NHTSA Complaint #11628715 — 2016 KIA SEDONA

I brought my 2016 Kia Sedona into a mechanic to get checked over and get some new front tires put on on 8/19/24. I was informed that the oil needed changing. So, I changed it as I have always done for years. We took off on a ~2600 mile round trip out east. Once there, I noticed that when I would travel close to a cement divider, a noise was coming from the vehicle that got louder as I accelerated. Thought is was the muffler (sounded like I was hot rodding). There were no engine lights on the dash, so I didn't think there were any major issues. A muffler could wait till I got back. This trip was end of August. There were no other issues, so I put it off. I figured a small hole in muffler or loose. We were called to go back out to New York for 11 days the end of November, and after another 2600 miles, the noise was significantly louder, but mostly noticeable when accelerating. Still idled fairly well. Still no engine lights. On 11/27/24 we took a 600+ mile trip. As of 12/2/2024, I brought the vehicle in to get the spark pugs changed and check the noise. The mechanic said that I was 4.5 quarts low and the noise was knocking in the motor itself. I had replaced the engine oil (synthetic) end of August and now find this Dec. 3rd after bringing it in. It has never burned oil, and there is no evidence of leakage on the floor or anywhere in the engine compartment or oil pan (mine and mechanics observations). Loss of 4.5 quarts in just over 2 months, when never an issue before? And no low oil engine light coming on? This was just taken on 5800 miles of primarily highways. From what I have been reading, knocking prior to engine failure has been popping up, and my family and I could have had a major problem had I gone any longer without checking it out. It is a major issue not having the low oil sensor go off, and suddenly being without 4.5 quarts in such a short time without prior issues, or warning.