Guidance on using Carfax reports to potentially invalidate a vehicle's warranty at a dealership

General
1

Hello everyone,

I own a 2017 Kia Sorento that experienced engine failure, related to the Theta 2 recall issue. I took the vehicle to the dealership where I purchased it, having completed all recall services on time and provided my oil change records. However, they chose to use the Carfax records instead, which show a 30,000-mile gap without an oil change. Based on this, they denied my warranty claim and advised me to contact Kia Consumer Affairs. Despite my efforts, Kia Consumer Affairs has struggled to get a response from my local dealership, which has refused to communicate with them. They have indicated that the repair should indeed be covered under the warranty.

I also reached out to the Better Business Bureau, but the dealership continues to reject my mechanic’s maintenance records. Now, they’ve notified the BBB that they plan to send my vehicle to salvage and charge me for storage and disposal fees.

What further actions can I take to have them honor the warranty?

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Something seems off here. If Kia approves the warranty repair, the dealer will be compensated for the work. The dealer doesn’t have the final say in this matter, and if the repair is indeed covered, they have no reason to refuse it. Sorry that your dealer seems uncooperative.

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I had an issue with a dealership that was quickly resolved after my lawyer called to outline the next steps.

Instead of threatening legal action yourself, let your lawyer handle it.

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Consider threatening litigation. Dealers often prefer to handle warranty repairs rather than incur significant legal fees. I had a similar issue with an Infiniti; the engine failed, and although I had regular oil changes, the dealership denied my claim due to a lapse they saw in the carfax. After threatening legal action, they replaced the engine within a day.

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