NHTSA Complaint #11183448 — 2016 KIA SOUL

I PURCHASED MY KIA SOUL IN FEBRUARY 2016. I'VE DRIVEN AROUND 45,000 MILES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT UNTIL THE OTHER NIGHT. DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN A LOUD SCREECH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR JERKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO STALL BUT IT DIDN'T. A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES. DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. ADDED AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL SINCE I SAW THE OIL LIGHT FLICKER. I THEN DROVE HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE WAY. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT WAS OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SO, I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (1.5 MILES AT THE MOST) AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED $4,000 TO $6,000 FOR A USED ONE AND FOR A NEW ONE IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. SEVERAL OF THE OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT WENT BANKRUPT. I HAVE NO WAY TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THOSE RECEIPTS. ALL I COULD SUPPLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONE RECEIPT AND THEY HAD ONE RECEIPT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. THEREFORE, NO COPIES... NO WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST TO REPAIR IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. THE DEALER WILL BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND $4,000 AT BEST. WHY IS IT THAT ONE MINUTE A 3 YEAR OLD CAR IS RUNNING GREAT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S PARKED AND IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE? SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT ABOUT THAT AND I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.