Consumer complaint received 2025-12-15 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Lease
Issue: Problems at the end of the loan or lease — Problem when attempting to purchase vehicle at the end of the lease
Company: HYUNDAI CAPITAL AMERICA
State: OH

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding Kia Finance Americas refusal to correct an unauthorized buyer designation a

rising from a lease-end vehicle purchase, which has resulted in title failure, lien perfection failure, and financial harm to the actual purchaser.

I was the primary lessee on the original vehicle lease ( Lease Account # XXXX ). At lease end, the vehicle was purchased by XXXX XXXX, who obtained financing independently through her credit union and is the sole borrower on the loan. 

I did not : agree to purchase the vehicle, sign a purchase agreement, sign a retail installment contract, sign a buyer odometer disclosure, or sign a title assignment. 

My only executed document at lease end was an odometer disclosure related to lease return, not purchase.

Despite this, Kia Finance America auto-populated my name from the lease records into post-lease purchase documentation, listing me as a buyer without my consent or signature. This incorrect designation has caused the North Carolina DMV to refuse title issuance, which in turn has prevented the lender from perfecting its lien and has resulted in increased interest charges to the purchaser.

Attempts to Resolve I have made repeated attempts over several months to resolve this directly with Kia Finance America. 

On XX/XX/year>, Kia Customer Care contacted me and stated a complaint would be filed on my behalf. I was then transferred to Kia Finance.

During that call : A Kia Finance representative identified as XXXX asserted that because I was the primary account holder, I was therefore the buyer and that no corrective action was possible. 
When asked to identify any purchase document bearing my signature, none was produced. 
I was repeatedly redirected back to Customer Care.

Upon refusal, the call was escalated to a supervisor identified as XXXX, who maintained the same position and declined escalation. 

During this interaction, it was disclosed that no meaningful notes had been entered in the case file documenting prior calls or the substance of the dispute, despite multiple earlier contacts and the existence of Kia Customer Care file numbers XXXX and XXXX. 

Kia Finances position has consistently been that primary account holder status equates to buyer status, despite the absence of any signed purchase agreement. This position ignores basic contract principles and prevents correction of seller-side documentation errors.

Why This Is a Compliance Issue Buyer designation requires affirmative consent and signature.

Lessee or primary account holder status does not confer purchase authority.

Kia Finance can not identify any document bearing my signature agreeing to purchase the vehicle.

The incorrect buyer designation is a seller-side documentation error.

Kia Finance has refused to issue or coordinate corrective documentation.

As a result, the purchaser has suffered financial harm due to title delay and increased interest charges, and Kia Finance has effectively attempted to shift liability to a non-purchasing party.

Resolution Requested I am requesting that Kia Finance America : 1. Issue or coordinate seller-side corrective documentation, such as a corrected Bill of Sale or seller error correction affidavit, confirming that I am not a buyer and that my name was included in error.

2. Provide written confirmation allowing the North Carolina DMV and the lender to complete proper title issuance and lien perfection.

3. Cease asserting buyer status absent a signed purchase agreement.

Additional Information This matter has been repeatedly stonewalled at the customer-service level, and internal escalation has been refused. I am requesting CFPB assistance to compel regulatory-level review and resolution.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation