What 916 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima Phev

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ABNORMAL NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WEST PALM BEACH KIA, 735 S MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33415, (561) 433-1511) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE MODEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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MY CAR HAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET INSPECTED FOR THE RECALL SEPTEMBER 2017. TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON; THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE SALVAGE TITLES AREN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. 4/18/2018 WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAST MOVING TRAFFIC , MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTER MEETING WITH THE MECHANIC TODAY I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WENT OUT. THESE SIGNS INDICATE TO ME THAT THE ENGINE WENT BAD DUE TO THE RECALL ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND PROVIDED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AT THE SCHEDULED TIMES. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VECHILE THE CAR RECEIVED A ENGINE CLEARANCE THROUGH KIA DEALERSHIP AND THROUGH MY PRIVATE MECHANIC, SAYING THE ENGINE WAS GOOD. NOW 8 MONTHS LATER AFTER HEARING CONTINUOUS KNOCKING NOISE AND ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT I FEEL LIKE IM NOT RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT OR GETTING MY CAR'S ENGINE REPLACED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, AS IF A PART HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING FLAMES.. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE PART THAT SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, 22408, 540-891-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,046.

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DRIVING ONE DAY PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY.HEARD KNOCKING ON LOWER PART OF ENGINE. OPENED HOOD YOU CAN HEAR KNOCKING, WHEN I ACCELERATED KNOCKING GOT LOUDER, A SPUN BEARING. I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALL MY LIFE. 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. AT 76,000 MILES, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THANK YOU [XXX]. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL PAN CONTAINED BRASS COLORED METAL PIECES, THE OIL FILER HAD PARTICLES, THE PISTON CAP BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO TURN IT BLACK. THE CONNECTION CAP BEARINGS DID NOT HAVE A OIL FLOW HOLE. THERE WERE ALSO SCRATCHES ON THE PISTON WALLS. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DOME LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED ON. THE CAMSHAFT FAILED. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAWRENCE KIA (1225 E 23RD ST, LAWRENCE, KS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

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WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE HYBRID ENGINE SEIZED WITH LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEEN SEVERAL HYBRID ENGINES THAT HAVE SEIZED, BUT KIA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS.

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TURBO AND TURBO OIL RETURN LINE IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKS OIL AND OVER HEATS ENGINE. DEALERSHIPS ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SEEN DAILY WITH THE SX MODELS BUT REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL A RECALL COMES OUT. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, IT CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL. WHENEVER IT IS PARKED, IT LEAKS OIL. IT'S ONLY FROM THE TURBO FEED LINE.

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'TAKATA RECALL' I'M CURRENTLY BUYING A KIA OPTIMA 2012 AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND HAD MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE AT KIA OF ORANGE. THEN I DID FULL SERVICE WHICH I PAYED 600$ OR SO AND AFTER THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I WENT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT OFF TO GET TOOLS FROM THE HOUSE IT TOOK HIM TEN MINUTES TO COME BACK. THE CAR WAS ON AND I WAS WINDOWS UP AND AC ON WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT. IT GOT ON FIRE AND WE WERE SCARE FOR OUR LIFE'S AND WE MANAGE TO RUN AROUND AND FIND ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP WE HAD WATER AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ELECTRICAL SO IT WAS MELTING PLASTIC UNTIL WE MANAGE TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE I WAS CALLING 911 WE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. SECOND OF ALL WE FIX IT INSURANCE COVER. WE CALL KIA THEY TOLD US OUR INSURANCE HAD TO PAY IT. SO WE DID NEXT I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND OIL CHANGE, WE TOOK FOR A DRIVE TO CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA AND THEN THE CAR TURN OFF BY IT SELF ON THE FREEWAY I WAS 65 SPEED LIMIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE. I MANAGE TO MOVE IT SLOWLY TO THE SIDE AND IT WAS ON FIRE WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD SOMETHING WAS BURNING AGAIN. A SHERIFF HELP US TURN IT OFF WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENGINE HAD BLEW UP A WROT BLEW MAYBE BECAUSE OF NO OIL OR IDK I'M NOT MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I TAKE IT TO KIA. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB RIGHT AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T WANNA COVER IT, NOW I'M CARELESS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER TO FEED AND I NEED HELP TO GET THIS OUT THERE IF ANYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE PLEASE MAKE THIS GO VIRAL. HIGHWAY 91 EAST

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE TOTALED WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY SUDDEN WARNING AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE HAD LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO ESCAPE BEFORE ANOTHER DRIVER SMASHED INTO THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR STOPPED SO FAST THERE WAS NO TIME TO PULL OVER TO SAFTEY OR A SOULDER

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MY VEHICLE STARTING MAKING KNOCKING NOISE AND I PULLED OVER PARKED AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS RUNNING FINE BUT STILL MAKING THE NOISE. I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP THE VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL OUT AND I HAD TO PUT INTO PARK SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (DIFEO KIA IN LAKEWOOD, NJ) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

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1 STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION 2ACCELERATS WHEN SHIFTING REVERSE--DRIVE 3 ACCELERATES ON RIGHT HAND TURN .THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN RANDOMLY IT.HAS. .HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN MOTIOM, CITY STREETS

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THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALS RESULTED IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEFROSTERS AND RADIO TO MALFUNCTION

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VEHICLE RECALLED UNDER SC147 ON JULY 13,2017. NEW ENGINE RECEIVED BY DEALER WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25. LAST UPDATE I RECEIVED ON OCTOBER 20TH FROM KIA CORPORATION WAS NEW MOTOR INSTALLED HOWEVER COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO RUN. SOME COMPRESSION TESTING INDICATES THAT THE NEW MOTOR INSTALLED WAS BAD. I REQUESTED KIA TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW CAR WITH SIMILAR SX LIMITED AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. KIA DEALERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. ONLY UPDATES I RECEIVE IS IF I CALL KIA CORPORATION

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ENGINE LOCKED UP HAD A WARRANTY THEY FIXED IT AND AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK THE THE HORN DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF MY CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED I NOTIFIED THEM AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OVER TO KIA DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AND AFTER THEY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG THE ABS SYSTEM WENT OUT THE HORN STOP WORKING THE TURBO IN THE CAR WASN'T ANY GOOD MY AIRBAG AND ENGINE WAS ON AND STILL IS AND I NOTIFIED THEM AGAIN EVEN TOOK IT TO MANAGEMENT AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I'M NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER AT ALL CAN U GUYS PLEASE HELP ME. I'M A HARD WORKING MAN HAVE A FAMILY AND JUST TRYING TO HAVE A CAR THAT WE CAN ENJOY.

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ENGINE LOSING ALL OF THE OIL WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF GETTING THE OIL CHANGED. COMPLETELY GONE BEFORE AN OIL CHANGE IS NEEDED.

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OCTOBER 2016, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SHOP. THEY FOUND WIRES TO THE STARTER BURNED AND ASSUMED THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY INSTALLED A NEW STARTER AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. MY ISSUE IS THE TIMING OF THE KIA RECALL. HYUNDAI HAD RECALLED THE SAME ENGINE IN 2015. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS AT LEAST $4,000 FOR A USED ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAD TO SELL THE CAR FOR SALVAGE. KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE, BUT WAITED UNTIL MANY OF US WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE THEY HAD THE RECALL. THAT IS FRAUD AT SOME LEVEL AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PULLED OVER TO A FUEL STATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (KIA OF GREER IN GREER, SC, 864-879-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. SIX MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 14, 2017 AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE SAME KIA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A GOOD WILL OFFER, BUT THE CONTACT PROTESTED THE OFFER. THE ISSUE WAS NOT SETTLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ..UPDATED 10/11/17 *BF UPDATED 10/13/2017*JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DURING EACH ATTEMPT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAR LOCK KIA (LOCATED AT 4301 GREENSBORO AVE, TUSCALOOSA, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BATTERY, AND STARTER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPON DOING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

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I WAS NOTIFIED BY KIA EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BECAUSE THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. ON 6/12/17 I TOOK MY OPTIMA TO CAMELBACK KIA FOR RECALL WORK AND INSPECTION. ON 8/1/2017 AS I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON AZ SR51, MY ENGINE STALLED WHILE MOVING ABOUT 40 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I THEN PULLED OVER TO RESTART MY VEHICLE, A SHORT TIME LATER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD BY KIA UPON THEIR INSPECTION THAT THE STARTER IS WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO THE SEIZED ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BURNED AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THIS CAUSED A 3 LANE CLOSURE ON THE FREEWAY AT 5PM AS WELL AS A CRASH DUE TO SPECTATORS.

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OIL FEED PIPE/TUBE TO TURBO LEAKS ON TO THE ENGINE CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE TUBE REPLACED. (CAR WAS SITTING AND NOTICED OIL LEAK AND BURNING OIL SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL)

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ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, MY KIA HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND I PAID TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. I HAD IT TAKEN IN AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS RECALLED. KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE A MONTH AND HALF LATER. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEAL AND THEY CLEARED THE CODES AS THEY SAID THEY WERE OLD CODES AND WAS LIKELY A FLUKE. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY TELLING ME THEY HAVE WORD INTO KIA CORPROATION TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER IT BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT MULTIPLE COMPONENTS DUE TO PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURE BUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER THAT I DID NOT HAVE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIA COULD DO FOR ME.

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