NHTSA Complaint #11322820 — 2014 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THICK BLACK SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN KIA DEALER, LOCATED IN BATON ROUGE, LA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.