NHTSA Complaint #11265552 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH HER DISABLED DAUGHTER. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND NOTICED THE BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLESTON (335 MACCORKLE AVE SW, CHARLESTON, WV 25303, (855) 739-5369). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER LAST NIGHT. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR HISTORY. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST REGARDING AN UNKNOWN RECALL. IN MAY OF 2019, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTED THE DEALER TO INSTALL A DEVICE TO ELIMINATE THE KNOCKING NOISE. THE DEVICE WOULD ENABLE THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN 35 MPH SHOULD THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION FOR AN UNKNOWN DISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.