NHTSA Complaint #11299456 — 2012 KIA SPORTAGE

ON SUNDAY (11/3) I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE (A CAR WE PURCHASED USED FROM KIA OF EAST HARTFORD, CT AND CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT) ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO POWER DOWN. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR SEIZED UP, A LOUD BANG SOUNDED FROM UNDER THE CAR, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND OIL COVERED THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO OUR LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK SUFFERED A QUARTER-SIZED HOLE FROM SOMETHING BEING DISPELLED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS WAS DETERMINED, WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE AS A RECALL AND WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED (SEE BELOW). VIN #[XXX]. WE WERE TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT WHATEVER CAUSED OUR CAR TO JUST STOP WORKING ON THE INTERSTATE?WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. IT SEEMS VERY SUSPECT THAT GIVEN WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED, THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. AFTER MUCH DEBATE AND OVER A MONTH LATER STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE, KIA HAS TOLD US THEY WILL SUPPLY THE PARTS BUT THAT WE WERE STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $3,000+ OF LABOR. I?M SORRY, BUT KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS & ENGINES. AGAIN, WE ONLY HAVE 68,000 MILES ON OUR CAR. WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE DIRECTIVE OF HAVING TO PAY THE LABOR FEES. WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO REVIEW THIS COMPLAINT AND PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION FOR US. I HAVE TRIED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO TALK TO SOMEONE BEYOND THE MECHANIC & FIRST LINE REP, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE AT KIA. THIS IS THE CASE # [XXX]FOR KIA. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. [XXX]. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR