Kia of South Austin

I had my Soul towed to Kia of South Austin around September 22. Over the course of the next several weeks, I called the service department about five or six times asking for an update. Every time the service advisor Sal was busy and could not take my call. Every time I left a message asking for a call back. I even started asking the service manager to call back instead. I got nothing but radio silence. It wasn’t until December 7 that I actually reached someone. The ONLY way this was possible was due to the fact that I resorted to calling Kia Corporate Consumer Affairs and somehow they magically reached the “service” department for me. Despite this lemon of a vehicle 2015 Soul going into limp mode for the fourth time, the vehicle barely misses meeting the criteria for an engine replacement… so far. After being at the “service” department for almost 12 weeks and not hearing a word or receiving a call back, I was ultimately informed that a bearing clearance test was performed on October 2 AND such test was the ONLY diagnostic they needed to do. The results of such BCT warranted a combustion cleaning only and I was told that there was a 50-75% chance that would fix the issues with the (well-known) engine problems of this Soul. I could have had my car back on the road the first week of October, but instead I had to arrange for rides and for Ubers and an alternate vehicle for the primary driver of the Soul (my daughter, who is in college in a different city). I will say Cesar the asst service mgr was pleasant and patient. However, when I picked up the vehicle, the worker who assisted me was sitting right next to Sal, the supposed service advisor. Sal heard my conversation, even contributed to it by talking to his coworker…but never said one word to me. He knew the situation. The incredible lack of effort or care and likely incompetence of Sal was what left me in a silent void for over two months and he didn’t have the decency to even address me or apologize for the horrible “service” he provided.. or didn’t provide. My advice: Avoid Kia of South Austin at all cost.