Jennifer Kendall

**BUYER BEWARE — GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING BEFORE AUTHORIZING REPAIRS AT PARAMOUNT KIA OF ASHEVILLE!** Our experience with Paramount Kia of Asheville has been extremely disappointing, and I hope s AUTHORIZING REPAIRS AT PARAMOUNT KIA OF ASHEVILLE!** Our experience with Paramount Kia of Asheville has been extremely disappointing, and I hope sharing it will prevent someone else from going through the same situation. Our 2016 Kia Sorento experienced a major engine failure while traveling from the Chicago, Illinois area to North Carolina. Kia Corporate ultimately approved and covered the engine replacement under its extended warranty program, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, that is where the positive experience ended. Paramount Kia charged us approximately **$1,324 for an additional "engine refresh kit"** that we maintain was never properly explained or authorized. The package even included a serpentine belt that had been replaced just ONE WEEK before the vehicle arrived at the dealership! While we were waiting for Kia Corporate to approve the engine replacement, the dealership provided an estimate showing potential out-of-pocket expenses. We were never clearly told that this additional refresh package would NOT be covered by Kia Corporate or that we would be responsible for paying for it. Had this been properly explained, we would NEVER have agreed to the package. We discussed our concerns with Jennifer, the Service Manager, and Brandon, the Dealership Manager. Despite explaining the circumstances and questioning the charges, the dealership refused to remove them. During our discussion, Brandon stated that the dealership "can't lose money." My response is that customers should not be expected to pay for additional services that were not clearly explained and approved. What makes this especially disappointing is that the vehicle owners live in the Chicago area and were stranded hundreds of miles from home. We were left feeling that our circumstances and the fact that we were unlikely to become repeat customers made little difference to the dealership. We ultimately paid the disputed charge so the vehicle could be picked up and driven home. We are continuing to pursue reimbursement. **MY ADVICE TO ANYONE USING PARAMOUNT KIA:** Get EVERYTHING in writing. Do not assume that because Kia Corporate approves a warranty repair, the dealership will clearly explain additional charges. Ask specifically what is covered, what is NOT covered, and whether you will owe anything before any work is performed. We appreciate Kia Corporate replacing the engine, but our experience with Paramount Kia's handling of the additional charges has left us extremely disappointed. A dealership should earn customer trust through transparency, clear communication, and fair treatment — whether the customer lives across town or 700 miles away. More

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Courteous, knowledgeable, patient, minimally pushy. The purchase took 4 hours. I had numerous questions since I haven't driven a phev. Was not inclined to buy extended warranty. After extended dis The purchase took 4 hours. I had numerous questions since I haven't driven a phev. Was not inclined to buy extended warranty. After extended discussion with Brandon decided the purchase would be useful. He clarified the matter. The finance officer was knowledgeable and her manner showed that my considerations were not secondary to the sale. Charly, the sales rep, accommodated my questions. More

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Took very good care of me, I appreciate everyone who helped me. Thank you Kia! helped me. Thank you Kia! More

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Just before Hurricane Helene, I brought my 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid to Asheville Kia after noticing coolant leaking and smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Despite the regional chaos caused by the storm, the de Hybrid to Asheville Kia after noticing coolant leaking and smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Despite the regional chaos caused by the storm, the dealership charged me $1,400 for what they said was a repair involving new gaskets and an EGR cooler. Within a month, the exact same symptoms returned in coolant loss and white exhaust smoke coming from the tailpipe at times. I went back to the dealership and explained that I believed it was the same issue. I had done some research on my own and found that this was not an uncommon problem for Kia Niro Hybrids. I even suggested the coolant heat exchanger might be the source of the problem, or at least that coolant was still getting into the exhaust system. They dismissed everything I said and insisted it was an entirely different issue. Their proposed solution? A full muffler system replacement for $3,500. When I asked for proof, they showed me a photo of the muffler, not leaking. I asked again for actual diagnostic evidence. After hours of arguing on the phone and getting callbacks, they said the muffler had a small leak found during a pressure test. But that didn’t make sense: the smoke didn’t occur consistently, it only happened after prolonged uphill driving. That pattern didn’t match a small leak. I knew they were either wrong or lying. The manager (possibly named Jennifer) was rude and condescending, completely unwilling to consider that their first repair had failed. She blamed me for driving the car about 1,000 miles after the original repair and said I must have broken it again. Meanwhile, my technician Kristen, who had initially been helpful, stopped responding altogether once I began questioning their approach. At this point, I brought the car to John’s Kwik Lube in Spruce Pine. They listened, re-diagnosed the issue, and confirmed that the coolant heat exchanger was faulty- exactly what I had suspected. After some research, they also told me this is a known and common issue in Kia Niro Hybrids and that Kia should have recognized it from the start, especially after I brought it to their attention. John’s Kwik Lube provided a straightforward workaround repair for under $200. That was almost a year ago, and I’ve had zero issues since. I kept records from both places, including pressure test results that prove Kia’s original test was wrong or possibly even fabricated. I also have screenshots of Kia’s repair quote (important tip: Kia doesn’t let you revisit your quote history so screenshot everything while you can). Kia not only failed to fix the issue but replaced parts that didn't need replaced and then tried to push unnecessary, unrelated repairs on me for thousands of dollars more. They ignored the clear signs, refused to listen to the customer, and left me without a functioning car for weeks, all while we dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and I had no power, water, vehicles, etc. If I had listened to them, I would’ve spent over $5,000 and still had the same problem. Please be cautious. Get a second opinion before trusting Asheville Kia of Paramount with your vehicle. More

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Jodi is absolutely the best. I’ve worked with her before and she helped Me more than I could ever imagine, I thank her so much for being so kind she is My hero. I’ve worked with her before and she helped Me more than I could ever imagine, I thank her so much for being so kind she is My hero. More

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I have been with paramount kia of Asheville for almost eight years the Norman and staff give Excellent Service eight years the Norman and staff give Excellent Service More

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Overall friendly staff very knowledgeable when asking questions but every time they do a service on my vehicle they scratch it somewhere or they lose a plastic clip and get grease on my headliner every t questions but every time they do a service on my vehicle they scratch it somewhere or they lose a plastic clip and get grease on my headliner every time More

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A rare honest dealership. Everything they said would happen, happened. Faith & Moses were great to work with. Barb did a great job helping get the paperwork needed for the Everything they said would happen, happened. Faith & Moses were great to work with. Barb did a great job helping get the paperwork needed for the used EV tax credit. The finance guy I worked with was also great and explained everything clearly. Service dept is excellent too, and I want to specifically call out Jennifer and Mandy for taking great care of me and my vehicle. I would recommend this dealership to anyone looking for a KIA. More

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We had an awesome experience at Paramount Kia Asheville. This was our first time with Paramount Kia, and it was our favorite dealership by far. We have to give the credit to Alexa Keefe. She treated us This was our first time with Paramount Kia, and it was our favorite dealership by far. We have to give the credit to Alexa Keefe. She treated us like royalty, from the minute we walked in the first time to the minute we drove away in our brand new car. Alexa showed us features that we didn’t even know we had on our previous Kia. She went above and beyond, and we’ll be back to see her in 5 years. 👍👏 We’re spoiled now to having a new car, and Alexa Keefe is the woman we want to buy from. 10 ⭐️‘s More

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Bobby made an unexpected car purchase almost enjoyable. He was so easy to work with and was very thorough and helpful throughout the entire process. He’s a pretty “ok” guy to buy a car from! He was so easy to work with and was very thorough and helpful throughout the entire process. He’s a pretty “ok” guy to buy a car from! More

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