NHTSA Complaint #11170873 — 2017 KIA SPORTAGE

I RECEIVED A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN LETTER FROM KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INCORPORATED DATED DECEMBER 2ND 2018 THEY SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO PERFORM A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE ECU IN MY VEHICLE IT ALSO STATES KIA IS PROVIDING LIFETIME WARRANTY COVERAGE TO BOTH NEW AND USED VEHICLE OWNERS FOR ENGINE LONG BLOCK ASSEMBLY REPAIRS NEEDED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CONNECTING ROD BEARING DAMAGE UPON COMPLETION OF THIS PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN I DID TAKE THE CAR IN FOR THE ECU SENSOR UPDATE AND ASK THEM EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND THEY SAID THE ECU SENSOR WILL INDICATE TO THE DRIVER THAT THE ENGINE IS EXPERIENCING DAMAGE OR PROBLEMS AND TO BRING IT IN. IF IT FALLS UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE ENGINE COVERAGE THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. IN THE MEANTIME I AM DRIVING AROUND IN A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WHERE DAMAGE IS OCCURRING AS I'M DRIVING IT AND IT WILL WORSEN TO THE POINT THAT THE ECU SENSOR WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THE DAMAGE IS SO BAD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS WILL THIS DAMAGE OCCUR IN 1 MONTH 1 YEAR 5 YEARS OR IS IT OCCURRING EACH AND EVERY TIME I CRANK IT UP. WHAT SPECIFIC DAMAGE IS OCCURRING TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS MANY COMPONENTS THIS INFORMATION I DO NOT KNOW WILL IT CATCH ON FIRE WILL IT STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WILL IT LEAVE ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE IF THE ISSUE CAN BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED WHY NOT MAKE ME THAT OFFER TO REPAIR THE ENGINE NOW REPLACE THE ENGINE NOW OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE IS THIS VEHICLE SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD BASED ON THE CONCERNS KIA HAVE ABOUT THE LONG ENGINE BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE CONNECTING RODS I AM A LAY PERSON WITH NO MECHANICAL EXPERTISE BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THIS CAR HAS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS I HAVE NOT ON THIS VEHICLE A FULL YEAR YET AN ENGINE PROBLEMS IS NOT SOMETHING A CONSUMER WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THANK YOU *TR