NHTSA Complaint #11340016 — 2017 KIA SOUL

I WAS WAITING IN THE DRIVE-THRU OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, WHEN MY OIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER THEN CAME ON SOLID. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE OIL LIGHT HAD EVER COME ON. I DROVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET TO A GAS STATION AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, BUT NO OIL REGISTERED ON THE DIP STICK. I ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL, IT NOW REGISTERED ALMOST FULL AND DROVE IT HOME (APPROX. 1 MILE). WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. THE NEXT DAY I CHANGED THE OIL ADDING ONE QUART OF LUCAS OIL ADDITIVE. THE KNOCKING DID NOT GO AWAY AND I NOW NOTICED STEAM COMING OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE WHEN I WAS LETTING THE ENGINE WARM UP. I LEFT MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR FEAR OF DOING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. A FEW MONTHS LATER (WHEN I WAS IN A BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION), I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO KIA OF RIVERSIDE, WHERE THEY SAID THEY WOULD START A CASE WITH KIA MOTORS TO RUN TESTS TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE FAILURE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED ON 6/23/20. ON 7/15/20, THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME KIA MOTORS WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER AND IT HAD 69K MILES. I BOUGHT IT WITH APPROX 33K MILES. THEY SAY I NEED A NEW MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $6,600. FOR THE RECORD, I GIVE MY CAR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK ANYWHERE ON THE ENGINE. AT THIS TIME MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS.