NHTSA Complaint #11690897 — 2020 KIA SPORTAGE

On Sunday, [XXX], I was driving my 2020 Kia Sportage on [XXX] in California at approximately 75 miles per hour. Without warning, the engine made a loud, abnormal noise and the vehicle suddenly and dangerously lost power. My speed dropped abruptly to around 62 miles per hour, nearly causing a rear-end collision as surrounding vehicles were traveling at freeway speed. I was forced to immediately pull over to the shoulder to avoid being struck. At that point, the engine was running extremely hot, creating a hazardous situation. Out of concern for my safety, and with fear that the vehicle could potentially catch fire, I exited the vehicle and waited at a safe distance until I could arrange for a tow truck. This incident placed me and other motorists in serious danger. The abrupt loss of power at freeway speed could have easily resulted in a major accident. It is important to note that this Sportage has been meticulously maintained, with 12 documented service records in just 2.5 years of ownership. This clearly demonstrates proper care and maintenance, ruling out negligence as a cause of the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)