NHTSA Complaint #10510306 — 2007 KIA RONDO

OUR ENGINE BLEW UP- SPECIFICALLY, THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE THROUGH THE 3RD CYLINDER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY OUR KIA DEALERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH - OIL/FILTER CHANGE AND INSPECTION. THE NEXT WEEK WE LEFT ON VACATION TO FLORIDA FOR A CRUISE. VEHICLE WAS STORED AT A LONG TERM STORAGE FACILITY FOR THE WEEK. ABOUT 10 HOURS INTO OUR RETURN ROAD TRIP, WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL. CAR WAS ALMOST 2 QUARTS LOW. WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL QUART. THERE IS NO INDICATION ON THE DASH THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR THE OIL. WE CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. ANOTHER 5 HOURS INTO OUR TRIP, WE ARE DRIVING ALONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE ENGINE STARTS MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISES, I AM UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL EVEN THOUGH I AM FRANTICALLY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE IS REVVING LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL WE HEAR A LOUD BANG AND THE ENTIRE CAR LOOSES POWER. WE ARE PAST OUR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WITH KIA. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TWO FACTORS AT PLAY HERE THAT CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAR DAMAGE: 1.) THE OIL WAS LOW AFTER ONLY 2-3 WEEKS AFTER AN OIL/FILTER CHANGE. I BELIEVE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN MAY HAVE SOME CULPABILITY HERE BY NOT ADDING ENOUGH OIL OR NOT TIGHTENING A CAP, ETC. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. 2.) I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE LIGHT FOR OUR 2007 KIA RONDO. THAT IT MAY CAUSE AN INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IN ADDITION TO MY HUSBAND, WE HAD ANOTHER COUPLE IN THE CAR WITH US WHO CAN ATTEST TO MY FRANTIC ACTIONS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT KIA HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH BLOWN MOTORS. THEY NO LONGER MAKE THE ENGINE FOR OUR VEHICLE. TO FIX THIS VEHICLE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RETROFITTED WITH A CURRENT MOTOR. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A REASON WHY THOSE MOTORS AREN'T IN PRODUCTION ANYMORE. WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THESE ENGINES? *TR