NHTSA Complaint #11186804 — 2015 KIA SORENTO

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP RECENTLY FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, AND BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT DRIVING AS SMOOTHLY AS USUAL. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT, THERE WAS A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR WHICH SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED ON MY VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, I WAS OUT OF TOWN IN MY VEHICLE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THE RPMS WENT DOWN, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO SLIP, AND THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY DISABLED. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I BROUGHT IT TO EXPLAINED TO MY HUSBAND THAT THE "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN" -- WHERE THE SOFTWARE WAS ADDED TO MY VEHICLE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT KIA KNOWS THAT THE ENGINES HAVE ISSUES, AND MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE EARLY, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY HAVE DESIGNED SOMETHING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN A 'LIMP HOME MODE', SO THAT IT IS NOT FURTHER DAMAGED. BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN CALLED A RECALL -- EVEN THOUGH KIA HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ENGINE ISSUES -- A VAST MAJORITY OF KIA OWENERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE NOT HAD THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE, AND ARE AT RISK OF THEIR ENGINE FAILING AT HIGH SPEEDS, ENDANGERING THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OTHERS. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, JUST REPLACING THE ENGINES IS NOT ENOUGH, THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE COMPLETELY RECALLED. MANY ARE STILL BEING FINANCED, AND OWNERS OWE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON VEHICLES THAT WILL HAVE TO CARRY A SALVAGE TAG, AND BE WORTH PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR DUE TO HAVING AN ENGINE THAT IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED WITH. PLEASE HOLD KIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR IRRESPONSIBILITY, AND CONSUMER FRAUD.