NHTSA Complaint #11192295 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

WAS DRIVING ON I45 IN PFLUGERVILLE DOING A U TURN TO GO WEST BOUND. HEARD A LOUD BAND LIKE SOMETHING "FELL OUT" OF THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHOOT SPARKS AND FLAMES. I WAS WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AN SOME FRIENDS SO WE ALL JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. MY MOM PICKED US ALL UP AND TXDOT STAYED WITH THE CAR WHILE MY MOM GOT A TOW TRUCK. MY MOM CALL INSURANCE AND HAD THE CAR TO HER MECHANIC AND WHEN THEY STARTED IT UP IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SHOOT FLAMES AND SPARKS. THEY FOUND A HOLD IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON A 60K MILE CAR. KIA HAS SO MANY RECALLS AND THIS CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR WAS IN THE RECALL ABUT NOT THE VIN NUMBER. SOUTHWEST KIA IN AUSTIN TOOK FOREVER TO "INVESTIGATE." THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS BUT RATHER JIFFY LUBE LEFT A RAG IN CAR THAT GOT SUCKED THROUGH THE DIPSTICKS AND WRAPPED AROUND THE CRANK SHANK. I HAD DRIVEN FROM TEXAS TO ARIZONA TO COLORADO AND BACK TO TEXAS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS RAG FROM PRIOR MECHANICS THAT LOOKED AT IT BEFORE KIA DID THEIR INVESTIGATION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS IS A FAULTY ISSUE WITH KIA AND THEY ARE TRYING TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. THEY ARE RECALLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS FOR ENGINE FIRES. WHEN DEALING WITH KIA NOW THEY ARE HOSTILE AND CALL IT AN "ALLEGED FIRE." THEY ARE NOW SAYING AN ADJUSTER NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT BUT THAT WAS OVER A WEEK AGO. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE CASE MANGER FOR RECALLS IS ON VACATION.