NHTSA Complaint #11311975 — 2011 KIA SEDONA

STARTING ABOUT FEB 10, 2020, A RAW GASOLINE SMELL WAS NOTICED WHEN MY 2011 KIA SEDONA LX VEHICLE STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS OR WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF AFTER RETURNING HOME. SMELL DISSIPATED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES WITH ENGINE OFF. RAW GASOLINE SMELL GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHENEVER CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. SMELL CAME INSIDE CAR WITH HEATER FAN OPERATING. NO LEAKS ON GROUND WERE NOTED AT ANY TIME. TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC ON FEB 19, 2020. HE REMOVED AIR FILTER ON TOP OF ENGINE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTED PUDDLES OF RAW GASOLINE NEAR FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL RAIL. AFTER REMOVAL OF RAIL, HE FOUND CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC FUEL RAIL. HE HAD A NEW FUEL RAIL FROM KIA SHIPPED NEXT DAY AIR. HE REPLACED RAIL AND SOME PARTS OF DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. HE COMMENTED WE WERE VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. I NOTED TODAY, FEB 27, 2020 AN ANNOUNCED RECALL FOR 2011-2012 KIA SEDONA FOR FUEL RAIL LEAKS. I DO NOT KNOW IF MY VEHICLE IS IN THE RECALL LIST. BUT I DO KNOW WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE NO FIRE IN THE ENGINE FROM THIS DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL PART! MY MECHANIC COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS PART WAS MADE OUT OF A PLASTIC POLYMER! AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY!!! HE CHECKED LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE ABOUT $2000. WOW, FOR A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC PART AND LABOR TO REPLACE.