2014 KIA SOUL Engine Problems

ON DECEMBER 9TH, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVED MY IMPORTANT BELONGINGS. WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED CITY POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CAR WAS ULTIMATELY DESTROYED AND TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD.

11-6-18 - WHILE IN MOTION, MID TURN, MY CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASH, AND THEN WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN, BATTERY DIED AS WELL AND WINDOW WAS STUCK DOWN. I AM SO THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. DEALERSHIP HAS SAID MOTOR IS LOCKED UP AND CANNOT EVEN BE MANUALLY STARTED & THAT I NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.

SAFETY CONCERN: ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE IS A 2014 KIA SOUL WITH 104,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT <20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A SINGLE "POP" SOUND AND THE VEHICLE EXPELLED A LARGE BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, INTO A GAS STATION. SHORTLY BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE DRIVER HEARD ANOTHER LOUD "POP" SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY AN ADDITIONAL CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE ESCAPING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED A COMPLETE STOP, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR, TO DISCOVER THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS ON-FIRE. THE FIRE WAS AS TALL AS THE ENGINE HOOD AND WIDE AS THE MOTOR. IT APPEARS ALL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE AREA WERE BURNED/MELTED, INCLUDING THE MOTOR COVER, HOSES,...

11/23/2018 1445 TRAVELING FROM WILSONVILLE OR TO NETARTS BAY, OR ON HWY 6 WESTBOUND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE/ KIA ENGINE OIL DEFECT - ENGINE SEIZED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SAFELY GOT INTO TILLAMOOK TO CALL AAA FOR AN 85 MILE TOW BACK HOME TO WILSONVILLE. HAD A VERY LONG WAIT IN THE RAIN FOR TOW TRUCK. WE REGULARLY CHANGED OIL AND PERFORMED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OF WHICH WE HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS, VERY CLEAN AND NO ACCIDENTS. NO WARNING TO ANY PROBLEM BEFORE INCIDENT. AFTER THE INCIDENT WE HAD THE OIL CHECKED AND CHANGED AGAIN AT VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE IN TILLAMOOK JUST TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. NEW OIL DID NOT IMPROVE THE CONDITION.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH LOUD SOUND FROM ENGINE AND ALL POWER LOST. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND DIP STICK SHOWED NO OIL IN ENGINE. OIL JUST CHANGE BY TWO MONTHS PRIOR BY KIA DEALERSHIP. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND POOL OF OIL. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE BLEW AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AS WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE WARRANTY IS NOT TRANSFERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD 70,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE BLEW. SO MUCH FOR A 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN KIA DOES NOT TRANSFER THE WARRANTY TO A VEHICLE THEY SELL AT THE DEALERSHIP. ITS CALLED A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY NOT A OWNER WARRANTY. KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY ENGINES THEY HAVE USED. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN ADMITTED THIS WAS A ENGINE FAILURE AND...

ENGINE WAS BURNING IN THE INSIDE HAD TO RETURN TO JIFFY LUBE EVERY 3TO4 DAYS TO CAP OFF OIL DIP STICK WAS BURNT AND ENGINE CAP HAD BURNED UP. KIA OF ELMHURST SOLD ME A CAR WITH BAD ROTARY FRONT AND REAR THE BRAKE PEDAL RUBBER FELL OFF WAS DRIVING ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT FOOT SLIDE OFF THE BRAKE LOOK DOWN AND THE RUBBER PROTECTOR WAS OFF TOOK IT BACK TO SERVICE AND BUT IT BACK ON AND A WEEK LATER IT FELL OFF AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP18003 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEMET KIA (153-03 HILLSIDE AVE, JAMAICA, NY 11432, 718-523-1145) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. *DT*JB *JS

DAUGHTER DRIVING IN LOCAL TRAFFIC 30 MPH. BLUE SMOKE AND ENGINE NOISE THEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. TOWED TO MECHANIC AND SAID THERE IS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND METAL SHARDS THAT CAME OUT THE HOLE. ALL OIL SPILLED OUT. TAKING TO KIA DEALER FOR REVIEW. ENGINE IS LOST. 67,000 MILES.

SO AT 106000 MILES ENGINE BLOW UP. COME TO FIND OUT THIS ENGINE IS THE SAME ENGINE BEING RECALLED ON OTHER KIA MODELS FOR SAME THING. KIA WOULD NOT HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR. THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALSO. IT BLOWS BECAUSE THE HOLD FOR THE PISTONS WHERE CUT WRONG. I WAS TOLD THIS BY THE KIA DEALER THAT FIXED MY CAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR TO ALERT THEM OF THE OIL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO CRAIN KIA OF BENTONVILLE (2901 MOBERLY LN, BENTONVILLE, AR) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE OIL ALERT FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

MY 2014 KIA SOUL COULD HAVE KILLED MY KIDS WHEN IT BLEW A ROD AT 120,000 MILES. MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING (MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER) MY CAR IN A BUSY 4 LANE TRAFFIC IN UTAH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER! I AM JUST GRATEFUL THAT MY CHILDREN DID NOT DIE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE KIA'S ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN FOREVER. I DID REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR AND NOW I AM LOOKING AT $5,000 TO REPAIR MY CAR! I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THE ONLY THING I GOT WAS TREATED BADLY! HOW COULD THIS BE MY FAULT? AN INTERESTING THING IS THAT A CO-WORKER OF MINE HAD A 2014 KIA THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AT 110,00 MILES! SHE ALSO HAD TO PAY THE MONEY AND KIA TREATED HER BADLY AS WELL. I NEED HELP TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS...

RECALL 17V608 DID NOT FIX PRIOR RECALL 14V332 AND 15V736 PROBLEMS, CAUSED FAILURE OF STEERING, AIRBAGS, AND ENGINE. ACCIDENT ENSUED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON CITY STREET AT SPEED UNDER 40 MPH. DRIVER WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. REAR-ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF, CHANGE LANE INDICATOR WAS NOTED ON AT SCENE. DRIVER STATES VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE INTO LANE TO THE RIGHT AND, THEREFORE, REAR-ENDED VEHICLE. SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF KIA SOUL NOTED. KIA WAS CONTACTED.

ON AUGUST 16, 2018 AT APPROX 1030 PM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 5 IN HOLLIS CETNER MAINE AT APPROX 50 MPH AND CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH ENGINE, MELTING THE ENGINE. FOUND MELTED ENGINE PARTS (PISTON HEADS, CONNECTING RODS) ON THE GROUND ALONG WITH OTHER MELTED PARTS. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY HOME OWNER ON ROUTE 5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST A LARGE AMOUNT OF POWER AND MADE CLANKING AND KNOCKING NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME AT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAR PROS KIA HUNTINGTON BEACH (18835 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648, (714) 274-6176) WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE TO BE SWAPPED OUT FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A RETURN PHONE CALL OR PROVIDED WITH NHTSA HOTLINE NUMBER.

MY ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING IN 2016 IT WAS REPLACED AS IT WAS DEFECTIVE AT 45,000 MILES NOW 2018 THE ENGINE HAS BASICALLY DONE THE SAME THING WITH 54,000 MILES UNABLE TO DRIVE HAD TO WAIT 2 DAYS FOR TKIA TO DETERMINE IF I WAS AT FUALT OR THE ENGINE ITSELF FINALLY DETERMINED IT WAS KIA FAULT TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO DEFECT AFTER READING OTHER CONSUMERS REPORTS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES SEIZING, CATCHING FIRE ETC

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FEW MONTHS AGO AND SUDDENLY THE CAR JUST STALLED I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR JUST STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND IT JUST DID IT AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD TO START THE CAR BOTH TIMES AS IT WAS ROLLING TO KEEP FROM LOSING CONTROL THE VEHICLE.NOW I AM AFRAID.

MY CAR ENGINE EXPLODED AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE. KIA SAID THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LAWN MOWER NOISE PRIOR WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW. I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. BY THE TIME I MADE MY WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED.

I LENT MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHOM WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, HE PULLED QUICKLY INTO A GAS STATION AND PARKED. HE CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL AND THERE WAS NONE. HE ADDED 1 QUART OF OIL AND STARTED THE ENGINE HOWEVER IT RAN HORRIBLELY SO HE QUICKLY TURNED IT OFF. HE NOTIFIED ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHO CONFIRMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE VEHICLE CAME WITH A LIFETIME ENGINE WARRANTY PLUS I KEPT THE CAR MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO DEALER REQUIREMENTS THEY FORWARDED MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO A THIRD COMPANY WHICH IS RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE AND WILL THEN DECIDE IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO PROBLEMS UP UNTIL THAT TIME.

VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING, COULD NOT GET IT TO START. HAD IT TOWED TO LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ITS NOT FAIR AS A VEHICLE OWNER THAT MAINTANS THEIR VEHICLE REGULARLY TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. I DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF WARNING TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. VEHICLE JUST LOST OIL WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF LEAKS AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR OIL LIGHT TO GIVE ANY KIND OF WARNING

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY DASHBOARD LIGHT WARNING THERE WAS A POOF OF SMOKE, SMELL OF OIL AND MY VEHICLE LURCHED. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL WHERE MY VEHICLE STOPPED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIBERTY KIA (921 S MILWAUKEE AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

MY KIA SOUL 2014 JUST BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS A 4 CYLINDER GDI. THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE ENGINE BLEW LOUD AND AS I CAME TO A HALT THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THEN THE GAS TANK EXPLODED. I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING UP A HIP NOTICED THE ENGINE RIVETING HARD AND THEN THE CAR ENGINE MADE THAT LOUD BANG AND THEN IN 12 MINUTES CAR WAS ENGULFED AND GAS TANK BLEW AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED.

11/10/17: DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY MY VECHICLE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND STALLED DURING DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS ON THE RT HAND SIDE AND MADE IT TO PULL OVER. GOT MY CAR TOLD AND MECHANIC TOLD ME MY ENGINE SEIZED. HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS WASN'T THE FIRST 2014 KIA SOUL THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. TOOK ME BY SURPRISE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE. I CALLED KIA AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT.

2014 KIA SOUL BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. HAVE TO REFILL OIL ONE A WEEK. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE. 100,XXX MILES. STARTED AT 80,XXX MILES.

ON 10/25/2017 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2014 KIA SOUL CAUGHT ON FIRE - SPONTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING (NO APPARENT ISSUES IN OPERATING THE CAR, WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH, ETC.). TWO FELLOW MOTORISTS HONKED THEIR HORNS AND FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS IN AN EFFORT TO SIGNAL ME. THE BACK WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO 'FOG UP' DUE TO THE HEAT/FIRE, AND WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. IN AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE THIS EMERGENCY, I ALONG WITH MY SON, WHO WAS DRIVING, IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MOVED A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY BEFORE CALLING 911. AT THIS POINT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BOTH UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS SOON ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MULTIPLE FIRE ENGINES RESPONDED TO THE SCENE IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE AND SECURING THE SCENE. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED IN THE REPORT). IT IS IMPORTANT TO...

ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE CAR WAS MOVING IN BOULEVARD TRAFFIC, DECELERATING AS I APPROACHED A TURN INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA. OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. MECHANIC SAYS THERE ARE LOOSE LITTLE PIECES OF METAL INSIDE ENGINE AND THAT ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTENANCE. THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE SELF-DESTRUCTED AT 93,000 MILES. I AM FILING THIS INFO WITH NHTSA BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT PREVIOUS KIA ENGINE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THIS MODEL ALSO.

CAR RANDOMLY START VIBRATING, MISFIRING, AND IT WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO TURN ON FROM A COLD START. THE THE ENGINE FAILED, SENT IT OUT TO THE DEALER TO WORK ON IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WE'VE HAD AN OPEN CASE SINCE. THEN RECENTLY MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION ON ITS OWN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SKID LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

SOUL+ HAS ROTTEN EGG/EXHAUST SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN AS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITH WINDOWS ALL THE WAY UP. DOESN'T MATTER IF AC/HEAT IS ON OR OFF. PERIODICALLY, SMELL COMES AND GOES AS IT IS DRIVEN. DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS SURFACE STREETS OR HIGHWAY DRIVING...ALTHOUGH IT IS MORE PREVALENT AT 70+MPH. IRRITATES MY ASTHMA...LUNGS HURT AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES AND COUGHING PERSISTS ACCOMPANIED BY A HEADACHE. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. IT WAS TAKEN IN TO BE SERVICED AND THE TECH TOLD ME TO USE ONLY TOP TIER FUELS. I HAVE USED THEM EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS...SEEMS EVEN WORSE. APPEARS TO BE A LEAK IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND/OR A BLOCKED CAT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT THREE HOURS AWAY TO...

TAKING A DAY TRIP TO THE CRAYOLA FACTORY, WE WERE 10 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION WHEN WE FIRST SMELLED SMOKE THEN SAW IT COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS AND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. I FIRST CHECKED THE GAUGES TO SEE IF IT WAS OVER HEATED, NOTHING. POPPED THE HOOD AND THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED IT WAS ON FIRE. WE RACED TO GET THE 2 SMALL KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE FLAMES WERE STARTING TO OVER TAKE THE FRONT HOOD. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE KIDS AND GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE BUT 3 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS GUTTED. NOTHING BUT METAL LEFT ON THE INSIDE. WE HAD NO WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO OVERHEATING - JUST SMELLED AND THEN SAW SMOKE. WE WERE LUCKY WE HAD A PLACE TO PULL OFF ON...

I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE LIGHT WAS GREEN AND TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS MOVING. I MUST HAVE TAKE MY EYES OFF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THE GREEN LIGHT FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS AND WHEN I LOOKED AHEAD THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED AT THE TURNING LIGHT AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF IT. NEVER EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO HIT THE BRAKES. MY CAR HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT HALF BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WE PULLED OFF HIGHWAY TO LOOK AT A TOURIST ATTRACTION. NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. PARKED, TURNED CAR OFF. GOT OUT. GLANCED BACK AT THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOON THERE WERE FLAMES DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH FRONT END (LOOKED LIKE MELTING PLASTIC). CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WITHIN 1 MINUTE FLAMES WERE JUMPING UP ON INTERIOR (DASH AREA) AND EXTERIOR (UNDER HOOD). GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM NEARBY BUSINESS, BUT WITH HOOD CLOSED, DID NOT HELP. WITHIN 4 MINUTES ENTIRE FRONT END AND FRONT INTERIOR WERE ENGULFED IN ENORMOUS FLAMES. MANY POPPING NOISES (EXPLOSIONS). FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR MELTED TO THE GROUND. I SHOULD NOTE THAT WHILE WE LEFT THE CAR UNLOCKED WHEN WE GOT OUT, THE DOORS LOCKED THEMSELVES DURING THE...

UNDER NORMAL AND MILD ACCELERATION, THERE IS NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND POWER LOSS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP; MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN SHIFTING OCCURS FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH GEARS. *JS

I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO AND THEN THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER IN 1, 2,AND 3RD GEARS THIS IS A MANUAL TRANS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE BECAUSE OF PULLING FROM A STOP SIGH AND WENT TO GO AND LOOKED DOWN LIGHT WAS ON AND CAR DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. ITS VERY HARD TO GET A STICK SHIFT CAR TO START OUT IN 4TH GEAR. KIA SAYS THEY WANT ME HAPPY BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE CAR INSTEAD OFFERING FREE OIL CHANGES AND OTHER ITEMS BUT I WANT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE NOT OTHER ITEMS. *TR