NHTSA Complaint #11266533 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

INTERMITTENT STALLING OF VEHICLE UPON SLOWING/STOPPING AT REDLIGHTS/STOP SIGNS IN WHICH ENGINE BEGINS LOSING POWER/GAS EITHER STALLS AS IF IT'S TRYING TO QUIT OR CAR STALLS & QUITS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS & INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. I HAVE NOTICED MY MOTOR KNOCKING LOUDER & UPON VISUAL EXAM, THE ENTIRE MOTOR IS SHAKING WHICH CAN BE FELT WHILE DRIVING BUT MOST NOTICEABLE CAUSING CAR TO SHAKE WHEN AT AN IDOL. MOST RECENT, I'VE BEGAN TO SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE UPON STARTING THE CAR BUT WORSENS UPON ACCELERATING. THE CAR IS RUNNING RICH, AND SMELL OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG, WE HAVE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. THE FUMES ARE MORE PROMINENT TOWARDS REAR OF CAR CLOSE TO EXHAUST. I CANNOT SEE ANY LEAKAGE OF FUEL WHEN LOOKING HOWEVER I AM LOSING FUEL SOMEWHERE BECAUSE MY GAS MILEAGE HAS GREATLY GOTTEN WORSE & BURNING THROUGH IT AT A FAST PACE. I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY NC TODAY IN WHICH THEY UPGRADED COMPUTER SOFTWARE RELATED TO RECALL ON 2.4L GDI ENGINE AS I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. MECHANIC STATES THE ENGINE TEST DID PASS BUT FEELS IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT SOME POINT?? MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T SMELL ANY GASOLINE BUT HE DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR OR RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AS HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $129 FEE......I DECLINED PAYING THE FEE AND REQUESTED IT BE DONE AS THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THAT WAS DENIED. I NEED THIS ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED. IT IS DANGEROUS, COSTING ME MORE MONEY FOR GAS & AFFECTING MY JOB. PLEASE ADVISE.......THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD NOT PLACE FINANCIAL OR SAFETY BURDENS ON OWNERS AS WE ALREADY PAY ENOUGH FINANCING AS WELL AS REGULAR/NORMAL WEAR & TEAR EXPENSES!! I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON MINE BUT BECOMING TOO DIFFICULT & DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ESP GETTING TO WORK SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY!!