NHTSA Complaint #10442732 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DURING A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND I COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD POWER. I HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY PUSH IT TO SAFETY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND TO THE CURB ON THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS SAFE DURING THIS INCIDENT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS A SMALL INTERSECTION WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. IF THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION OR ON THE FREEWAY, THEN MY SAFETY COULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED A BAD COIL AND SOME BAD WIRE IN THE SPARK PLUG, BUT THEY ARE NOT CONFIDENT ON WHAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN AFTER SPEAKING WITH KIA TECHNICIANS. YET THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MINOR PROBLEM AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE MAJOR INJURY OR BODILY HARM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE TESTING SO I HAVE ASKED KIA FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE (CAR ONLY HAD 200 MILES ON IT WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED) BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. *TR