NHTSA Complaint #10041657 — 2001 KIA OPTIMA

2001 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT KIA DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE IN JAN 2002 (USED). SINCE JUNE 2003 CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR NUMEROUS RECALL ITEMS. CAR HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY LIT. ENGINE SURGES OR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE THEN SURGES. VERY HIGH RPM WITH NO ACCELERATION. ENGINE COILS MISFIRE. DIFFICULTY STARTING OCCASIONALLY. AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF FREQUENT TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA, (JUNE-OCTOBER 2003) SERVICE MANAGER CALLS TO TELL OWNER TO CONTACT INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THERE IS SAND/SUGAR IN GAS TANK THAT HAS CAUSED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. THEY CLAIM THE CAR FALLS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS. CUSTOMER DISAGREES THAT SAND/SUGAR IS CAUSE BECAUSE PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED FOR FOUR MONTHS. CAR CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR PAST 10 DAYS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA WILL NOT DO ANY MORE WORK UNTIL INSURANCE PEOPLE COME. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CUSTOMER IS NOT HAPPY. *LA