NHTSA Complaint #11241227 — 2014 KIA SORENTO

ON 8/1/19 WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD IN STAMFORD CT, THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. I WAITED FOR 3-4 MINS AND THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT STARTED WITHOUT AN ISSUE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR, THE OTHER TIME WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS PRIOR IN MONROE NY. IN SEPT 2018, THE CAR ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WAS THE FIRST INDICATION - IT HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR TO SEPT 2018, AND SINCE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE, THEY DEEMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. IN AUGUST 2018, THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT TURN ON AGAIN. IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MADISON, CT TO STAMFORD CT WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. I HAD TO WAIT ALMOST A MONTH FOR A NEW ENGINE AND NOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 8/1/19, EVERY SINGLE TIME THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR - THEY ARE NOW 5 AND 8. THIS IS INCREDIBLY FRIGHTENING TO BE ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TURN OFF. IN 2018, I WOULD ONLY DRIVE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE NEAR THE SHOULDER IN THE EVENT THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I WILL BEGIN DRIVING ONCE AGAIN IN THE RIGHT LANE ONLY BECAUSE I DO NOT WISH TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS CAR'S CONTINUED FAULTY ENGINE ISSUES.