NHTSA Complaint #11204072 — 2013 KIA FORTE

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE KIA HAS BEEN KNOCKING AT LOW ENGINE RPM UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, PARTICULARLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ENGAGED. IT'S GAS MILEAGE IS ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY DOWN. I HAD THOUGHT IT NEEDED A TUNE UP, BUT AFTER READING ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH OTHER KIA AND HYUNDAI ISSUES WITH THE THETA II ENGINE, IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY THAT THIS ENGINE IS GETTING READY TO GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD AS THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO. FOR THE MOMENT I AM GOING TO PARK THE CAR AND DRIVE MY AVALANCHE (DESPITE GAS BEING NORTH OF $4 A GALLON) UNTIL THE FORTE IS INCLUDED IN THE ENGINE RECALLS LIKE THE OTHER KIA MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. IT IS BAFFLING TO ME THAT THIS MODEL WAS EXCLUDED.