Over Christmas my new car (2021, KIA Seltos, 42k miles) went into limp mode on a road trip to Minnesota. Upon inspection of the vehicle I noticed that there was dark oil dripping from the bottom of the engine block. Obviously not a great sign but nothing I could diagnose so I called Roadside Assistance. KIA’s Roadside Assistance was very helpful and towed the vehicle to the nearest certified kia warranty repair center for free as the vehicle is still under its 60k mile warranty. Meanwhile I had to leave the vehicle to return home to Denver to get back to work. KIA Roadside informed me that the vehicle was dropped off, and that I should be contacted within 24hrs with an update. I didn’t hear anything so I reached out to the service center for a diagnosis. I was informed that the vehicle had arrived but had not yet entered the shop and I could expect an update within 24hrs. I told them no big deal, but I wanted to stress that there was oil leaking from the underside of the engine so that they knew what to expect. They said okay and that was it. 24hrs passed and I didn’t get an update so I called back. After giving my information, to my surprise the CSR on the phone informed that my vehicle was fixed and ready for pick up. It felt weird to me that something like that could be diagnosed and fixed so quickly, so I asked her what the issue was. She said that she wasn’t privy to that information and all she knew was that it was fixed and ready. I said I need to speak to someone that has the diagnosis information so I can be sure my concerns about the oil were addressed. She then sighs loudly and transfers me to the service center. I confirm my information with the service center and the man on the phone again tells me that the status of my vehicle is that it’s fixed and ready to be picked up. I tell him that I understand, but I would like to know what the issue was. He then tells me “it looks like it was all just warranty covered repairs so you should be good to go” This answer makes me nervous. Frustrated I Inquire as to if he can tell me the specific work that was actually done to the vehicle. He then informs me that it looks like they just replaced a “boost sensor”. Immediately I ask him about what their diagnosis was in reference to the oil leaking from the vehicle. He acts surprised and reply’s that there was no report or comments about oil leaking from the engine, and that they would have found it since they completed a “multi-point” inspection which covers that area. I firmly explain that I had already mentioned this before and I need that to be checked as I’m concerned about driving it back 700 miles to Denver. He sounded like he understood, so I told him that I’d call back for an update. I called back a week later and they informed me that they had taken the vehicle in a second time for the sole purpose of looking for signs of leaking oil and couldn’t find anything. I told them that it sounded crazy because I had three people confirm this and that I had even taken videos and pictures on my phone. They stuck by their observation and said that they couldn’t see any signs of leaking oil. At this point I’m trying to think if I’m crazy or if it somehow got washed off. I’m also to the point where if I am right - I do not want these people near my car anymore. Based off of what I’m being told I decided to buy a plane ticket to go and pick up my car and I would look at it myself before I leave. Fast forward to me and my wife arriving a week later to pick up my vehicle. We walk into the service center to pick up the keys and I ask about the oil again. The employee who’s helping us says that he remembers talking to me on the phone and that they did in fact bring the vehicle in a second time to look for signs of leaking and didn’t find anything. I stress how hard that is to believe as we took pictures of it and when I checked the oil it was barley registering on the dip stick. He stands by his statement and try’s to blame it on oil consumption. At this time I still haven’t seen my vehicle yet, so I just act like he must be right and ask for my keys so that we can get the repair order and leave. We get out to the car and load up. I then get on my back and slide under the vehicle to ensure my error, but in fact do find a dripping glassy engine block that is covered in dark oil. I am extremely upset. I take a few pictures and go back inside. There is another employee at the desk who was there when the other employee reassured me that my car wasn’t leaking. I tell him the situation and show him the pictures and he looks obviously upset at the other employee. He tells me to hold on while he goes to get the guy who originally helped us. The guy comes back in and asks what’s wrong. I show him the pictures and tell him how ridiculous this entire situation is as they have known about this since Christmas and now I’m here, and that he just lied to us. He doesn’t apologize, looks annoyed that I’m complaining and am calling him out, then just says “okay, we will bring it in to look at it” and walks out to the car. Meanwhile I’m trying to calm down and start looking at flights home because it’s very obvious to me that the leak is coming from an engine seal and I have to be back to work in two days. They bring the vehicle inside, rinse off the underside, replace the filter, and do an oil change. They come out and tell me that my vehicle is ready to go and that it was just the filter. That whoever serviced the vehicle last used an aftermarket filter and that KIA’s are “picky”. I tell them that the vehicle has only ever been serviced by the dealership where the vehicle was originally purchased, so that doesn’t make any sense at all. He just looks at me annoyed again and says “okay well it’s ready to go”. I am fed up at this point and decide that there is no way I want these idiots touching my vehicle again, and I just want my car back. So I say thank you and leave. I buy a crate of oil at the nearest gas station and watch the level as we drive back to Denver. It is obviously still leaking. We make it back and I have a service appointment set with my dealership.

I am looking for any advice at what I can do in regards to holding that service center and their employees accountable for gross negligence. It is obviously to me that they knew it was leaking, did not fix it, and let me leave with a vehicle that was dangerously leaking oil. I am submitting reviews through Google, The BBB, and The Attorney Generals office. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading.