What 392 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH AND THE ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING. LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSHED IT INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT THE KNOCKING OF THE ENGINE WAS BECOMING WORSE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "ROD KNOCK" WHICH IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY MOTOR, ALLOWING METAL SHAVINGS TO ENTER AND BLOCK THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE MOTOR. NOT WANTING TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP IN MY HOME TOWN. NOT ONLY DID THEY CONFIRM WHAT THE INITIAL MECHANIC HAD DIAGNOSED, BUT WERE VERY RUDE WHEN ASKING US TO "REMOVE OUR CAR FROM THEIR PARKING LOT BECAUSE UNLESS WE WERE GOING TO PAY THEM TO FIX IT, IT HAD NO BUSINESS BEING THERE." ALL OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE REGULARLY AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR THEM ALL. OUR VEHICLE HAD 74,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. AS OF NOW, KIA HAS DONE NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT OUR PROBLEM, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.

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ONE DAY ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY RUNNING SOME ERRANDS WHEN I NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SO I ADMEDIATLY HEADED HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED I OPENED THE HOOD OF MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE TO HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND. AFTER CONFIRMING THE SOUND WAS MY ENGINE I CALL KIA TELLING THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEY MADE ME A APPOINTMENT DATE AND TOLD ME TO CALL MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE SITUATION AND GET AUTHORIZATION TO DO AN INSPECTION. SO I DID AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT IN WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE. AS A COUPLE DAYS PASSED I TOOK MY CAR IN AN IMMEDIATELY THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND GUARANTEED ME KIA WOULD HANDLE THE PROBLEM. AS THREE WEEKS WENT BYE I CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE WHAT WAS TAKING SO LONG AND THEY BEGAN TO SAY THAT THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM WAS MY FAULT DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND IF I WANTED THE ENGINE FIXED IT WOULD COST $8000. I REFUSED REPAIRS AND WENT TO RECOVER MY VEHICLE. AS I DROVE AWAY IN MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THEY GAVE IT BACK MAKING A LOUDER KNOCKING. AS I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE. I PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WERE I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT HOME WERE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS.. KIA AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY STILL REFUSING TO DO ANY REPAIRS WITHOUT ME PAYING $8000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.

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TL* THE CONTACT IS AN ATTORNEY WHOSE CLIENT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CLIENT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RICK CASE KIA SUNRISE 14500 W SUNRISE BLVD, SUNRISE, FL 33323), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE DEALER DROVE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CRANK POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IF NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO RICK CASE KIA FOR AN ENGINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE, REPLACED THE DIPSTICK, AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED PER KIA'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,918.

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WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OF THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. AFTER THE NOISE STARTED, THE ENGINE POWER WAS SEVERELY REDUCED. THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. AT THE FIRST STOPLIGHT AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED. IT STARTED AGAIN, AND STALLED AGAIN AT THE NEXT LIGHT BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT SAFELY TO A PARKING LOT AT AN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER. AT NO TIME, DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM BEFORE OR DURING THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED THE NEXT DAY AND THE SHOP RECOMMENDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND UPON THEIR INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT WHICH CAUSED "EXCESSIVE METAL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE". TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 103,000 MILES AT THE TIME. KIA CORPORATE OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SINCE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES. THE TOTAL COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS $5,037.93 WHICH HAD TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET.

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ENGINE KNOCKED AS I SPED UP ON HIGHWAY THEN CAR DIED AND ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON AS I PULLED ONTO AN OFF-RAMP CAR WILL NO LONGER START OR RUN HAD TO BE TOWED DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ENGINE

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YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SO I TOOK IT TO PEPBOYS THAT SAID THE CODE WAS 791. THEN, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MECHANICS TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT. MOST PEOPLE THAT PART SHOULD NOT HAD WENT BAD. THIS CODE IS FOR THE BUTTERFLY FLIPS IN THE INTAKE MANOFOLD.

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DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 80MPH (SPEED LIMIT IN IDAHO), RPMS STARTED TO REV OVER 6K, HEARD A TICKING SOUND, THEN A VERY LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY A BIG PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE, ALL IN THE SPAN OF AROUND 20 SECONDS. CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY, HAD TO COAST TO GET IN EMERGENCY LANE. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ENGINE ISSUES UNTIL IT WAS FAR TOO LATE. THANKFUL THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN AWFUL ACCIDENT WITH AN 18 WHEELER. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND PUT A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. 106K MILES ON THE VEHICLE, DID NOT EXPECT TO HAVE ENGINE FAILURE THIS EARLY. THIS VIN IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE, AS IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.

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CRUISING ALONG AT FREEWAY SPEED, 75 MPH, VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST POWER AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL OR DOWN SHIFT. UPON RESUMING SPEED, HEARD A TAPPING NOISE AND A LOUD BANG, SAW SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND OBJECTS TOSSED OUT. SAW A VEHICLE FOLLOWING IN MY LANE, SWERVE AS IF AVOIDING AN OBJECT BUT DID NOT STOP. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL. UPON PARKING, CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOTICED OIL DRIPPING AND METAL PIECES, AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD, A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS. DOING AN ONLINE QUERY, I NOTICED THAT THE 2.4 ENGINE FOR THIS MODEL WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ALTHOUGH OTHER MODELS WITH THE 2.4 ENGINE WERE. FORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT NO FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE HIT WITH ANY OF THE DEBRIS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON CHECKING THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, I PICKED UP WHAT APPEARED TO BE A PIECE OF THE ENGINE'S CONNECTING ROD. HAD THIS PIECE HIT A FOLLOWING VEHICLE, IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR UNKNOWN INJURIES TO ITS OCCUPANTS.

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE ABOUT 30 MPH ON A COUNTY ROAD, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A CRANK BEARING ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2012 KIA SPORTAGE ALONG WITH OTHER KIAS AND HYUNDAI. THE RECALL IS FOR 2.4 LITER ENGINES IN THE OPTIMA AND THE SORRENTO BUT ONLY FOR THE 2.0 IN THE SPORTAGE. WHY IS THIS? I HAVE A 2.4 LITER ENGINE AND THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY ISSUES WHICH LED TO THE RECALL BUT IT WON'T BE COVERED. THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS IN THE 2.0 IS IN THE 2.4 AND IT NEEDS TO RECALLED IN THE SPORTAGE JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE OTHER 2 MODELS.

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MY PARTNER WAS DRIVING 50 MPH TO WORK ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS HAD COME ON. THERE WAS ONLY A SLIGHT TAPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD. WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED A CEASED UP ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD PERIODICAL OIL CHANGES AS REQUIRED TO KEEP A VEHICLE IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER AND AT THE TIME HAD OIL IN IT. AT NO TIME WAS THERE ANY LEAKS OR DRIPS OR SIGNS ON PAVEMENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OF ANY OIL LEAKAGE. WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

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OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, MY KIA SPORTAGE SUV HAVE BEEN STALLING PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I CAN BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH OR 25 MPH AND IT WILL STALL. IT HAS HAPPENED ON SUNNY DAYS AS WELL AS RAINY DAYS. I'VE CONTACTED GATEWAY KIA IN DENVILLE NJ MANY TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. THE SERVICE MANAGER JOE TOLD ME TO TRY USING SUNOCO PREMIUM GAS TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO HAD THE MANIFOLD CHANGED BUT THE STALLING STILL HAPPENS. I'VE CONTACTED KIA CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD BY BRUCE HARTD SINCE MY CAR HAS OVER 187,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE STALLING THERE IS NOTHING KIA CAN DO. I WAS TOLD BY KIA CORPORATION THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THEIR ENGINE STALLING RECALL TO BE ANNOUNCED MAY 19TH. I THINK IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE MY CAR ENGINE IS ALSO STALLING MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO USE IT BUT IT IS THE ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION I HAVE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. PLEASE HELP!

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE AT 30MPH ON A CITY STREET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HEARD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS CLOSE TO MY WORK SITE SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT THE ENGINE STALLED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS MUCH WORSE AND GREW LOADER AS I APPLIED GAS. I TURNED OF THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANICALLED LISTEED TO THE ENGINE AND SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT "THREW A BEARING". UPON LOKKING ONLINE FOR INFORMATION I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN UPCOMING RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THIS VERY THING. I CALLED THE 2 DEALERS IN MY AREA, ALBANY NY, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE RECALL COMES OUT IN THE END OF MAY. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR KIA AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, I ASKED IF THEY COULD CHECK TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE WOULD BE PART OF THE RECAL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT. THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT TO SEE IF I GOT A LETTER AFTER MAY 19. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT GO FOR A MONTH WITHOUT MY CAR AND THEY SAID AGAIN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL THE RECALL COMES OUT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, IF THE RECALL IS COMING AND THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHY WOULD I BE FORCE TO WAIT A MONTH WITHOUT MY CAR?

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MY ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 79,000 MILES DESPITE THE STANDARD MAINTENANCE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 25-50 MPH CONSISTING OF 5 STOPLIGHTS AND 18 MILES OF DRIVING. I WAS NOTICING A LACK OF POWER BUT OTHERWISE NO ISSUES. I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK IN HOPES OF DRIVING IT IN TO GET SERVICED. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AT THE GAS STATION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES AND THE CAR STALLED NEVER TO START AGAIN. I GOT A TOW TO RUSS DARROW KIA AND THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY SHOT. I THEN HAD TO GET MY ENGINE REPLACED.

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BEGIN TO HEAR FLUTTERING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ON SECONDARY AND MAIN ROADS. THE SOUND BEGIN TO GRADUALLY GET LOUDER OVER THE COARSE OF FEW DAYS. PUT THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULTS CAME BACK ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO ENGINE OIL RESTRICTION. RECEIVE 2 OPINIONS FROM MECHANIC SHOPS BOTH PLACES RESULTS CAME BACK THE SAME. WHEN THE RPMS WAS REVVED UP YOU COULD HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, ALONG WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION WOULD STALL , AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF.

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OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AFTER FIVE YEARS.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE HEARD A THUMP FROM OUR 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN WE GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE ENGINE AND HE FOUND WE HAD NO OIL. WE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT COME ON AND NEVER HAD AN OIL SPOT UNDER OUR CAR. WE TOOK IT TO OUR KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, I REALIZE WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH OUR CAR THAT NIGHT. OUR KIA HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AND WE CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY , SO WE JUST KNEW IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND DID SOME OF THE OIL CHANGES HIMSELF, THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY- HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL AND FILTERS SINCE 2012. THE RECEIPTS WE COULD PROVIDE FROM BUSINESSES THAT DID OIL CHANGES AND SOME COPIES OF RECEIPTS MY HUSBAND COULD GET FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORES SHOWED THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED OFTEN, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS. REGARDLESS, A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES, WITH PROOF OF SEVERAL OIL CHANGES, NOT EVER HAVING A CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT COME ON, AND NO OIL SPOTS WHERE IT'S PARKED EVERY DAY- SHOULD NOT RUN OUT OF OIL AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I KNEW THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECT WITH KIA ENGINES AND AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN AND DANGEROUS DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

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OUR 2012 KIA SPORTAGE BROKE DOWN OVER A MONTH AGO AFTER MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOT OFF THE PA TURNPIKE, THEY HAD STOPPED AT A MALL AN HOUR FROM HOME AFTER TRAVELING ALL DAY. WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE CAR FROM SHOPPING, IT WOULDN'T START. IT WAS TOWED TO GATEWAY KIA OF WARRINGTON AT THE ADVICE OF KIA CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. AFTER SITTING THERE FOR ALMOST FIVE DAYS AND NO CALL FROM THEM, AND MULTIPLE INQUIRIES BY US, THEY FINALLY TOLD US THAT IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THEY RAN BASIC DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND NEVER WENT ANY FURTHER AS FAR AS LOOKING INTO THE ENGINE. BECAUSE WE WERE THE SECOND OWNER OFF A ONE YEAR LEASE, WE WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE ORIGINAL 10 YEAR/100,000 WARRANTY. OUR WARRANTY WAS NOW 5 YEARS/ 50,000 MILES. OUR CAR HAS 70,0000 MILES. SO NOT COVERED WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. WE KEPT GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND STATE INSPECTIONS. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE COVERED, WE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM. SOON AFTER WE FOUND A LAW FIRM THAT WAS HEADING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST KIA. THE LAWSUIT ALLEGED THAT KIA HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR ENGINE, WHICH INCLUDES OUR VEHICLE AND ENGINE. WE WERE ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THE LAW FIRM HAD CEASED TO PURSUE THE SUIT BECAUSE KIA HAD AGREED TO FIX THE ENGINES FOR THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE SUIT. KIA HAS DENIED TO COVER OUR CAR UNDER THIS SPECIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WOULD INCLUDE 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES NOW. WE HAVE BEEN PASSED AROUND AND DENIED ALL THE UP TO THE CORPORATE OFFICES "ESCALATION OFFICE", WHICH HAS ULTIMATELY TOLD US THAT WE HAVE BEEN DENIED AND HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST OFFICE AVAILABLE FOR COMPLAINT/APPEALS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE DO ANY LONGER. WE STILL OWE ALMOST $10,000 ON THIS CAR, WHICH WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS IF IT ISN'T FIXED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY OR BY US AT A COST OF ALMOST $5000.

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH PROBABLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST OF MY SPORTAGE AND IT COMPLETELY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY, I HAD A PLACE TO STOP JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE KIA THETA ENGINES. THE BEARINGS AND RODS IN MY ENGINE WERE APPARENTLY SHREDDED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. WHILE THE DEALER IS PAYING FOR THE DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY, THE CAR WILL BE RETURNED TO ORIGINAL STATE MEANING THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPENS TO ANYONE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S VERY EASY TO IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FATAL CRASH. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND HAVE A PROPER FIX IN PLACE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I'VE NOW READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE INTERNET SO ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BEYOND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED IN JUNE FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR

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LEAVING A FRIEND'S HOUSE MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE SOUND APPEARED TO HAVE GONE AWAY. MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON I-85 N IN ATLANTA MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE (WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG) MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE AND LOST SPEED QUICKLY. I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND MOVED ACROSS LANES UNTIL I COULD EXIT. WHEN I GOT TO THE RAMP THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTED OFF BUT DIED AGAIN. I TRIED IT ONCE AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PRESSED THE GAS SO IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I THREW IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR DID BEGIN TO MOVE BUT IT NEVER GOT OVER 20 MPH DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD THE PEDAL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. CARS WERE HONKING THEIR HORN AND PASSING ME RECKLESSLY. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A PEP BOYS CENTER AND CALLED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. IT (AND ME) WAS TOWED BACK TO GAINESVILLE, GA TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 11:00 PM . THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. MONDAY I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY ENGINE AFTER ONLY HAVING ANOTHER MECHANIC START THE CAR'.IT ONLY RAN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MAYBE LIKE 5-SECONDS HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE 2012 KIA SPORTAGE AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER KIA MODELS. I FOUND NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS ONIINE WHERE THIS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA CALLED THE ENGINE OIL DEFECT LAWSUIT WHERE THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SUIT SHARE EXPERIENCES EERILY SIMILAR TO MINE. KIA OF AMERICA AND CARRIAGE KIA HAVE NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN THIS MATTER.

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A LOAD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NOISE STOPPED AND THEN LOSS ALL POWER! EVERTHING DIED. GOT IT PULLED OVER AND NOW THE MOTOR IS SEIZED. GOT THE OIL CHANGED A WEEK BEFORE AND NEVER HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR.

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AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM A VACATION TRIP, OUR CAR LITERALLY SHUTOFF AS WE WERE CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY NEAR HOME. I WAS ABLE TO COAST BACK OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR AND IT WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THEY SHARED WITH US THAT THERE WERE 3 OTHERS SITTING ON THEIR LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THOSE MOTORS AND THAT WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO KIA FOR ASSISTANCE. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER KIA SPORTAGE, A 2001, THAT WE HAD FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS AND MANY MILES OVER 100,000 THAT WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED AS DO I WITH THIS ONE. I JUST WANT TO GET IT FIXED AND BACK IN TO IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. WHAT HAS CHANGED??

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WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 15 IN CALIFORNIA ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LOSING POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL, NO LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME ON. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE CENTER MEDIAN AND WAITED 1-1/2 HRS FOR A TOW FROM AAA TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER IN VICTORVILLE, CA. THEY DID NOT LOOK AT IT UNTIL MONDAY AND IT TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THEM AS TO WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE FIXED. THEY FINALLY TOLD US THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE! THEY HAVE NOW HAD THE CAR 2 WEEKS AND THEY SAY THEY NEED A PART CALLED A CAMSHAFT ASSY (P/N 242002G700) WHICH THEY WILL NOT HAVE FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS! IN RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION, I SEE THAT OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FAILURE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A RECALL AND SAFETY WARNING IS NEEDED! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A KIA DEALER AS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE". AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST. WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW, STAY IN A HOTEL, RENT A CAR TO GET HOME AS WE LIVE IN UTAH. WE WERE TOLD WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK THERE TO PICK UP THE CAR! WE ARE THANKFUL WE WEREN'T INJURED BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE IF KIA DOESN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

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DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, A LOUD SQUEAK SOUND OCCURRED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND THE ENGINE PROMPTLY SHUT OFF AND HAS SINCE THEN BEEN UNABLE TO START AGAIN. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS DRIVING A VEHICLE AT THAT SPEED AND HAVING IT INSTANTLY SHUT OFF IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK AND LIABILITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING IR HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLES.

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WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .

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WHILE DRIVING CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. CAR DIED WHEN GETTING TO SHOULDER, STARTED AGAIN, ENGINE MAKING HORRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND, AND WOULDN'T MOVE. GOT TOWED TO KIA DEALER, STATED WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. KIA DEALER STATED THE CONNECTING ROD ON THE CRANKSHAFT EITHER SEIZED UP OR BROKE AND LOCKED UP.

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