NHTSA Complaint #10966161 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY A BATTERY WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. I DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT WITHIN SPEEDING TRAFFIC TRYING TO REACH THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T MAKE AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXIT OFF RAMP. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS SWERVING AND COMING TO ABRUPT STOPS TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND STOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IN FEAR OF BEING KILLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE OFFICER PUT OUT FLARES AND THEN STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION EMERGENCY TOW, MOVED MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, OUT OF THE WAY OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BY KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITH "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND BURNT OUT STARTER, REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AND STARTER. I HAVE PROVIDED ALL SERVICE RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES CONDUCTED AS REQUIRED WHICH WERE ALL PROVIDED BY KIA. CAR IS BRAND NEW UNDER WARRANTY, TWO YEARS OLD, WITH 18,561 MILES AND NO HISTORY OF WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS FOR A DECISION. IT'S BEEN 6 BUSINESS DAYS AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A LOANER/REPLACEMENT VEHICLE NOR APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIR.