NHTSA Complaint #10765183 — 2011 KIA SOUL

A BAD BEARING, CAUSED AIR PRESSURE IN LEFT TIRE TO INFLATE TO A DANGEROUS PSI, THAT COULD BLOW TIRE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED AND DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED TO DRIVE 525 MILES, FROM DALLAS TO KANSAS CITY, MO. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY, WITH 85 DEG OUTSIDE TEMP. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE HEATED UP TO A DANGEROUS 45PSI, CAUSING THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED TO CHECK TIRE AND AIR PRESSURE, FOUND DANGEROUS PSI AND RELEASED AIR TO SAFE 32PSI. AFTER 150 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE AGAIN RE-INFLATED TO DANGEROUS 44PSI AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO WALMART, REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES, THINKING IT WAS A WORN LEFT TIRE, BUT TIRE WAS GRADED AT A #4, HALF WEAR. BOTH NEW TIRES WERE AT PROPER INFLATION. AFTER 175 MILES, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, AT 65MPH. AIR PSI WAS 46PSI ON THE LEFT TIRE, AGAIN. WE REMOVED 14 PDS OF AIR AND DROVE 50 MILES HOME. AFTER TAKING IT TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE GARAGE, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEARING AND REPLACED THE LEFT BEARING, AT NO CHARGE, SAYING IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR WAS THE BEARING DAMAGED IN ANY SERVICE REPAIR PROCESS, INDICATING ONLY REASON FOR FAILURE OF BEARING AS POOR MANUFACTURING AND/OR INSTALLATION. BEARING IS EITHER MADE WITH INFERIOR MATERIAL OR NOT PROPERLY LUBED/PACKED.