NHTSA Complaint #11309150 — 2017 KIA SOUL

ENGINE- 2017 KIA SOUL 2.0 L 4-CYL. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE 42,788. MILEAGE AT FAILURE WAS 89,144. USAGE PREDOMINATELY HWY MILES. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, WE OWNED THE VEHICLE 19 MONTHS. REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH CASTROL GTX AND EDGE 100% SYNTHETIC 5W20 OIL. FEBRUARY 02, 2020 MY WIFE STARTED THE DAY DRIVING AWAY FROM HOME. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IN THE 60'S AND SUNNY. DROVE 4.5 MILES TRAVELING 45MPH ON A STRAIGHT LEVEL CITY ROADWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED OR WHEN TURNING OFF THE ROADWAY WITH LOSS OF POWER T-BONED TRYING TO EXIT THE ROADWAY IN AN EMERGENCY. THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN LANE OR ENOUGH GROUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY TO PULL OFF. ALL OF A SUDDEN, FOR NO REASON, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. SHE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, NO WARNING LIGHTS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ NORMAL. WITHIN SECONDS, SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF ANY DAMAGE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE MOTOR OR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. MANUFACTURES INITIAL TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. WE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THEY DETERMINED THE ISSUE TO BE A ROD KNOCK. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED FROM A COMPRESSION TEST THE #2 CYLINDER IS AT 80#'S COMPRESSION THE OTHER THREE AT 150#'S. I HAVE READ YOUR REPORT REGARDING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO KIA'S MOTOR FAILURES. I BELIEVE THIS MOTOR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION ALTHOUGH BOTH VIN SEARCHES TURNED UP NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE A MINIMUM FEE OF 1500-1600 TO TEAR THE MOTOR DOWN AND COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHY THE MOTOR FAILED. WE HAVE AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY PROGRAM AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY NOT TO PAY FOR ANY CLAIM ON THIS ISSUE. OUR DILEMMA IS ONGOING AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT.