NHTSA Complaint #11047022 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

THE VEHICLE QUIT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT OTHER WARNING ON A TOLL ROAD, APPROX SPEED OF 70 MPH AT NIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED DUE TO THE LATE NIGHT, I HAVE TOWED LATER, ORIGINALLY THINKING IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, THAT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE, SO WE REPLACED THAT BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE AND IT INSTANTLY SMOKED THE STARTER, REQUIRING A NEW ONE, WHICH IT DESTROYED, AT THAT TIME FURTHER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. I NOTICED LATER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL FROM KIA HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE FIRE I NOTE IS THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM REPLACING THE BATTERY WITH A FRESH BATTERY, AND SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED, THE STARTER LOCKED AND CAUGHT FIRE, REQUIRING A NEW STARTER, OBVIOUSLY AFTER THE MOTOR IS FULLY REPAIRED, BUT I OWE APPROX $350 FOR THE STARTER AND $400 APPROX FOR THE ELECTRICAL FIRE, I AM UNCERTAIN OF OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BE THE ENGINE SEIZING AT SUCH SPEEDS/