NHTSA Complaint #11015777 — 2011 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AIRPORT KIA NAPLES (3325 WESTVIEW DR, NAPLES, FL 34104) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERABLE AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED AIRPORT KIA NAPLES AT (239) 732-8910 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE DEALER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP AFTER FOUR DAYS. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW HEAT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE KNOCKING NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE AIR CONDITIONER AS A COURTESY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, OPENED AN INVESTIGATION, AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12451212. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,958.