What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOAD CLUNKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND DID NOT RECEIVE EITHER RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

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CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON, WE COASTED OF THE ROAD. NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT NO OIL LIGHT, NOTHING. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME. ENGINE SEIZED UP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS VOLVO CARS OWINGS MILLS (9610 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117) TO BE REPAIRED PER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE ENGINE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND BEGINNING A LEFT TURN MY CAR WITH NO WARNING BEGAN TO BUCK AND SURGE WITH NO MOTOR POWER AND AN ONCOMING CAR AT MY PASSAGER SIDE DOOR. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE ONCOMING DRIVER WAS VERY ALERT TO MY CAR NO BEING ABLE TO MOVE AND MISSED MY CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR UNDER VERY REDUCED POWER AND STILL, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS WE PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND STOP I PUT THE CAR IN TO PARK AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE DUE TO KIA GIVING BAD INFORMATION.

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LEAKING OIL , STRUTS MAKING NOISE.

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MINS GOING ABOUT 40 MILES I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. TURNED CAR AROUND DROVE BACK HOME AND COME TO FIND OUT I HAD TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO SIGNS NOTHING TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO MY TURBO WENT OUT TOO. MY HUSBAND DOES OUR OIL CHANGES SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO SEE RECEIPTS WHICH WE DO T HAVE SO MY TURBO REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED. SPENT ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE. I'M SO DONE WITH THIS CAR! I JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR IT LAST YEAR 2018 AND NOW THIS.

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THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL 10 MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 170,000 MILES IN IT. THAT IS, THE OIL GOES BELOW THE LOW MARK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, AND KEEPS GOING DOWN TO THE EMPTY LEVEL WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 1,200 MILES. I ALSO HEAR OF RATTLING-LIKE SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE TO CHECK AND ADD OIL EVERY 500 MILES. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE MAY LEAD TO THE FIRE ON THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT KIA RECALLED REGARDING THIS SIMILAR ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER CARS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF LEAKING WHEN I CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES THE FLOOR IN A SPOT WHERE I PARKED. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED, BUT THE ENGINE DIED, ABOUT 4- MONTHS BEFORE I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING OIL, WHEN I DROVE UP HILL. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN THAT AREA, AND WHAT A TECHNICIAN SAID IS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE OR PUMP. THEY CHARGED $700 FOR THIS JOB.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. IN 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING METAL DEBRIS THAT WAS LEFT IN THE ENGINE, WHICH CONSTRICTED OIL FLOW TO THE VITAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A PINGING AND KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR. SECONDS LATER, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED AND FLAMES ROSE FROM THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,300.

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I AM DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND JUST AS I GET THROUGH, WHILE STILL IN MOTION, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED OR TURNED ON. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL, LOST POWER STEERING, AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I COULDN'T GET TO A PARKING SPOT AND WAS LEFT STUCK AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. I PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE AFTER TRYING TO TURN IT OFF AND START IT BACK UP SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A BEARING AND WILL NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 3:30 AM, OIL LIGHT FLICKERED OCCASIONALLY, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND ENGINE EVENTUALLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD AAA TOW IT TO A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SIEZED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME, PENDING DECISION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED BY A KIA DEALER UNDER THE SC147 ENGINE RECALL ON 9/22/2017 (16+ MONTHS EARLIER) AT ODOMETER 89,547 MILES AND EVIDENTLY PASSED THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE PER KIA'S TSB. I BELIEVE DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BLOCKED OIL LUBRICATION PASSAGEWAYS NOT ONLY TO THE ENGINE BEARINGS, BUT ALSO TO THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY KIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OK OR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS 100% EFFECTIVE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED UNDER CASE NUMBER: 19-036086. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW FACILITY. THE CONTACT CALLED WEST PALM BEACH KIA (735 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33415, (561) 433-1511) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT 40MPH WHEN I SAW LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I PULLED OVER TO GET MY TWO KIDS AND MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I THEN CALLED 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME PUT THE FLAMES OUT WHEN THEY FINALLY DID THE WHOLE CAR WAS BURNT TO A CRISP

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH SO I PULLED OVER AND MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

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ENGINE FAILURE..BOUGHT IN 2013 W 14,000 MILES.CURRENTLY HAS 68,000.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.KIA WOULD ONLY PAY FOR 1 SPARK PLUG.THEN,L PAID TO HAVE A NEW FI SYSTEM PUT IN.L WAS NEVER REIMBURSED.DEC 20,DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY W MY KIDS AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING.THEN,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH WEIRD SMELLS OF GAS AND BURNING.TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NO ISSUE.TOOK IT BACK AGAIN ON DEC 21,BUT NO TECHS AVAILABLE.DEC 23,L WAS DRIVING MY KID TO WORK,ENGINE SHOOK,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHED AND A BIG BOOM.CAR WAS GOING 5MPH WHILE IT WAS CLICKING.L GOT IT TOWED(AFTER KIA MOTORS HAD THE AUDACITY TO TRY TO MAKE ME PAY FOR A TOW@99.00,BUT L REFUSED)THRU MY INSURANCE CO.AS THE CAR SAT,A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE,WE THOUGH THAT IT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE.CALLED KIA MOTORS....OMG,THE WORST.L JUST GOT A RENTAL TODAY AND APPROVED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS.MY BROTHER BOUGHT HIS OPTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2 MONTHS.KIA CONTINUES TO NOT RESOLVE HIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND L AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT,LET ALONE HAVE MY KIDS IN IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF BRADENTON (4770 14TH ST W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 752-1000) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND PASSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SPUTTERING PRIOR TO THE TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND METAL SHAVINGS WHILE CONDUCTING THE TEST AND THE CHECK OIL INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE ADDITIONAL RECALLS WERE DISCOVERED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER FOUND A DETERIORATED CLAMP THAT CAUSED THE HOSE TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE TO JOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE DETERIORATED CLAMPS ON THE INVOICE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS GUSHING FUEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE INITIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE STARTER, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE MOTOR WAS LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-COLLISION/SPONTANEOUS FIRE. THERE WHERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF CAR DEFECTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEKALB COUNTY GA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND TOOK A REPORT. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY KIA WITH A WARRANTY. THE NEW MOTOR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON IT.

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AROUND 25 MPH. I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ,CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A MIN. AFTER 5 MINS, IT STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT THERE WAS STILL LACK OF ACCELERATION

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

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VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE AND IGNITION REPLACED DUE TO BEARING WEAR RECALL. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO FOR REBUILT ONE, AND NOW CAR WON'T START. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND KIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE REASON I WANTED TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. KIA WANTED ME TO WAIT FROM 10 SEP TO MID DEC BECAUSE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER. WHICH MEANS THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND THAT DEC IS THE EARLIEST THEY COULD RECEIVE IT. THEIR SHOP IS FULL, MOSTLY OF THESE CARS (OPTIMA). THEY EXPECTED ME TO WAIT 3 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM TIME. IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND THAT THEY COULD DO THIS. THE CRAZIEST THING IS THAT EXPECT EVERYONE TO WAIT THIS LONG. I TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT COSTUMERS WHO ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CARS, AND THEY WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 USED, ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, NOW HAS 111,000+ MILES. ALWAYS DID ALL MAINTENANCE CHECKS, OIL & FILTER CHANGES, TUNE UPS, FLUIDS CHANGE AND YEARLY INSPECTIONS. ONLY USED FOR GOING TO WORK AND COMING HOME 5 DAYS A WEEK (APPROX. 54 MILES PER DAY). I DECIDED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT OTHER PLACE & ENDED UP SAVING $1100. KIA WANTED TO CHARGE $2,700 FOR REBUILD TRANSMISSION & FOUND A GUY THAT CHARGED ME $1,600 FOR REBUILD ONE. KIA NEVER GAVE ME QUOTE COPY. JUST TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE. HOW CONVENIENT! GUY TOLD ME THE WAY THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BUILT IT'S SIMPLY BAD ENGINEERING. AND SHOWED ME THE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT BROKE. WOULD UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS , BUT I LEFT IN MY CAR! CAN STILL PROVIDE THEM THOUGH! THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN HOUSTON! THE CAR SIMPLY DIED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!

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MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA IS CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL. I HAVE RECEIVED 10 OIL CHANGES SINCE FEBRUARY 2018 (OCT AS OF TODAY) AFTER MY CAR'S OIL LIGHT WOULD BLINK EVERY 1000 MILES WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER SAID THEIR WAS NO VISIBLE LEAK AND PERFORMED A CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH SHOWED MY CAR WAS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH KIA MOTORS AND HAS YET TO ADDRESSED.

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT WITH A TREE.

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TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MAN IF, INTERCOOLER I'M HAVING THE THE ENGINE PROBLEM WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS CAR WAS RECALL,

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MY CAR IS NOT SPEEDING UP.ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HEATING UP TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MANIF, INTERCOOLER

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