NHTSA Complaint #11470152 — 2017 KIA SORENTO

I left my home in Northern California and drove my 2017 KIA Sorento EX V6 AWD to work. No one was with me in the vehicle. There seemed to be a rattling sound in the engine when I started and drove the vehicle. There was no illuminated light on the dashboard to indicate a specific issue. I was planning to drop off the vehicle at the KIA Service Center-Roseville Automall after work. I just got off the freeway, when the Kia slowed down by itself. I was able to pull over to the right shoulder of the freeway and the KIA just completely stopped with faint sounds coming from the engine. I turned the car off. I stayed in the car and was about to call my auto insurance company when I smelled smoke. I stepped out, checked the Kia from outside, saw something dripping under the front of the car, and started to catch fire. I immediately stepped far from it and called 911. The fire got bigger and just burned the whole front. We had the KIA Sorento serviced in December 2021 for a leaky oil switch despite timely maintenance at the KIA Service Center through the years. The maintenance guy said we did not have to pay to resolve the leaky oil issue because of a recall warranty. We brought the KIA again for a regular maintenance service and brake pad repairs on 4/2/2022. Later on, we got a letter from the KIA Headquarters dated 4/7/2022 regarding 2014-2018 MY KIA Sorento 3.3 L Vehicle Oil Pressure Switch Leaking New Vehicle Limited Warranty Extension. Somewhere in the letter stated, “If oil is NOT leaking from the engine or the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light DOES NOT remain illuminated after the engine is turned ON, you DO NOT need to bring your vehicle to a Kia dealership for the purpose of this warranty extension.” I thought the vehicle was in the clear already since it got serviced for the leaky oil in 12/2021 and completed its regular maintenance in 4/2022. Proof of service records,vehicle photos, KIA’s extended warranty letter for recall are all available.