NHTSA Complaint #11240591 — 2012 KIA SPORTAGE

WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT, CHECK ENGINE AND KEY LIGHT TURNED ON. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS READING NORMAL, I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND NOTHING BUT THE BATTERY OPERATED SYSTEMS TURNED ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP WHERE THEY STARTED WITH REPLACING THE STARTER; WHICH APPEARED TO BE BURNT. ONCE THE NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED, THE MECHANIC TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND, AGAIN, NOTHING FROM THE ENGINE - NOT ONE SOUND. THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $150 TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN TRY TO START THE CAR; WHICH I ALREADY EXPLAINED TO THEM WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE ENGINE NOT RESPONDING. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T INVESTIGATE FURTHER THAN THAT TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO APPEAL THEIR DECISION BY CALLING KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS OPENED A CLAIM AND STATED THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME WITH A DECISION IN 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS; HOWEVER, I'M UNSURE HOW THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A SOUND DECISIONS REGARDING REPLACING MY ENGINE WITHOUT DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON TOP OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE, THERE HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN ANY INCIDENTS THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS ENGINE WAS ON ITS WAY OUT. AT 133K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON, OTHER THAN INTERNAL DEFECT CAUSED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS; THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS ISSUE.