Shirley Poullard brought her Kia SUV to Kia of Lake Charles in Louisiana on June 17 after experiencing a tire blowout on the interstate. Poullard stated on social media that she had not heard from the dealership for several days after her vehicle was towed.
Weeks later, after being informed that the damage was not covered by her warranty, Poullard visited the dealership. Upon arrival, she found the hood of her car open and discovered that internal components had been accessed. Video shared by Poullard captured a heated exchange with a service member identified as Adrian Walker.
In the video, Poullard questioned the state of her car's motor, asking if work was being done on it. A service manager then informed her that two fuel injectors had been borrowed from her vehicle. Poullard expressed her disbelief, stating, "Did I send my car here for you to borrow parts?!"
While the service manager, Adrian Walker, indicated the parts would be replaced free of charge, Poullard asserted that she had not authorized her car to be used for parts. She claimed that she was initially told her vehicle had not been touched, only to later find its engine had been disassembled for the injectors. Poullard reported that her SUV's performance and sound have worsened since the incident.
Following the confrontation, a general manager at the dealership reportedly apologized to Poullard and waived the $175 diagnostic fee. Poullard, however, described the situation as stealing, telling local NBC affiliate KPLC, "Taking something without permission is stealing." She also warned other Kia Telluride owners in the Lake Charles area that they might have received used parts from her vehicle.
The dealership acknowledged the allegations, stating it took them seriously and launched an internal review. Kia of Lake Charles issued a statement confirming that the service manager involved is no longer employed by the company and apologized to Poullard. "Our team is held to a high standard of customer care, professionalism, respect, and honesty. Every customer deserves to be treated with dignity, and we sincerely apologize to the customer involved."
Poullard has indicated her intention to seek legal representation regarding the matter. The Daily Mail has reached out to Poullard and Kia for further comment.
