NHTSA Complaint #11666832 — 2017 KIA SORENTO

Engine failure. Hyundai and Kia Theta Engine Class Action Settlement 2017 Kia sorento 2.0 vin [XXX] . vehicle has the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Update which extends engine coverage to 10 years/150k miles for rod bearing failure. the vehicle has 118k miles and is at a kia dealership. They denied coverage due to no present codes related to the knock sensor and being that it has low compression on one cylinder. My 2017 Kia Sorento experienced a serious engine failure related to rod bearing wear, a known issue in the Theta II 2.4L GDI engine. The engine began making a loud knocking noise, which is a classic sign of rod bearing failure. They just so happened to left that out of their diagnosis that it has rod bearing noise and are using only the fact that low compression and no code related to the bearings to deny the coverage. When rod bearings wear out, they allow excessive play in the connecting rods, leading to unstable piston movement. In interference engines like this one, that instability can cause the piston to travel too far upward and strike open valves during operation. This can result in bent valves, valve seat damage, low cylinder compression, and repeated misfires. In my case, the engine was diagnosed with low compression and misfires consistent with this kind of internal damage. This isn’t just a wear-and-tear issue. it’s a known design flaw that leads to catastrophic engine failure and a serious safety risk. Kia denied coverage, despite this exact failure being covered under a class action settlement and extended warranty program, and despite my vehicle showing textbook symptoms of the defect. I am requesting a full investigation into Kia's handling of these claims and the lack of proper recall enforcement. My name is [XXX] with 1A auto mart inc. I am handling this case for my customer who is the registered owner of the vehicle [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)