Mike Marzolf

I purchased a used vehicle from KIA of Fort Collins, and within six days, it started having issues. Over the next six months, my car spent more time in their shop than in my possession—just 4.5 weeks ou and within six days, it started having issues. Over the next six months, my car spent more time in their shop than in my possession—just 4.5 weeks out of 26. Each time I got it back, new or recurring issues forced me to return. Thankfully, my warranty reduced costs, but the frustration was overwhelming. During that period, the dealership replaced the battery, spark plugs, and performed an engine “flush” without explaining the root cause of the issues. Eventually, they told me to take the car elsewhere. Three months later, the same problems returned. My local mechanic diagnosed a severe issue—one cylinder had dangerously low pressure, requiring a full engine replacement. He suspected the dealership had merely cleaned the cylinder instead of addressing the real problem. I escalated my concerns to the GM and new service manager, who, to their credit, worked with my warranty to cover a new engine and waived labor fees. Seven weeks later, I got my car back. I hoped the nightmare was over—it wasn’t. Two weeks later, the clutch failed. The dealership had already tried to bill my warranty for it during the engine repair but never informed me. They admitted they should have contacted me, discounted labor, and took another three weeks to fix it. Days later, more clutch issues arose, requiring another two weeks of repairs. A month later, the car died. The dealership found a stuck fuel injector, cleaned it, and returned the car. It failed again soon after. Fed up, I took it to my local mechanic for a full inspection. He found: - A failing fuel pump - All four injectors needed replacement - Incorrectly gapped spark plugs causing misfires - A damaged coil from the spark plug issues - A failing mass airflow sensor He was shocked these weren’t addressed during the engine replacement. In one week, he fixed everything, and the car finally ran properly. In two years, my car spent 11 months (47 weeks) in the shop. While the GM and new service manager eventually tried to make things right, my experience exposed a pattern of poor repairs, lack of transparency, and questionable practices. We only put 4,000 miles on this car in two years—these issues were unacceptable. If you're considering buying a used vehicle from KIA of Fort Collins, think twice. Be prepared to fight for fair treatment, demand transparency, and possibly endure months of frustration. More

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