NHTSA Complaint #11221958 — 2013 KIA SORENTO

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR KIA STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. WE SLOWED DOWN AND STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN WE HEAR PIECES OF OUR CAR BREAKING OFF AND SAW A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. WHEN WE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS SEIZING AND CAUSED THE BEARING TO PUNCH A HOLE INTO THE ENGINE. THE PARTS WE HEAR FLYING OFF WERE ACTUALLY PIECES OF THE ENGINE EXTERIOR, WHICH CAUSED SPARKS AND IGNITED THE FIRE WHEN THE ENGINE OIL STARTED POURING OUT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WE HAVE KEPT UP ON MAINTENANCE. LESS THAN 100K MILES. VIN IS NOT PART OF ENGINE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS CLEAR UPON LITTLE RESEARCH THAT KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY DON'T CARE, AND THEY ARE DOING LITTLE TO FIX IT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WE'RE PUTTING AT STAKE AND THESE CARS NEED OFF THE ROAD. THEY ARE NOT SAFE. PLEASE HELP THE PUBLIC DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.