NHTSA Complaint #11076238 — 2013 KIA RIO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DUE TO AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER (BOB BELL KIA OF BALTIMORE, 7900 EASTERN AVE #1, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WRENCH UNDER THE HOOD, BUT HAD BEEN THE ONLY REPAIR FACILITY SERVICING A VEHICLE, THE SECOND TIME, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. DURING THE THIRD REPAIR, THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF THE THIRD REPAIR FROM THE DEALER WITH NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SENSOR RELATED TO THE THROTTLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 15 TSBS ON THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.