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Dealership Cannibalizes Her Kia to Fix Another Car — Caught on Cam
Lake Charles Woman Catches Kia Dealership Using Her Car Parts Without Permission
What Happened?
A Lake Charles woman named Shirley Poullard took her SUV to Kia of Lake Charles on June 17 after she had a tire blowout on the interstate. What started as a simple repair turned into a shocking discovery.
The Timeline: Step by Step
- June 17 – Shirley drops off her SUV at the dealership for a tire-related repair.
- Over a month passes – Her vehicle sits at the shop with very little communication from the service department.
- She visits in person – Frustrated by the silence, Shirley goes to the dealership to check on her car.
- She sees the hood up – When she arrives, she notices her SUV’s hood is open. She starts recording video.
- Confrontation with the service manager – On camera, she asks why her engine has been taken apart.
- The admission – The service manager admits they took parts from her vehicle to fix another customer’s car — without her knowledge or permission.
- Initial denial – Shirley says the manager first claimed no one had touched her car before finally confessing.
Important Callout
KEY POINT: THIS IS NOT NORMAL OR ACCEPTABLE
A dealership cannot take parts from your car to fix someone else’s vehicle without asking you first. That is theft, plain and simple. Shirley said it best:
“Taking something without permission is stealing. Which is what y’all were doing is stealing.”
The Video Goes Viral
Shirley posted the video to social media. It spread quickly across the Lake Charles community. The footage shows the full confrontation inside the service bay — including the manager’s admission.
Dealership Response
7NEWS visited Kia of Lake Charles and spoke with the owner. The dealership released this statement:
“We took your feedback seriously and immediately began an internal review. Following that review, the Service Manager is no longer employed with our company. 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.”
What this means:
- The service manager was fired
- The dealership admitted fault and apologized
- They say they’ve done an internal review
Where Things Stand Now
- Shirley has her vehicle back
- She still feels uneasy driving it — worried something might be wrong later
- She is actively seeking a lawyer
- She hopes her story warns other customers
Summary
| What Happened | What’s Being Done |
|---|---|
| Dealership used Shirley’s car parts for another repair without asking | Service manager fired |
| Car sat over a month with no updates | Dealership apologized & did internal review |
| Shirley caught it on video & posted it | Video went viral locally |
| She now fears long-term damage to her SUV | She’s getting a lawyer & warning others |
FAQ
Did the dealership have permission to use her parts?
No. The service manager admitted on camera they did not have her knowledge or permission.
Is this illegal?
Yes. Taking parts from someone’s property without consent is theft — even if it’s a business doing it.
What happened to the service manager?
They were fired after the dealership’s internal review.
Does Shirley have her car back?
Yes, but she doesn’t feel safe driving it and is pursuing legal action.
Why does this matter to other customers?
It shows why you should ask questions, request updates in writing, and visit in person if a repair takes too long.
Final Thought:
You trust a dealership to fix your car — not borrow pieces of it for someone else. Shirley’s story is a reminder: stay involved, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to speak up.
