NHTSA Complaint #11321236 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

MY 16 YEAR OLD SON SAVED HIS MONEY (SINCE 13 YEARS OLD) AND PURCHASED BACK IN OCTOBER 2019 THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER WITH 79546 MILES ON THE CAR. ON FEBRUARY 18, 2020 ON HIS DRIVE HOME FROM SCHOOL HE NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. HE WAS NOT SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHATSOEVER. HE DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK HAD NO OIL ON IT. THE CAR AT THIS TIME ONLY HAD 82794, IT'S LAST OIL CHANGE BACK WHEN WE PURCHASED IT IN OCTOBER AT 79546 MILES. HOW DOES A CAR BURN THROUGH SYNTHETIC OIL IN A LITTLE OVER 3K MILES AND 5 MONTHS OF DRIVING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHICH STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARS THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH HYUNDAI AND KIA BUT IT APPEARS THE HEARING FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. I WISH AS A PARENT WE WOULD HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE OF RESEARCHING ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF KIA VEHICLES BECAUSE KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THIS PURCHASE. I FEEL COMPLETELY SCREWED AND NOW MY POOR 16 YEAR OLD HAS NO CAR BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE 6K TO FIX IT. WHAT A TERRIBLE FIRST CAR PURCHASING EXPERIENCE FOR MY SON. PLEASE GET KIA CORPORATION TO DUE THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD. THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN REGARDS TO THE DESIGN OF THEIR ENGINE.