NHTSA Complaint #11386121 — 2017 KIA OPTIMA PHEV

GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY ACCELERATING, WHEN HEARD RATTLING AND SAW SMOKE, EXITED THE FREEWAY AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR OR DURING THIS TIME. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP IN CITY OF CARSON. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL ON SATURDAY 1/2/2021 FROM TONY AT THE DEALERSHIP ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. I AGREED TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. RECEIVED A CALL BACK WITHIN AN HOUR TO NOTIFY ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE, NO REPAIRS COULD BE DONE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I ASKED HOW DID THE HOLE GET IN THE ENGINE. HE SAID THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ROD THAT SHOT OUT OF THE ENGINE CREATING A HOLE. IT WILL COST $8,875 AND WILL TAKE AROUND 3-4 WEEKS TO REPAIR. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2017 WITH APPROX. 3000 MILES ON IT. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AFTER PURCHASE 2017-2018. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE KIA IN CERRITOS BECAUSE IT WAS INOPERABLE, SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD IT IN TO BE SERVICED AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES. INCLUDING ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IN AUGUST 24, 2020 WHEN THEY REPAIRED THE ACTIVE AIR FLAPS AND A NEW BATTERY.