NHTSA Complaint #10924163 — 2012 KIA SPORTAGE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH PROBABLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST OF MY SPORTAGE AND IT COMPLETELY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY, I HAD A PLACE TO STOP JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE KIA THETA ENGINES. THE BEARINGS AND RODS IN MY ENGINE WERE APPARENTLY SHREDDED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. WHILE THE DEALER IS PAYING FOR THE DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY, THE CAR WILL BE RETURNED TO ORIGINAL STATE MEANING THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPENS TO ANYONE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S VERY EASY TO IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FATAL CRASH. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND HAVE A PROPER FIX IN PLACE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I'VE NOW READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE INTERNET SO ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BEYOND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED IN JUNE FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR