NHTSA Complaint #11388752 — 2013 KIA FORTE

2013 KIA FORTE SEDAN, 2.4L THETA II, MY MPI ENGINE APPROX. 98K MILES (DEC 18 2020), LIGHT TICKING WAS OBSERVED WHILE DRIVING AS USUAL. THIS TICKING QUICKLY ESCALATED (DEC 21, 2020) TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THE CAR AND NOT DRIVING ANY FURTHER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN ASE SHOP TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE (DEC 25, 2020). WITHIN A FEW DAYS (DEC 28 - JAN 31) IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE HAVING METAL IN THE OIL AND FILTER. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS, FORUMS AND RELATED RECALLS POINTING TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TO DATE (JANUARY 18, 2021) THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PLATFORM. ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND, KIA IS TO ANNOUNCE A RECALL (JANUARY 27, 2021) OF THIS SPECIFIC SERIES OF ENGINES AS WELL. CURRENTLY THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO FACILITATE THIS ENGINE PROBLEM. ONLY THE FACT THAT THE SERVICE DEPT HAS AGREED TO KEEP THE CAR UNTIL MORE RECALL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE HELP WITH INFORMATION OR CONTACT TO FACILITATE A SOLUTION TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL KEPT WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES.