NHTSA Complaint #10916289 — 2012 KIA SORENTO

WITHIN THE WEEK BEFORE WEDNESDAY, 10/12/16, BOTH MY WIFE AND I HEARD A "CLICKING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC AND THEY, TOO, HEARD THE NOISE BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE ANY DIAGNOSIS. THEN, ON THE DATE NOTED, AFTER ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC ON A 4-LANE HWY (HWY 101, SOUTH TOWARD SANTA ROSA, CA), AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, ALARMING KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE / QUIT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BRAKE AND PULL OFF IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE COULD NOT PROCEED SAFELY, SO WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE US BACK TO LAKEPORT. THERE OUR MECHANIC INFORMED US OF THE NEED OF AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.