NHTSA Complaint #11361746 — 2012 KIA SPORTAGE

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS COMING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE AND KNOCK AND BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN. SHE PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THEY OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE CAME OUT BUT THERE WASN'T A FIRE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. BECAUSE THERE IS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP HAS DECLINED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE BEING TOLD THE VIN NUMBER THAT IS ON OUR THETA II GDI ENGINE IS NOT ON THE OTHER ENGINE RECALLS FOR THE 2012 KIA SPORTAGETHETA II ENGINE. IT APPEARS THAT KIA IS TRYING TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM FIXING AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES BY DESIGNATING ONLY CERTAIN ENGINES QUALIFY. PUTTING AN ENGINE IN A VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION, PARTICULARLY NOW WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND HAVING LIMITED WORK HOURS. THERE ARE NO SAVINGS TO REPAIR THIS. WE NOW HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE WITH NO ENGINE THAT IS USELESS FOR US. WE HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AND WILL AGAIN APPEAL TO THEM NOW THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED IT. BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR AGENCY IS ABLE TO PUSH KIA TO INCLUDE ANY OF THESE ENGINES THAT HAVE FAILED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAVE BEEN WELL MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS.