NHTSA Complaint #11173421 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

DRIVING UPHILL IN SUNOL CLOSE TO FREMONT I-680 WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE APPEARS TO BE THE ENGINE. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE SO I PULLED OVER AND EXIT FREEWAY. THE CAR THEN STOPPED ANG ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR, IT JUST SHAKE THEN DIED RIGHT AWAY. I THEN HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP IN STOCKTON. THE MECHANIC SAYS SOMETHING CAME OFF LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE AND IT NEEDS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE $5K TO $8K. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHY A 5 YRS OLD CAR THAT HAS 114K ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE AN ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. THEY HAD ME CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIR. THEY TOWED MY CAR TO THEIR PREFERRED KIA DEALERSHIP TO GET DIAGNOSE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE SC147. THE DEALERSHIP WILL PERFORM A DIAGNOSTICS TOMORROW THEN THEY WILL CALL ME FOR THE RESULTS. IF THE CAUSED OF ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY THE RECALL, THEY WILL REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE AND PROVIDE A LOANER CAR.