NHTSA Complaint #10351588 — 2002 KIA SPORTAGE

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE YESTERDAY, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR FAN HAD EXPLODED AND WAS MISSING ALL IT'S BLADES AND THE SHROUD WAS IN PIECES ALSO. ONE OF THE PIECES PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERHEATING OR HAVING ANY NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. I DISCOVERED LAST NIGHT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT KIA MOTORS CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I AM PAYING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. I THINK MAYBE THE PROBLEM MAY BE PRESENT IN OTHER VEHICLES NOT "LISTED" IN THE RECALL. I FEEL LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY HEAD UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR