NHTSA Complaint #11101127 — 2016 KIA SORENTO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, NO FAILURE WAS NOTICED AND THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AN EXPLOSION SOUND WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OMIT BLACK SMOKE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.