Two appointments for every recall?

Seeking Help
1

Hello everyone,
I understand that software updates and fixes require appointments, but why does my Kia dealership insist that any recall needing a part is “VIN dependent,” requiring an inspection appointment first and then a separate installation appointment after they receive the parts? Why don’t they keep parts like the seat control switch in stock?

Has anyone else experienced this, or is it just an issue with my particular Kia dealership?

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2

I work in parts at a high-volume Kia dealership. Recall parts are VIN-locked, so we can’t order them in advance; we need a matching VIN and a technician’s diagnosis first. Kia doesn’t allow us to stockpile parts for recalls, like the seat recall, which may involve 12 different components if there’s a risk of fire.

To address this, we order a batch of parts for the initial wave. When they arrive in a few days, we process them and reorder more on the same ticket to build up our inventory. It takes a few weeks of this process to get sufficient stock.

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3

Thanks for the detailed explanation. This seems like poor inventory management impacting customer experience. How can Kia expect us to be satisfied with spending two days and two appointments for a single (possibly unnecessary) recall? While it may be efficient, it’s frustrating and doesn’t make me feel positive about Kia service. Should I address this in my upcoming survey?

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4

Pretty much the same experience here. I called a few weeks ago on a Friday for an oil change and the seat recall, and was told the parts were in stock. I scheduled an appointment for Monday, and everything went smoothly—completed in under three hours after I dropped off the car.

Given the dealer complaints I’ve read (this was my first visit), I expected issues, but there were none. Everything went well, and I’m a happy customer.

One caution: Difficulty in maintaining adequate inventory can indicate cash flow issues within a company. Avoid paying in advance for anything to prevent becoming an unsecured creditor.

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5

I just had the seat control recall completed this past Thursday on my 24 SX X-Line. I took the car in for an oil change and the recall work, and had it back within a couple of hours with both tasks finished.

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Thanks, this might be pointing to my dealer being afraid to stock parts, even for a very big recall.