What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte Koup

IN 2016, JUST A FEW MONTHS PAST THE FIVE YEAR WARRANTY, ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE. $5K REPAIR. ENGINE HAD BROKEN ENGINE BEARING CAUSING KNOCK SOUND. LESS THAN 50K MILES. MANY MODELS THAT YEAR RECALLED FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS, SAME MODEL IN SURROUNDING YEARS RECALLED FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS, ONLY TWO REMANUFACTURED ENGINES IN COUNTRY WHEN I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. THIS SHOULD'VE HAD A RECALL. IT'S A COVER UP BY KIA.

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AT 120,000 MILES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT ENGINE START. IT PERSISTS AND SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE AN ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE - TAKA TAKA TAKA TAKA. THE SOUND GETS LOUDER WHEN I ACCELERATE AND DECREASES WHEN I DON'T PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. THE NOISE DECREASES SLIGHTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS FULLY WARMED UP BUT IT IS STILL AUDIBLE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN ENGINES, HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS "ROD BEARINGS NEED REPLACEMENT" I HAVE STARTED SEARCHING FOR THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND BECAME AWARE OF SAFETY RECALL SC147. UNFORTUNATELY THIS RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE THE KIA FORTE MODEL. I SAW IN MY RESEARCH ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER FORTE OWNERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. IN ADDITION, MY CAR'S ENGINE "THETA II" 2.0 LITER APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ENGINE THAT IS INCLUDED AMONG THE RECALLED MODELS INCLUDED IN SC147. I AM WONDERING WHY THE KIA FORTE IS NOT INCLUDED AS IT SEEMS TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE. IS THIS A QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY, OR LACK THEREOF ON KIA/HYUNDAI'S SIDE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOALS UNIVERSITY KIA (4109 N JACKSON HWY, SHEFFIELD, AL 35660, (256) 978-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXTENSION WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND/OR LATCH WHEN PROMPTED. UPON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS FOR LATCHING PURPOSES, THE SEAT BELTS MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED FROM THE REAR BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. ROSEN KIA MILWAUKEE (5505 SOUTH 27TH STREET, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53221, (414) 282-9300) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT ROUGHLY 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG, TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, OIL STARTED SPRAYING ALL OVER FROM UNDERNEATH CAR. I MANAGED TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FOUND A FIST-SIZED HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. SHARDS OF METAL AND OIL WERE ALL OVER THE ROAD, CREATING A HAZARD. EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE IS THE SAME AS OTHER KIA VEHICLES WITH THE SAME 2.4L THETA ENGINE, ACCORDING TO KIA, MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THOSE ENGINES. KIA CLAIMS THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL SYSTEM IN MY CAR IS NOT "GDI", IT IS NOT INCLUDED. EVEN THOUGH, BY KIA'S OWN ADMISSION, THE ISSUE IS DUE TO CRANKSHAFT ISSUES, WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND THE RECALLED ENGINES SHARE THE SAME CRANKSHAFT,AND THE SAME OEM PART NUMBER, EVEN. YET, SOMEHOW BECAUSE THE FUEL SYSTEM IS NOT "GDI", MY ENGINE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. KIA NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE FORTE 2.4L NON-GDI ENGINES IN THE RECALL AS WELL. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING NOW FOR OVER A YEAR WAITING FOR AN ENGINE.

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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OTHER AIR BAG RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT TRAVELED LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN AN OFF-SET, HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE DRIVER AIR BAG AND DRIVER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO DEPLOY / ACTIVATE DURING THE SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURY.

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I HAD A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY& SAFETY BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY 2011 KIA FORTE WHEN I WAS SUDDENLY FACING A HABITUAL DRUNK DRIVER, CREAMING US HEAD-ON AND MY AIRBAGS FATO DEPLOY. I HAVE UNDERGONE 8 SURGERIES TO TRY TO REPAIR MY BROKEN BODY. I LOST MY FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS FAILED ME. IS THERE A MONETARY VALUE TO KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHWEST KIA AUSTIN (13175 N US-183, AUSTIN, TX 78750, (512) 583-1900), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SOUTHWEST KIA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,252.

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I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FOR MY KIA FORTE 2011 FOR THE SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS. I DO NOT WISH TO PUT MY SAFETY AT RISK. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK EVERYDAY AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE MY CAR. I REALLY WISH KIA WOULD GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR. WITH MY KIA, I HAVE NOTICED THAT I PUT MY SEATBELT ON AND SUDDENLY IT BECOMES UNBUCKLED AS IF IT WAS RELEASED. THIS HAPPENED OFTEN BEFORE I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AFTER I TURNED IT ON. I DO NOT WISH TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THEN THE SEATBELT AND/OR AIRBAG DON'T WORK. PLEASE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST 60 DAYS WAITING FOR A REMEDY. KIA DOESN'T WANT TO HELP IN OTHER WAYS! I NEED A RENTAL CAR THAT IS THE LEAST THEY CAN DO!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED CAMPBELL NISSAN OF EDMONDS (24325 WA-99, EDMONDS, WA 98026, (425) 774-2174) SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN A HABITUAL DRUNK DRIVER HIT US HEAD-ON 7/11/2013. I HAD A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD KEEP ME SAFE. I HAVE REQUIRED 8 SURGERIES TO MEND MY BROKENNESS, INCLUDING A COMPLETE HYSTERECTOMY, BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT FUSIONS AND TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT.

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED CAMELBACK KIA AT 602-388-1276 (LOCATED AT 1450 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-SKID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHWEST KIA AUSTIN (13175 N, US -183, AUSTIN, TX 78750, 512-583-1900), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

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TAKATA RECALL CAR STARTING SMOKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE INCREASED FIRE INITIATED IN CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE(DRIVER SIDE) IN THE CORNER UNDERNEATH WINDSHIELD. ENTIRE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

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HELLO, LONG STORY SHORT, KIA HAS FAULTY AIRBAGS I HAVE A VERY PREGNANT WIFE. THEY HAVE YET TO DIE RIGHT BY THE CUSTOMER AND OFF SAFE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THESE UNTIL A FIX IS FOUND. I WENT TO KIA IN TURNERSVILLE NJ TO HAVE A HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED. AT THIS TIME I REQUESTED THE TECHNICIAN TO RUN THE VIN FOR AN AIRBAG RECALL I SAW ONLINE, THIS WAS IN JUNE. HE CAME BACK SAYING HE CHECKED AND IT IS ALL CLEAR AND I ASKED HIM TO CHECK AGAIN MAINLY BECAUSE SHE IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. ONCE AGAIN TOLD IT WAS CLEAR. TODAY I RECEIVED SOMETHING IN THE MAIL FROM KIA REGARDING MY PREGNANT FINANCES AIRBAG IN FACT BEING RECALLED. SHE HAS BEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR TWO MONTHS AND WASN'T LIED TO AND MADE TO FEEL COMFORTED THAT ALL WAS FINE! I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T ANYHTING TO BE DONE YET AND MY WIFE WILL BE FINE JUST DRIVE CAREFULLY AND THE AIRBAG IS FINE PROBABLY. SO WE HAVE A FAULTY VEHICLE WE HAVE PAID FOR YEARS AND NOW OWN AND CANNOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ANYWHERE. IN MY OPTION KIA AND HYUNDAI SHOULD HANDLE THIS IN THE SAME MANNER HONDA DID AND HONOR THE CUSTOMER WITH RENTALS UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. IF NOT I AM SURE A LARGE SCALE LAWSUIT WILL ENSUE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT BEING HANDLED CORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY STILL HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE CONSUMER, ANOTHER BOLD FACE LIE FROM KIA. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE

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POSSIBLE HOLE IN TRANSMISSION TUBE

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2011 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ILLUMINATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT TH INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JS

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WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND A SLIGHT LOOSENESS TO IT. ALSO AT SOME SPEEDS OR ON BUMPIER ROADS, THERE IS A VIBRATION, WHICH IS NOT DUE TO ANY OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES SINCE I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT. UPON CALLING THE DEALER, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS THE SAME STEERING COUPLING PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE OPTIMA, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE KIA FORTE. THE PART IS LESS THAN $5.00, BUT THE LABOR IS $440 BECAUSE IT TAKES 4 HOURS TO REPLACE A RUBBER COUPLING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT IS WITH THE OPTIMA, SINCE IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.

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ENGINE TRANSMISSION IMPROPERLY DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE RECOVERING. THE CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS; IT STALLS AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT 5MPH, CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NO DTC CODES SHOWN WHEN EXAMINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE IMPROPER SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION GEAR IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE RECOVERING THE GEAR. MY CAR IS AUTO TRANSMISSION. IT'S LIKE ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 70MPH AND EXPECTING THE GEARS TO SHIFT 4,5,6....BUT INSTEAD IT'S SHIFTING BY ITSELF FROM 4,5, THEN TO 3RD GEAR, AND THEN RECOVERING TO THE 6TH GEAR. IT IS VERY VERY SCARY... I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO AAMCO. THEY RESET MY TRANSMISSION VALUES TO NO EFFECT. WHEN THESE EVENTS OCCURR I HAVE NO CRUISE CONTROL. NO DTC CODE HAS POPPED UP. MY CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHTS, OR WHEN LEAVING MY CAR ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

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TAKATA RECALL. WE WERE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON 4/2/18. THE DRIVER WAS GOING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. MY AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED CAUSING ALOT OF INJURIES. MY DRIVER HEAD REST WAS EJECTED CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTERS FACE.

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IN APRIL 2016 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH TOTALED OUR KIA FORTE 2011. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT I SPENT ENDLESS WEEKS WITH VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES FROM KIA EXPRESSING MY CONCERN. I SEE THE RECALL HAS TAKEN PLACE BUT ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER AND AFTER PEOPLE HAVE DIED. I AM APPALLED, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND THAT AIR BAGS DONT ALWAYS DEPLOY. KIA CORPORATE WAS AWARE THERE WAS AN ISSUE. MY WIFE DID NOT DIE BUT OBVIOUSLY FROM THE ENCLOSED PICTURES THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE. MY WIFE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT WHICH TIME THE DRIVERS DOOR FLEW OPEN YET NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED TO PROTECT HER. PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THESE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED.

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THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A TICKING CLICKING SOUND WHEN AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW. NOT SURE IF IT GOES AWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS OR BECUASE OF THE POOR NOISE PROOFING OF THE CAR THAT DROWNS OUT THE SOUND. ANYWAY I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THEY DID AND COSTING ANYWHERE FROM 5000 TO 7000 FOR THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF "PISTON, ROD KNOCKING ISSUES". FURTHERMORE, I'VE LEARNED THAT KIA HAS RECALLED THE ENGINES IN SEVERAL OF THEIR OTHER MODELS. THIS RECALL WAS PUT INTO PLACE BECAUSE THE ENGINES ARE "STALLING" AND POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE ENGINE IS REPLACE. MY RESEARCH SEEMS TO TELL ME THAT THIS MODEL LINE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST BEFORE PEOPLE GET INJURED. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME ISSUES AS THE ENGINES WITH THE RECALL ARE HAVING.

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I WAS HIT HEAD-ON AT 65MPH AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS CAUSED ME HORRIBLE INJURIES INCLUDING A CERVICAL NECK FUSION, BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT FUSIONS, NECESSITY OF A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY DUE TO MY UTERUS & FELOPIAN TUBES PERFORATING, GASTRIC ADHESIONS AND A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT. I HOLD KIA RESPONSIBLE. I HAD CONFIDENCE THAT I WOULD BE SAFE IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE. I LOST MY VERY ESSENCE OF BEING A WOMAN BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS FAILED AFTER BEING CLOBBERED HEAD-ON BY A FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. MOST FRUSTRATING IS THE CONSTANT PAIN AND SUFFERING, ADDED TO MY ALREADY A 100% DISABLED NAVY VETERAN.

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ON 3/31/2018 AT 10:00 AM MY WIFE'S SUNROOF ON HER 2011 KIA FORTE EXPLODED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS NOT TRYING TO OPEN THE SUNROOF AND THE SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED. THERE WAS NOT A CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER, AND THE WEATHER WAS 70 DEGREES AND SUNNY. THERE WAS NO FLUCTUATION IN TEMPERATURE FROM THE DAY BEFORE. THERE IS NO REASON WHY IT EXPLODED. SHE WAS STARTLED BUT NOT INJURED BY THE INCIDENT.

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