Dear Kia Customer Care, I am writing to formally express my disappointment and concern regarding my experience with my 2016 Kia Optima following a warranty engine replacement performed at Nielsen Kia of Newton. Less than 24 hours after picking up my vehicle from the dealership, my Optima caught fire. This occurred immediately after what should have been a successful warranty engine replacement. Thankfully, my family and I were able to get out of the vehicle safely, but the situation could have easily resulted in serious injury or loss of life. The emotional impact of this incident has been significant, and it has completely shaken my confidence in the safety of the vehicle. To make matters even more frustrating, approximately 2,000 miles before the engine replacement, I paid nearly $1,300 out of pocket to have the oil pan and other related parts replaced. I made that repair in good faith to maintain my vehicle, only to have it become unusable after the warranty engine replacement due to the fire. I also want to note that after the warranty work was completed, I left a stellar Google review because I genuinely appreciated the service and believed the matter had been handled properly. Since the incident, I have also been unable to obtain a loaner vehicle through Nielsen Kia, leaving my family without reliable transportation. After everything that has happened, the response has essentially felt like, "Call your insurance and figure it out yourself." That is not the level of customer care I expected from Kia or one of its dealerships after such a serious incident. I have always appreciated Kia's willingness to stand behind its engine warranty, and I was initially grateful for the warranty replacement. However, the events that followed have completely overshadowed that goodwill. I am asking Kia Corporate to review this matter thoroughly and help provide a fair resolution, including addressing the financial burden I have incurred, my lack of transportation, and the overall handling of this situation. read more

I purchased a used 2025 Genesis GV80 from this dealership on 8/12/26 and have had several unresolved issues since taking delivery. First, I discovered several deep scratches/gouges on the driver's-side roof rail and on the paint above the driver's-side door jamb. The damage made my wife gasp. This damage did not appear in the vehicle's listing photos, which I reviewed both before and after the sale, and was not disclosed to me at the time of purchase. When I raised this the next day with the F&I manager, Tyler Higgins, I was summarily told it was sold "as is." I also sent a formal letter to Eric Nielsen, the owner, and the COO, and have not received a response. Second, I was told in the finance office by Mr. Higgins, while signing paperwork, that the vehicle came with only one key. But to make up for this, he told me I could buy a $600 product, and call in a couple weeks to get a new one. I was disinclined for any additional add-ons and declined until the price was lowered to $350. I later determined that this product is an insurance replacement contract for a lost, stolen, or damaged key -- it does not provide a second key, which is what I was told I'd be able to get. In addition, while driving yesterday, the driver's windshield wiper fell off and the metal arm scratched against the window leaving scratches. The Bosch blade was not installed correctly, and I then discovered that the passenger wiper was a different, budget-level blade. I just bought two Bosch Envision blades for $82+ from a local autoparts store. I came from CT to buy this car after the salesman put his boss Tyler on the phone to talk me into making the 3-hour trip to purchase. It had to pass their inspection, I was assured. And I would get a full tank of gas -- I did not, and barely made the trip back. I did not arrive at the dealership until after 6pm, when the building was in shadow. After completing the finance paperwork (for their benefit - I could have paid cash) and undertook driving home, I turned around because I felt a shake in the wheel. The salesman and I took it out for a drive, but I was assured it was the terrible road in front of their dealership. As it was late, I drove home. I now feel a pronounced shake in the front end and am concerned about the condition of the car in general. I will be taking it in for a full inspection here in CT. I'd encourage anyone considering a purchase here to carefully inspect the vehicle in person and get any verbal representations about keys, condition, or add-on products in writing before signing. I would not trust what they tell you unless it is in writing -- and be sure to READ the documents they swipe in front of you on the computer screen at the desk, since none of it is in paper form. read more

Nielsen Kia - damage - Car Dealers Near Me - Newton, New Jersey

I have been shopping for a Kia. After an internet inquiry, Nielson Kia reached out to me. I was honest and told them that I am not local to them and I am working with 3 Kia dealerships (including them) and would purchase off the one that offered the best price. I literally told them that if they offered the best deal that I would take a day off and travel there. They are about 2 hours away. They gave an estimate on one car and were very nice...thank you Travis! I accidentally lost the information. But when I asked for them to resend it to me and also asked for a cost estimate on 1 other car, the internet sales department got incredibly rude. They said, "we gave you the numbers last week." Then they said that they can't keep giving prices on different cars, and if I wanted to talk price, I would have come in. Isn't that literally the job of a car dealer....to give prices on different cars? Giving estimates on 2 cars is too much for them? No thanks. I told them I am going elsewhere. It's too bad, because when I talked to Travis, he was great. read more

I had an awful experience with their SERVICE dept last week. I brought in my 2024 Kia Niro (with 20,000 miles on it) for an oil change. I was alone or with ONE other customer in the waiting room for the entire experience. TWO HOURS later they came to tell me I needed new tires. I thought it was odd since I only had 20,000 miles on the car, but I told them ok (surprise - they were having a "special"! And frankly I wasn't thinking clearly - I just didn't want to come back again after sitting there for TWO HOURS already). Two hours later (FOUR HOURS TOTAL) I got upset and told them I really needed to get out of there. I went to pay the $1000 bill (!) and they said there's a 3% surcharge if you pay by credit card (no one mentioned this when I made the appointment and most people I know don't carry their checkbooks with them). I suggested maybe they could waive the fee given that I had been there FOUR HOURS. They said no we don't do that. When I got home I told my husband and brother what had happened and they couldn't believe I needed new tires at 20,000 miles or that it took FOUR HOURS (with virtually no other customers) to do this work. I did some web research to confirm that while hybrids can wear out tires faster, 20,000 miles was very low to have wear to the extent that they would need to be replaced. I immediately called the dealership (within an hour of leaving) and told them I want to see my tires, or at least pictures of them, to confirm this really needed to be done. The service manager was gone for the day but the front desk service women told me she'd relay my message. When service manager Jeff called back the next morning, he said he would try to send the tire pics and told me he would send me research showing the hybrid tires can wear out at 20,000 miles. Guess what - neither happened! The tires supposedly (miraculously) were picked up by their trash people in the few open hours between my call and Jeff's arrival the next morning. And Jeff never bothered to send any information to back up his claims. ANYWAY - I would beware of this place. They also haven't sent me the usual KIA post-service survey (another surprise!). I will have to contact KIA headquarters to make sure they know about my experience. read more

Absolutely the worst dealership I have ever been to and the general manager Stephen Graziano is absolutely horrible and should not be working there. He can't even communicate correctly and messed my whole trade in. After 2 weeks of having the vehicle I was told to pay Wells Fargo $800 due to a reverse payment they stated I did but would not send me any proof that I reverse or cancelled a payment with Wells Fargo. I called Wells Fargo and paid the $800 dollars even though that wasn't even my payment it was $768 a month. I call Kia telling them I paid Wells Fargo the payment will hit on Friday they should get a new quote for the trade. After telling me they weren't paying the trade until I paid the $800. Then I showed up yesterday to get an oil change since I just went on vacation to Montana I asked them for my plates which I found out they were holding and that's why I did not receive them yet. They now state that they over paid Wells Fargo by $800 dollars and now I owe them the money after I already just paid Wells Fargo the $800. How does a huge company like this over pay after stating they will not pay the loan off until I pay Wells Fargo. I never heard from them about an over payment or anything until I arrived there yesterday no communication or nothing these people are horrible. Craig Ferguson also should not be in finance. Stay far away from this dealership take the time and go to Motion Kia I wish I never switched to this dealership. The new owners do not care about the problems. I have contacted the head General Manager of entire company that owns that dealership and he still did not help resolved this matter at all. read more

If I could give the zero I would! I go to Kia in Newton with my new car I bought elsewhere but this place is closer to me to have anything done that I need. My first appointment there I purchased mud flaps and rain guards for my new car. I waited two hours not the problem they charged me 180.00 to put the accessories on that I purchased from them. Not the issue. The issue was the technician did the mud flaps good but the Kia rain guards are thin see thru plastic and the technician couldn't even put them on right. I will add a photo! So I called and complained once I got home to avoid myself making a scene there in front of the other customers waiting! They also told me that they would wash my vehicle once everything was installed! DIDN'T Do that either!!! (Don't say something if you're not going to do it)! So I brought the car back showed the parts dept guy the shotty work from the technician and he scoped around the car like nothing was wrong! I demanded my money back and told him I wanted them removed! He told me he would credit my card which he did but couldn't credit the time the technician spent putting them on wrong! So I asked to have the manager call me! He called me three hours later apologizing that he didn't want to lose me as a new customer and told me to bring the car back and he would take them off and give me a free oil change and 10% off my next purchase. Well today I brought my car in for that free oil change and I purchased new wipers and they mentioned a new cabin filter as my car only has 19,000 miles on it but I purchased one! AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WASHED MY CAR AGAIN!!!! Well they never washed the car AGAIN!!!! I never got 10% off the wipers and cabin filter purchased as promised! Just 5.00 off..... I'm more upset bc AGAIN I did not get my car washed like they said it would be! AND when I picked the car up he said WE WASHED YOUR CAR! REALLY???? Stop Fxxxxxx lying! I will never bring my car back to the Newton Kia again!!!! read more

Hats off to my Salesman Tyler and the staff at Major KIA. I believe I got a fair price on my new Sportage. The process was easy and Tyler was great to deal with. Always keeping me informed when my car would be in. I highly recommend Major KIA. read more