NHTSA Complaint #11319838 — 2014 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILLION AUTO - KIA OF IOWA CITY (2845 MORMON TREK BLVD, IOWA CITY, IA 52246) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED BY THE SERVICE STICKER PLACED ON THE WINDOW THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING THE SAME DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY USED THAT TYPE OF OIL DUE TO THE RECALL UPDATE. AS THE CONTACT STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTING TO FLASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INITIALLY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ENGINE MISFIRE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND HIT AN UNKNOWN OBJECT ON THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED A BLOWOUT OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS VERY LOW DESPITE HAVING A RECENT OIL CHANGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT CALLED BACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.