NHTSA Complaint #10872622 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FROM A NICE VISIT WITH MY FAMILY AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST HOME I COULD HEAR CLICKING/TAPPING SOUND AND THE ENGINE STALLED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY RESTART AND GET TO THE SHOULDER. STARTED UP AGAIN AND TOOK OFF BUT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WAS LOSING POWER. I WAS CLOSE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS ABLE TO MILK IT TO THE SERVICE GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION, THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS PAIRED WITH A TON OF COPPER ON THE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID. CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS ARE SHOT, CAUSING LOW OIL PRESSURE, STALLING AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. ENGINE IS TOAST! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I CAME ACROSS THIS: HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAIPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/SONATA-ENGINE- FAILURE. SAME ENGINE, SAME PROBLEMS AND HYUNDAI STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MY VEHICLE. I TAKE IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES. I AM NOT AT FAULT. I WILL BE ESCALATING THIS TO THE NATIONAL TEAM AT KIA CORPORATE OFFICE AND KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO GET A CASE NUMBER AS I FEEL THEY NEED TO BE HELD LIABLE TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE.THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT'S SAD THAT KIA IS PUTTING THE BLAME ON THE CUSTOMERS INSTEAD OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. NO CAR WITH 111K MILES ON IT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE SHOULD HAVE THE ENGINE JUST BLOW! KIA NOT ONLY PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER BUT THEY ALSO PUT MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE IN DANGER!! I'M LUCKY I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND OR THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE!! MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE OK, BUT I FEAR THE NEXT KIA OPTIMA THIS HAPPENS TO WILL NOT BE A GOOD OUTCOME. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE INSTATED.