NHTSA Complaint #11074645 — 2012 KIA SORENTO

DEPRESSED PUSH TO START BUTTON, THE CAR MADE A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEELING AND GRINDING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT WAS NOT RUNNING. COULD NOT GET THE SOUND TO STOP. EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER 3-5 MINUTES. RESTARTED THE CAR THIS TIME IT STARTED, DROVE THE CAR WITH NO ISSUES FOR 3 DAYS. DEPRESSED PUSH TO START BUTTON LOUD SOUND CAME FROM UNDER ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED BUT NOT TURNING OVER THE MOTOR. COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP, STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL, AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT STOPPED SOUNDING AS IF THE STARTER BURNT UP. HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN MUNCIE, IN. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD STARTER DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF STARTER THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, HE INSTALLED NEW STARTER, ONCE NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER, MECHANIC ADVISED ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP.