NHTSA Complaint #11529458 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

My engine failed on a busy road on my home after a long day of work. I was at a red light when my car failed and was terrified a car was going to hit me. I was the first car in line and had barely made it past the light. Thankfully, I was able to have my car pushed into a nearby lot by complete strangers. I had just gotten off of the freeway, I easily could have been killed or hurt. My car was towed to the dealership where I purchased it from where it was confirmed that my engine seized and I needed an engine replacement. My car started knocking the day before it failed (Friday, May 26, 2023). This is the only symptom my vehicle had. I took it to Kia the same day and they told me to return on Tuesday morning after the holiday weekend for a diagnosis. It failed Saturday afternoon (May 27, 2023). I have not had it inspected by KIA because they insist that they will not honor the lifetime warranty on my car because of a pre-requisite system update that was not completed. However, once again, the dealership I purchased it from has done a diagnosis and concluded that my engine seized due to faulty manufacturing. I am the second owner of the vehicle. The previous owner received both of the recall notifications in the mail regarding the system update that was required to be covered under the lifetime warranty. I knew nothing of it and Kia refuses to hold themselves liable for an engine that would have inevitably failed — and could’ve cost me my life.