Kia Misdiagnosed My 2023 Xceed as Fuel Issue Without Inspection

On July 26, 2025, my 2023 model Kia Xceed suddenly began losing power and stalling while driving. I contacted Kia roadside assistance, and they directed me to the Kia Globals dealership. I took the vehicle there and clearly explained that I had only ever fueled it at a major brand’s busy, reliable branch that I regularly visit. The staff at Kia Globals accessed the fuel tank from the back seat and collected a sample using a cardboard cup. Even before examining the vehicle, they confidently claimed they could tell if it was gasoline or diesel. After sniffing the sample among themselves—and asking me to do the same—they passed it around among the service staff. Later, they admitted they couldn’t determine what the fuel was and suggested I contact the fuel company to have a proper sample taken, which would take up to 30 business days for results. When I asked the service advisor what I should do while waiting, he just stared blankly and offered no solution. It became clear to me that their goal was not to help but to shift responsibility and avoid cost, so I decided to tow the vehicle to another service center, asking them to shut it down. This entire ordeal at Kia Globals lasted just 30 minutes, during which the only action taken was sniffing fuel from a cardboard cup. By the time I left, the car I had brought in still functioning was no longer drivable. I had it towed to the Aldatmaz dealership, where the team began a proper inspection. They found no issues with the fuel and said they would run further tests to diagnose the actual problem, requesting additional time. Meanwhile, I requested a replacement vehicle under warranty, but the representative said Çelik Motor, Kia’s distributor and warranty provider in Turkey, denied the request. The reason? Kia Globals had stated in their report that the wrong fuel had been used—without running a single diagnostic test. It’s beyond belief that a service center could declare a fuel-related issue without any proper analysis, based solely on sniffing fuel in a cardboard cup passed around like a joke.