NHTSA Complaint #11354070 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS OFF APPROX 20 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STARTED TO DIE DOWN. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TO SCARED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TO SEE IF I COULD DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT KIA THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS NOT AN ENGINE ISSUE HE THINKS IT MAY BE FROM A SLUDGE BUILD UP FROM OIL (BECAUSE HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE). I HAD JUST TAKEN MY CAR FOR ITS OIL CHANGED THAT SAME DAY. WHICH THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANY KIND OF BUILD UP. THE KIA EMPLOYEES WERE RUDE WHEN I CALLED AND REQUESTED A LOANER CAR. THEY AT FIRST TOLD ME TO COME DOWN AND PICK UP A CAR, ONCE I DROVE IN, THEY DENIED ME FOR A LOANER CAR AND TOLD ME I COULD RENT ONE FOR 35 A DAY. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CAN'T GET A CODE TO COME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH KIA THEN IS TELLING ME IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN ASKED WHY THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE, THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THEY HAVE TOO, WHEN REALLY THEY DON'T TECHNICALLY KNOW FOR SURE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE ISSUE. SO NOW KIA IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY 7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WOULD BE COVERED IF THEY CAN GET A CODE TO COME UP. SO, NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY THIS TO GET MY CAR UP AND RUNNING SO I DON'T LOSE MY JOB (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY MISSED SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO NOT HAVING A VEHICLE). MY FATHER AND I MET WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE IS UNDECIDED WHAT THE ISSUE, OR CAUSE IS AT THIS TIME. THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE, AND KIA TOLD HER THE SAME THING THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM A OIL SLUDGE ISSUE, BUT AFTER MONTHS OF ARBITRATION, KIA COMPENSATED HER FOR THE DAMAGES.