NHTSA Complaint #11103921 — 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP

WE BOUGHT THIS 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP IN OCTOBER 2014. IT HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND ON SCHEDULE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE ON DECEMBER 19, 2017 AND HER CAR STARTED SMOKING, SHAKING AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE CAR HAD 73,405 MILES ON IT. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE BACK TO OUR DEALERSHIP IN LUFKIN, TX, I RESEARCHED WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AND IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ENGINE FAILURES EXPERIENCED BY THE KIA OPTIMAS AND SORENTOS THAT WERE RECALLED. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS DECIDED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE BLOCK. ACCORDING TO KIA IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET THE BLOCK IN. WE CHOSE TO SEND HER BACK TO SCHOOL IN OUR PERSONAL FAMILY VEHICLE. 2 WEEKS TURNED INTO 5 MONTHS. THE KIA SERVICE MANAGER UPON BEGINNING REPAIR IN MAY 2018, SAID THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT FULL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE SIMILAR TO THE OPTIMAS AND SORENTOS EVEN THOUGH THE FORTE WAS NOT RECALLED. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE ENGINE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BESIDES THE BLOCK. TOTAL INVOICE: LABOR $2464 PARTS $7435.34 TAX $613.42. TOTAL COST $9762.76 NADA VALUE OF CAR $9600. KIA CONSUMER SERVICE RESPONSE: INITIAL OFFER $1500, FINAL OFFER $2461.70 (PRICE OF THE REMAN ENGINE). NOT TO MENTION LOSS OF USE FOR 5 MONTHS. KIA SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE ENGINE DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF USER NEGLECT AND THAT THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WAS 100% MANUFACTURE DEFECT.