me to get the *&*& of his lot. We get in wehicle and leave the property.
I call Bossier City Police Department from the parking lot of porters cleaners across the street to make a report as proof I was their at Elkins KIa for the same recurring service problem, the electrical system blowing fuses preventing the taillights from working. The officer looked and acknoledged that the taillights were not working and made an incident report in case I needed to pursue legal action.
I called Leroy Elkins, he was furious that I called police and stated he would not work on my vehicle for that exact reason, makind a police report. Since before and well after Leroy Elkins has owned this dealearship they have had a consistent policy of providing loner/rental cars as all of the invoices from rental agencies prove. The service advisor and Leroy Elkins were just upset that the service department is inadequate, incapable and carless during repairing vehicles thus causing problems and damage to customers vehicles and I complained. Also, I made a small web page on the internet about Elkins Kia. I am now currently being sued by Leroy Elkins. Help!
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