2003 Sedona Battery Blew Up - Many near accidents since (got your attention?)
plitwack
06-20-2005, 11:40 PM
Hi there:
We were once satisfied Kia owners and we welcome returning to the ranks of satisfied customers!
As you read this, please appreciate how rare it is for me to post the info below:
1. I am respected worldwide as a professional business Coach - I know how to help leaders get better results. Was just named in the top 100 of the top corporate coaches in the world (by the largest coaching portal).
2. Last month I was the Annual Conference Chair for the International Customer Service Association, ICSA.
3. In my world-class Service, Satisfaction and RetentionTeleClass and Keynote program, we introduce the Customer D-E-L-I-T-E formula
Summary: I know how to coach professionals and leaders to keep a customer satisfied, even delighted. Still, we have found ourselves on the raw end of the deal with KIA.
That said, perhaps this case study will be of help to you and others. We are quite frankly at the end of our rope dealing with Kia management - right up to the Presidents office. Their dealer reps and mechanics are equally frustrated and openly laugh at HQ lack of support for customers and their dealer needs. In fact, our own local KIA dealer confided they closed as a direct result of examples like ours.
Here's the snapshot:
Sept 2004 - On turning the ignition key, the battery blew up under the hood. Lots of witnesses (Costco parking lot) including an off-duty police officer. Car was towed and next day KIA MADE US PAY to replace the battery! Not good customer service! The Kia President's office sits on a confirmed receipt email for 7 days. When asked, they claimed: 'forgot' to pass this exploding battery case to Customer Care.
Summary: Sept - May 2005 (yes that is nine - 9 months):
the car has been in repeatedly for servicing (most recently for over 5 weeks!) as it stalls in traffic and the tachometer races without warning - many near fatal accidents. Kia calls us liars as they claim if their diagnotics don't pick up on our reported incidents - 'they are not happening' (yes that is a direct quote).
Some more facts to ponder:
Jan 2005: 1 day (specifically 25 hours) after getting the car back from yet another service check, it CONTINUES to stall and the tach races - causes the car to lurch forward without notice - Need to be very alert to brake fast enough to avoid accident. Started keeping at least 1 car length back - even at a stoplight!
February 2005: after being called liars, we started keeping a live log in the car. In just 3 weeks we documented over 60 incidents - each time with witnesses in the car at that specific time.
March 2005: Our son passes his drivers licence and we are concerned he doesn't have the experience to know how to react to this kind of car problem. Actually, nobody should ever have to!
June 2005: Kia mechanic calls to say they THINK they have found the problem - relates to corrossion under the hood. EXCUSE ME!!!! We knew to the second when the corrossion started (battery blew up) - why did it take them 9 months to figure that out. And why have we been driving an unsafe vehicle?
June 2005: we just got our car back after it being serviced for almost 6 weeks. The mechanic confides that he isn't sure they fixed it - but doesn't know what else to do!!!
June 2005:less than a week since we received back the car. We are now calling this car "SATAN'S CAR"
Here what we have experienced in one week - since KIA said it was fixed and safe to drive.
1. the Steering wheel locked once while the car was in motion! We had to brake instantly to avoid an accident. Only after stopping the car and re-inserting the key to restart the car did the wheel come free. VERY SCARY!
2. The car stalled three times within a two hour period.
3. Once without warning the tach raced while the car was in motion - lunging the car forward to within a few feet of an accident. VERY SCARY.
This is the info from the KIAMOTORS.COM site (KIA world HQ Customer Service form): "When Kia distributors in your country or the dealership near you are not able to solve your vehicle's problem for any reason, please contact us directly using the e-mail shown below. Your comments are very important to us." Sounds nice - except the source code shows that when Canada is selected, the form is only sent to the Canadian head office (other countries include several Korea HQ emails). Given the fiasco created here by the Canadian HQ, it isn't a wise idea to try to fool the customer!
We are now ready to write a note directly to Kia Head Office to let them know about this. Does anyone have email info for these people in Korea who can help? We are interested in reaching any of these KIA corporate executives:
Chairman and CEO Mr. Mong-Koo Chung,
President and CEO Ik-Hwan Kim,
President and CEO Eui-Sun Chung
Senior Executive Vice President and COO Mr. Yong-Hwan Kim
Executive Vice President Mr. J. M. Park (was CEO of Kia Canada !!!)
I will gladly share this information when I obtain it. Please write me at kiathe-coach.com (a special email just for this).
Thanks again for your interest and support. All automobiles need servicing - this one (SATAN'S CAR) needs to be destroyed now to avoid risking any lives further.
Now what?
We still have 1.5 years on the lease with this unsafe car. We would like Kia to release us from this lease and destroy the car (don't let anyone else drive an unsafe car)
Your help and insights are welcome.
... Paul Litwack
the Capability Improvement Coach
www.the-coach.com
(905) 764-8525
We were once satisfied Kia owners and we welcome returning to the ranks of satisfied customers!
As you read this, please appreciate how rare it is for me to post the info below:
1. I am respected worldwide as a professional business Coach - I know how to help leaders get better results. Was just named in the top 100 of the top corporate coaches in the world (by the largest coaching portal).
2. Last month I was the Annual Conference Chair for the International Customer Service Association, ICSA.
3. In my world-class Service, Satisfaction and RetentionTeleClass and Keynote program, we introduce the Customer D-E-L-I-T-E formula
Summary: I know how to coach professionals and leaders to keep a customer satisfied, even delighted. Still, we have found ourselves on the raw end of the deal with KIA.
That said, perhaps this case study will be of help to you and others. We are quite frankly at the end of our rope dealing with Kia management - right up to the Presidents office. Their dealer reps and mechanics are equally frustrated and openly laugh at HQ lack of support for customers and their dealer needs. In fact, our own local KIA dealer confided they closed as a direct result of examples like ours.
Here's the snapshot:
Sept 2004 - On turning the ignition key, the battery blew up under the hood. Lots of witnesses (Costco parking lot) including an off-duty police officer. Car was towed and next day KIA MADE US PAY to replace the battery! Not good customer service! The Kia President's office sits on a confirmed receipt email for 7 days. When asked, they claimed: 'forgot' to pass this exploding battery case to Customer Care.
Summary: Sept - May 2005 (yes that is nine - 9 months):
the car has been in repeatedly for servicing (most recently for over 5 weeks!) as it stalls in traffic and the tachometer races without warning - many near fatal accidents. Kia calls us liars as they claim if their diagnotics don't pick up on our reported incidents - 'they are not happening' (yes that is a direct quote).
Some more facts to ponder:
Jan 2005: 1 day (specifically 25 hours) after getting the car back from yet another service check, it CONTINUES to stall and the tach races - causes the car to lurch forward without notice - Need to be very alert to brake fast enough to avoid accident. Started keeping at least 1 car length back - even at a stoplight!
February 2005: after being called liars, we started keeping a live log in the car. In just 3 weeks we documented over 60 incidents - each time with witnesses in the car at that specific time.
March 2005: Our son passes his drivers licence and we are concerned he doesn't have the experience to know how to react to this kind of car problem. Actually, nobody should ever have to!
June 2005: Kia mechanic calls to say they THINK they have found the problem - relates to corrossion under the hood. EXCUSE ME!!!! We knew to the second when the corrossion started (battery blew up) - why did it take them 9 months to figure that out. And why have we been driving an unsafe vehicle?
June 2005: we just got our car back after it being serviced for almost 6 weeks. The mechanic confides that he isn't sure they fixed it - but doesn't know what else to do!!!
June 2005:less than a week since we received back the car. We are now calling this car "SATAN'S CAR"
Here what we have experienced in one week - since KIA said it was fixed and safe to drive.
1. the Steering wheel locked once while the car was in motion! We had to brake instantly to avoid an accident. Only after stopping the car and re-inserting the key to restart the car did the wheel come free. VERY SCARY!
2. The car stalled three times within a two hour period.
3. Once without warning the tach raced while the car was in motion - lunging the car forward to within a few feet of an accident. VERY SCARY.
This is the info from the KIAMOTORS.COM site (KIA world HQ Customer Service form): "When Kia distributors in your country or the dealership near you are not able to solve your vehicle's problem for any reason, please contact us directly using the e-mail shown below. Your comments are very important to us." Sounds nice - except the source code shows that when Canada is selected, the form is only sent to the Canadian head office (other countries include several Korea HQ emails). Given the fiasco created here by the Canadian HQ, it isn't a wise idea to try to fool the customer!
We are now ready to write a note directly to Kia Head Office to let them know about this. Does anyone have email info for these people in Korea who can help? We are interested in reaching any of these KIA corporate executives:
Chairman and CEO Mr. Mong-Koo Chung,
President and CEO Ik-Hwan Kim,
President and CEO Eui-Sun Chung
Senior Executive Vice President and COO Mr. Yong-Hwan Kim
Executive Vice President Mr. J. M. Park (was CEO of Kia Canada !!!)
I will gladly share this information when I obtain it. Please write me at kiathe-coach.com (a special email just for this).
Thanks again for your interest and support. All automobiles need servicing - this one (SATAN'S CAR) needs to be destroyed now to avoid risking any lives further.
Now what?
We still have 1.5 years on the lease with this unsafe car. We would like Kia to release us from this lease and destroy the car (don't let anyone else drive an unsafe car)
Your help and insights are welcome.
... Paul Litwack
the Capability Improvement Coach
www.the-coach.com
(905) 764-8525
cbeck
06-21-2005, 08:28 PM
I think I missed the point of the first half of your post. Qualification to recognize good/bad customer service is not necessary. My daughter has yet to manage her first lemonade stand (3 mos. old) but she is quite aware when bad service is present.
As far as your complaints, I can only say that I have been satisfied with Kia Customer service as well as their technicians. If you have that many documented problems with witnesses then perhaps you should get a lawyer and seek compensation for endangerment.
Also, somewhere in the Kia Forums is a post about folks with repetitive transmission problems that were finally given a new vehicle... they didn't wait quite as long though. You may want to browse for it and see what they did... I looked quickly and didn't find it right away (can't seem to get the forum specific search to respond at the moment.)
good luck. For future posts, I think folk around here respond best to brevity. Or at least I do anyway...
As far as your complaints, I can only say that I have been satisfied with Kia Customer service as well as their technicians. If you have that many documented problems with witnesses then perhaps you should get a lawyer and seek compensation for endangerment.
Also, somewhere in the Kia Forums is a post about folks with repetitive transmission problems that were finally given a new vehicle... they didn't wait quite as long though. You may want to browse for it and see what they did... I looked quickly and didn't find it right away (can't seem to get the forum specific search to respond at the moment.)
good luck. For future posts, I think folk around here respond best to brevity. Or at least I do anyway...
plitwack
06-22-2005, 07:05 AM
Hi and thanks for your post.
Truth is we have been trying to avoid legal action.
We have since received a response from Head Office in KIA Korea. So for now, I'll hold further posts to see how they can resolve this.
... Paul
Truth is we have been trying to avoid legal action.
We have since received a response from Head Office in KIA Korea. So for now, I'll hold further posts to see how they can resolve this.
... Paul
plitwack
06-30-2005, 05:25 PM
UPDATE: June 30, 2005
Eight days ago, we heard back immediately from Kia Head office in Korea and were given the direct email and phone numbers of their key executives responsible for Kia operations in North America (US and Canada). We emailed them and received email 'read receipts' that same day. So we knew they had opened our email in their Inbox.
As of yesterday when no reply had been received, we wrote our original contact, the KIA Director of Worldwide Communication to ask status.
He was embarrassed his executives had not had to courtesy to reply that Kia company policy is to leave it in the hands of the local country. (aside: if this were true 8 days ago, why wouldn't they say so then??).
We were given a Kia Head Office representative who resides here in Toronto and we left a voice mail this morning asking for assistance.
Instead of him calling back, someone else did - specifically referring to the call we made him
He was direct and curt, identifying himself as 'George' the Kia CAMVAP representative and said he was proud to be involved in the Kia decision process for our car from the beginning. (aside: I wouldn't be so proud ;-)
His sole purpose seemed to be to read a prepared statement from the company that future communications with the company would only take place at a CAMVAP arbitration hearing. He was not prepared to answer any of my questions.
CAMVAP is the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan - a Government sponsored program set up to help consumers resolve disputes with vehicle manufacturers in a way that is fair, fast, free and final.
So that is our next step, by their choosing.
If anybody reading this forum has experience in preparing for a CAMVAP hearing, please do help.
Thanks and for our many Canadian and US readers celebrating July 1st and July 4th - have a good long weekend.
... Paul
Eight days ago, we heard back immediately from Kia Head office in Korea and were given the direct email and phone numbers of their key executives responsible for Kia operations in North America (US and Canada). We emailed them and received email 'read receipts' that same day. So we knew they had opened our email in their Inbox.
As of yesterday when no reply had been received, we wrote our original contact, the KIA Director of Worldwide Communication to ask status.
He was embarrassed his executives had not had to courtesy to reply that Kia company policy is to leave it in the hands of the local country. (aside: if this were true 8 days ago, why wouldn't they say so then??).
We were given a Kia Head Office representative who resides here in Toronto and we left a voice mail this morning asking for assistance.
Instead of him calling back, someone else did - specifically referring to the call we made him
He was direct and curt, identifying himself as 'George' the Kia CAMVAP representative and said he was proud to be involved in the Kia decision process for our car from the beginning. (aside: I wouldn't be so proud ;-)
His sole purpose seemed to be to read a prepared statement from the company that future communications with the company would only take place at a CAMVAP arbitration hearing. He was not prepared to answer any of my questions.
CAMVAP is the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan - a Government sponsored program set up to help consumers resolve disputes with vehicle manufacturers in a way that is fair, fast, free and final.
So that is our next step, by their choosing.
If anybody reading this forum has experience in preparing for a CAMVAP hearing, please do help.
Thanks and for our many Canadian and US readers celebrating July 1st and July 4th - have a good long weekend.
... Paul
grorkskarce
03-23-2010, 12:47 AM
So I was watching Penn and Teller one day last week and they had a episode on Life Coaching and how they said it was B.S. Well I for one can tell you that a "real" life coach can definitely help people achieve their goals as some of us need that extra push or pat on the back once in awhile.Life Coach (http://www.easilyachieve.com)
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