NHTSA Complaint #10984512 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10984512
Vehicle	2012 KIA OPTIMA
Component	ENGINE
Date of Incident	October 12, 2016
Date Filed	May 9, 2017
Mileage	62,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	TN

Consumer Description

CAR JUST STOPEVEN THED WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET IN TOWN. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS CAR DIED, NO PRIOR WARNING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY WITH NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. KIA TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ENGINE HAD SEIZED. BLAMED ENGINE PROBLEM ON IMPROPER MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH I HAD PROOF OF REGULAR ON SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE. KIA REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. WHEN I LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON COMPUTER FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FAULTY ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS FROM BEARINGS THAT CLOOGED OIL PORTSCREATING SLUDGE AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE FAILURE. KIA REPRESENTITIVES STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM AND AGAIN DENIED TO HONOR WARRANTY IN NEGOTIATIONS.

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