VANDALIA — The owners of cars targeted for months by thieves inspired by a social media video are now dealing with another nightmare.
Vanessa Gilmore bought her Kia Sorento several years ago from Kia of Dayton, but when it was damaged in a theft attempt she realized it couldn’t be brought into the dealership for repairs.
“No one wants to accept them, getting the parts to repair is going to take time,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore said that after her Kia was damaged, her tow truck driver said something that added insult to injury.
“Kia won’t even accept any vehicles that have been broken into like this,” Gilmore said.
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She found a dealership in Troy that was willing to accept her car and try and track down Kia parts for repairs.
Five months later, she’s still waiting.
“Kia isn’t taking responsibility too ... mass produces these parts quicker so we can get our vehicles quicker,” she said.
Her calls to Kia have gone unanswered.
“I never reach a real person, I get put on hold,” Gilmore said.
She finally decided it was time to reach out to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for help, sending them paperwork with all the information they needed.
She was told the office would be reaching out to Kia Motors of America.
Kia told the attorney general, " Your client’s concern is due to factors beyond the manufacturer’s control and is not a nonconformity to the vehicle’s written warranties.”
The attorney general’s office told Gilmore “Unfortunately the business has not agreed to resolve our complaint, we regret we cannot be of further assistance in the matter.”
She said it felt like a nightmare.
She has had to borrow cars from family members for four months after her insurance paid only 30 days for a rental.
Some Kia owners, like Gilmore, are hopeful that the attorney general’s office will file a lawsuit for relief as other cities and states have done.
We will keep following this developing story and update as new information becomes available.