NHTSA Complaint #11064999 — 2014 KIA FORTE

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE 5 SOUTHBOUND. IT EXPERIENCED A KIND OF ROAD HAZARD LIKE A SMALL ROCK SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EXITS 210 AND 205. THE IMPACT WAS MINIMAL AND MADE ONLY A SMALL NOISE AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REASON TO THINK THE VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGE OR NEEDED TO STOP. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 3 OR 4 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE EXIT 205. THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN WAS PUNCTURED, AND THE ENGINE OIL WAS DRAINED OUT. THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN GLENDALE, CA. REPAIR COSTS WERE QUOTED TO BE $7,332.63. KIA DEEMED THE REPAIRS NON-WARRANTABLE DUE TO THE DAMAGE BEING EXTERNAL. GOODWILL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BY KIA AT A PRICE OF $4532.66. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE OIL PAN AND THE ENGINE WHICH BECAME CRITICALLY DAMAGED FROM SUCH A MINIMAL IMPACT. THE COMPLAINT IS ALSO AGAINST THE WARNING SYSTEM OF THE CAR WHICH FAILED TO NOTIFY THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE IN A TIMELY MANNER BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE AND PUT THE PASSENGERS AT RISK.