NHTSA Complaint #11398071 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND SAW METAL PARTS AND OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE THAT THE BEARING ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT THE CALLED THE CABLE DAHMER KIA OF LEE'S SUMMIT (400 NE COLBERN RD, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64086, (816) 207-6200) AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 150,000 MILES. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.