NHTSA Complaint #11398567 — 2014 KIA FORTE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND A BURNING FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DAMAGES CONNECTING RODS. RODS THAT CONNECTS THE PISTON TO THE CRANKSHAFT FROM THE BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE KIA MANUFACTURER FOR SUPPORT AND WAS INFORMED THERE WOULD BE A RECALL FROM NHTSA COMING OUT SOON RELATING TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) AND THAT WAS THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO HANSEN KIA ( 2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502) FOR A RECALL INSPECTION BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE AND NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL SO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DENIED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE AGAIN WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE THAT HAD A BROKEN ROD BEARING RELATING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE KIA DEALER OF THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSTIC AND PROVIDED PHOTO EVIDENCE BUT WAS AGAIN DENIED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER SHOWING ON VIN TOOL WHEN HE SEARCHED IT USING HIS VIN AFTER THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL INSPECTION, THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800.