Team Kia of El Cajon

This dealership charges a $240 fee for a diagnostic when the other Kia dealerships in the county charge $190. Their diagnostic showed one catalytic converter failed and quoted me $4,100 to fix. Competitive the other Kia dealerships in the county charge $190. Their diagnostic showed one catalytic converter failed and quoted me $4,100 to fix. Competitive quotes received later were half that amount. I then inquired with Kia of El Cajon whether this quote was for one or two catalytic converter replacements. They confirmed it was indeed for TWO (even though only one had failed, and the other was still fine). There was no indication on the estimate that this repair was to replace both. This was intentionally deceptive upselling. I called on other Kia dealerships in the area to do the actual repair, because I lost trust in this one. But the other dealerships only saw the diagnostic and immediately contacted Kia of El Cajon, who then contacted me back. Then the other dealerships refused to call me back so I was stuck. If you must go to a San Diego Kia dealership, start first with a different one than El Cajon. My 2016 Kia Soul's catalytic converter failed. It had a 2019 recall for this. Kia claimed that since the catalytic converter had not yet failed when I responded to the recall in 2019, they merely did a system reset to the car's computer and that fulfilled their recall requirements. Now when it did fail in 2024, they claimed they could not honor the recall because I had responded to the initial recall and received the computer reset. Isn't a recall usually to fix the actual problem part that tends to fail?? My car was still under the mileage for the warranty on the catalytic converter, but I had just surpassed the 8 year mark. Kia's warranty fine print reads that it is good for the 80,000 miles OR 8 years, whichever is FIRST. Even though I was still under the miles and this was a known issue with a recall, Kia would not do a "goodwill" repair. Service Adviser Laura Ayala at Kia of El Cajon said they best they could do is provide an estimate for repair, and then they provided a grossly inflated one. If anyone is considering purchasing a Kia, I highly recommend researching the issues going on with the catalytic converters and engines in these vehicles and pay attention to the online forum discussions from current owners' experiences with Kia. The warranty sold me initially, but Kia's customer service did not deliver. More

I was looking for a new car but not seriously when i stopped at El Cajon Kia. I was interested in a Kia Stinger and they happen to have three to choose from. Kelsey was great, no pressure sales tactics stopped at El Cajon Kia. I was interested in a Kia Stinger and they happen to have three to choose from. Kelsey was great, no pressure sales tactics and polite conversation on the test drive. Negotiating went as expected, dealer add ons were offered and i declined. Paid the sticker price. I came in late and they didnt rush me out of there. I found an issue with the bumper before i left and asked if it could be re-painted. The first attempt was disappointing. Very poor quality with lots of defects. I asked them to paint it again, i liked the car and didnt want to walk away. The second time took a week but a loaner vehicle was provided. When i picked it up it looked fantastic! Very thankful for the Kia Team, Kelsy, Juan, and Tony, for working with me on this. and now i have a car i love! More

Sales: The team was extremely forceful and even bringing multiple salesmen to pressure me to purchase the vehicle they had chosen was the "best" for me. I asked for a specific vehicle with a specific packag multiple salesmen to pressure me to purchase the vehicle they had chosen was the "best" for me. I asked for a specific vehicle with a specific package and once all was said and done, the vehicle I received did not have the package I wanted. My household has purchased 4 vehicles from this dealership and the service on the sales side has gone down the toilet! I would recommend going to Kearny Mesa or Chula Vista for your Kia needs. Service Department: The worst vehicle service I have ever received in terms of customer service. 1) When my vehicle was recalled due to a part, I was contacted through mail because my vehicle VIN fit the model for recall. I called the service department to verify my vehicle fell under the recall and they confirmed it did; to which they then scheduled me an appointment to bring my vehicle in for the recall. I took my vehicle in for the recall only to be told that the appointment was to verify that my vehicle actually fell under the recall!!! This could have, and was confirmed, through the use of my VIN. Yet, they wasted my time. I was told that the part needed to be ordered and I would be contacted when the recall part was in stock with an estimate of 1 week wait. 3 weeks passed and I was not contacted. I had to call them to check up on what happened to the part to which they responded that they forgot to contact me when the piece had arrived about 2 weeks ago! This is just one of many horrible customer service issues I have had with them. From failure of communication from their behalf to incompetence of service related actions on my vehicle. More

THE WORST- inconsiderate, rude, ignorant sales force. They use delay and horrible car sales tricks to break you down. "we use to add 10k , now we only add 5k" to MSRP. they dont reply to calls or tex They use delay and horrible car sales tricks to break you down. "we use to add 10k , now we only add 5k" to MSRP. they dont reply to calls or texts, speak down to you, and provide horrible service. They have poor knowledge of what they sell. a couple next to me stood us and shouted - youve wasted 3 hrs of my life! I felt the same way. DO NOT SUPPORT this dealer please. More

Found the car I wanted at this dealership. Ready to make a deal, they refuse to remove the dealership options. With the additional cost the vehicle is no long a good value. The salesman and Ready to make a deal, they refuse to remove the dealership options. With the additional cost the vehicle is no long a good value. The salesman and management give bs excuses. Total rip off! I left this dealership and found the same vehicle at another dealership for the price I was willing to pay. Stay away from El Cajon Kia, they bait and switch/ add cost with no value. More

Drove 35 miles to buy a car, and they would not sell it at that price, complete bait and switch at that price, complete bait and switch More

My wife brought our car in for a recall repair and during the repair a coincidence they called it but my fuel line got broken and they laughed at my face and had a quote for me. Now let me say my car has nev the repair a coincidence they called it but my fuel line got broken and they laughed at my face and had a quote for me. Now let me say my car has never been to this dealership and I know for a fact my fuel line was not broken but this dealership has to the most dishonest and terrible customer service. The recall involved taking the back seat out and fuel pump assembly is right there very close to the area they were working on because they showed it to me but still declining breaking it and also whats crazy is when my Wife brought the car to tell the dealership it's leaking fuel they decline and let her drive off with it but when I took the car they want me to towe the car or sign some relase forms like wow. No where on my recall form that they gave me say anything about fuel leaking Because I'm pretty sure they would have smelt it or seen it since they are working again. This has been the most horrible experience 😪 ever from this dealership. I do work on cars myself and never had a problem with my car until I took it to kia dealership el cajon service center and I wish I never had. I will also be contacting Kia of America BBB and so forth until I get my car problem resolved. More

Awful service department. Took 3 months to replace an engine under warranty. Little to no communication with service advisor during and no help with a replacement vehicle. Als Took 3 months to replace an engine under warranty. Little to no communication with service advisor during and no help with a replacement vehicle. Also didn't fix a clutch issue they knew was a problem when I first brought it in. Also damaged my vehicle while in the service department. I was also overcharged. My 2018 Kia Soul lasted for about a week until the check engine light came on. Took it back and they said it was the clutch...but you were supposed to check and fix the clutch according to the text messages between service advisor. Even though the service department completely botched this, with text messages to prove incompetence, they still want me to $2500 for the repairs. I will never buy a kia again and I will never visit this dealer More

Took my car in because my Apple CarPlay is not working only to get my car back less than a hour later and was told that they didn’t see a issue and gave me a manual that I already read and did. My Apple c only to get my car back less than a hour later and was told that they didn’t see a issue and gave me a manual that I already read and did. My Apple car play is still not working More