NHTSA Complaint #10991919 — 2012 KIA SPORTAGE

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 80MPH (SPEED LIMIT IN IDAHO), RPMS STARTED TO REV OVER 6K, HEARD A TICKING SOUND, THEN A VERY LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY A BIG PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE, ALL IN THE SPAN OF AROUND 20 SECONDS. CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY, HAD TO COAST TO GET IN EMERGENCY LANE. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ENGINE ISSUES UNTIL IT WAS FAR TOO LATE. THANKFUL THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN AWFUL ACCIDENT WITH AN 18 WHEELER. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND PUT A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. 106K MILES ON THE VEHICLE, DID NOT EXPECT TO HAVE ENGINE FAILURE THIS EARLY. THIS VIN IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE, AS IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.