What 802 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul EV

I WAS ON MY INTO WORK AND MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DONE ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD SOMETHING POPPED OUT UNDER NEATH MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. SOME SORT OF A ROD THAT MUST OF CAME OFF. I HAD THIS TOWED TO OUR COMPANY MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE.

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I WAS DRIVING NORMAL AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE SHE HAD A LOUD NOISE AND NO POWER

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CATILAC CONVERTER. KIA REFUSED TO FIX SAYS NOT A RECALL. BUT 2017 KIA MANUFACTURING SAYS IT'S A RECALL AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED

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WHILE DRIVING MY KIA SOUL ON A CITY ROAD I PULLED OVER TO LET A CAR PASS. I WAS STILL IN GEAR AND ONCE THE CAR PASSED I WENT TO PULL BACK ON TO THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I THEN NOTICED THAT IT HAD STALLED. WE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. NO LEAKING OIL AND THE OIL WAS FULL. I DO A FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE EVERY 3-4000 MILES. WE THEN TOWED IT TO OUR KIA DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINES AND THE PROBLEMS. AFTER 2 MONTHS THEY JUST INFORMED ME THAT IT DOESN'T FIT THE RECALL. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE CLEARLY FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE CHRONIC PROBLEMS.

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RECALL 19V120000; SC176 EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY AND IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD COSTS INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE ARE NOT WARRANTY AND TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET DESPITE KNOWN PROBLEM.

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8/1/20 DRIVING ON HWY 231 AT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STALLING, PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF.IT WOULD CRANK BUT ONLY GO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OR REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM, THEN JUST PUTTER OUT. AT TUFFYS WHERE IT WAS SAID "NOTHING WAS CODING". SAID NEEDED KNEW FUEL PUMP FOR $1600. THAT WAS REPLACED BUT WAS NOT THE ISSUE.HE SAID THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ASSOCIATED W/ CAR AND TO GET IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP.I IMMEDIATELY STARTED RESEARCHING AN FOUND RECALL 19V120000, I CALLED KIA 800# AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED W/ CAR AND THAT THEIR SEARCH IS VIN SPECIFIC AND WAS NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. I CONTINUED TO RESEARCH, CALLED BACK AND YES INDEED THERE WAS A RECALL. CAR ARRIVED THERE FRIDAY 8/7/20 AT 9:30 AM. SPOKE W/ CHUCK AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY DETAILS THOUGH I CALLED HIM DAILY.FOLLOWING FRIDAY(8/14/20) I SPOKE W/ JARED WHO SAID THEY WERN'T SURE BUT IT WAS LOOKING LIKE POSSIBLY A RECALL ISSUE BUT THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE AND TO CALL BACK AND THEY COULD GET ME SET UP W/ A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIKELY NEEDED REPLACING. AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER A WOMEN LEFT ME A VOICEMAIL ASKING ME TO GET RECEIPTS OF ALL OIL CHANGES DONE ON VEHICLE. I STILL HAD NO EXPLANATION ON WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR.GAVE 2 RECEIPTS BUT WAS NOT REALLY SURE THE PERTINENCE IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE RECALL. KIA SAYS THE ONLY RECALL WAS FOR A SYSTEM UPDATE. WHEN ASKED HIM IF THIS HAD BEEN DONE HE SAID NO. BUT I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOLD BY ROBERT AT 1800 KIA THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE.I TOLD JARED THIS AND HE SAID "WE PROBABLY JUST TOLD TECH SUPPORT THAT" WHEN I DEMANDED TO KNOW IF SYSTEM UPDATE HAD BEEN DONE HE PUT ME ON HOLD, THEN REPLIED '"OH WELL THAT WAS JUST DONE". HE SAID BUT NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO W/ UR CAR. WHEN ASKED WTF THE ACTAL PROBLEM WAS HE SAID ENGINE WAS KNOCKING DUE TO MY LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BUT IN NO WAY DUE TO A RECALL

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WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT LOST POWER WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAUSING CARS TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME. AFTER GOING TO SHOP FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CAR WAS ALSO BURNING OIL AND MISFIRING. HAD THE 3 AND 4 COIL RELPACED ,SPARK PLUGS , BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT US CAUSING OIL TO BURN. CAR HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. KIA BASICALLY SAID THAT AFTER I FIX THE COILS CAR WOULD BE FINE . WELL IT'S NOT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT JUST NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. KIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY.

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IT'S RUNNING DIFFERENT MAKES STRANGE NOISE AND HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON.

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ENGINE LOSES 3 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. STARTED AT AROUND 70K MILES AND IS GETTING WORSE (NOW AT 90K MILES). THERE IS NO INDICATION OF LOW OIL OR PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER CONTROLS. NO SMOKE FROM BURNING OIL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE ENGINE CAN DIE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE TWO OF THESE CARS AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS THERE ARE MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD AND IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW.

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ENGINE LOSES OIL WITHOUT A LEAK OR ANY EXTERNAL INDICATION (SMOKE, SMELL, DRIVER CONTROLS). IT REQUIRES 1-2 QUARTS ADDED BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAN SEIZE ABRUPTLY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. IT IS A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. TROPHY KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LOCATED AT 1945 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007, (213) 342-0802, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC RETRIEVED A DTC FAULT CODE REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,292.

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I LEASED A 2016 KIA SOUL ! FOR MY DAUGHTER. AT THE END OF THE LEASE (AUGUST 2018), I PAID PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE KIA. 31 MAY 2019 WHILE DRIVING HER CAR THE ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLOTTE. THE CAR HAD 51,188 MILES. AFTER A WEEK THE DEALER TOLD US THE CAR WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA CUSTOMER RELATIONS WHO REVIEWED THE CASE AND DID NOTHING TO HELP. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, BRANT BLACKWELDER WHO AGREED TO SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. ON 26 JUNE, THEY STATED THEY WOULD EXTEND A "GOOD FAITH" OFFER OF REPLACING THE ENGINE, BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR ($1,700 ESTIMATED). DURING THE 3 MONTHS IT TOOK TO REBUILD THE ENGINE, I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND PAID $1,517.47 IN RENTAL CAR AND LYFT FEES. THE CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AS DIRECTED BY THE MAINTENANCE MINDER. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN JANUARY WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 44,586 MILES (6,6602 MILES AGO). THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THE ENGINE WAS LOW ON OIL: THE MAINTENANCE MINDER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOR THE LOW OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 25 JUNE, HE ADMITTED THAT KIA ENGINES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL EVEN AFTER AS LITTLE AS 2,000 MILES FROM AN OIL CHANGE. AT NO TIME DID KIA DISCLOSE THIS ISSUE OF ENGINES BURNING OIL TO ME OR OTHER OWNERS. WHILE THIS CAR HAS THE 2.0-LITER ENGINE THAT ISN'T CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIMILAR CASE TO THE 379,000 KIA 1.6-LITER ENGINES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. KIA IS SIMPLY PASSING THE BLAME ON TO CUSTOMERS FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THEIR FAULTY ENGINES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE 1.6L ENGINES NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

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MY CAR IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING EXTERNALLY (ON THE GROUND) OR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I GO THROUGH ABOUT 4 QUARTS PER MONTH / 2500 MILES. THE OIL LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON, EVEN WHEN I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO CHECK AND THE OIL DIPSTICK IS COMPLETELY DRY. THIS COULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE ENGINE LOCKS UP AND THROWS A ROD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

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KIA HAS 88K MILES AND RECENT OIL CHANGE AND CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPHON HIGHWAY AND NOW ENGINE MAKES KNOCKING NOISE FROM DETACHED RODS. IT WILL COST OVER $5000 TO FIX( EST.). BOUGHT CAR USED FROM KLAMATH FALLS SUBARU AT 58K MILES

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RIMROCK KIA LOCATED AT 4040 KING AVE W, BILLINGS, MT 59106, (866) 979-1682, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECU SYSTEM SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED ONE QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 2,500 MILES DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF DAYTON LOCATED AT 8560 TROY PIKE, HUBER HEIGHTS, OH 45424, (877) 862-6928, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEXT TAKEN TO MATT CASTRUCCI KIA LOCATED AT 3013 MALL PARK DR, DAYTON, OH 45459, (855) 250-8987, AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO HER DESTINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS OIL ON THE SPARK PLUGS, THERE WAS LOW COMPRESSION ON 3 CYLINDERS, AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.*DT*JB

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CAR BURNS OIL AND TODAY LOST ALL POWER TO ENGINEAND MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHILE IN MOTION ON TOWN STREET.

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WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND JUST LOST ENGINE PRESSURE AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW OIL ALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE AND ITS NOT COVERED. SAW THE RECALL GOD THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY DID NOTHING BUT TELL ME THE COST. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE VEHICLE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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2016 KIA ENGINE DIED WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. PRIOR TO THE STRAIGHT AWAY THE ROUTE WAS A WINDING ROAD WITH WATER ON ONE SIDE AND A MOUNTAIN WALL ON THE OTHER. HAD THIS HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE STRAIGHT AWAY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. KIA NEEDS TO BE COMPELLED TO FIX THEIR PRODUCT BEFORE IT HURTS SOME INNOCENT PERSON (S). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RODEO KIA LOCATED AT 10685 PAPAGO FWY, AVONDALE, AZ 85323, (623) 298-1200) WHO WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

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I WAS DRIVING AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TO PICK UP MY KID FROM DAYCARE AND AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND RUN HIGH RPMS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 20MPH BUT WAS AT 4,000 RPMS. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AND PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR THEY FOUND IT HAD A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND FAULTY BATTERY. THE CONVERTER WAS COVERED ON WARRANTY THANKFULLY BUT ENDED UP PAYING $600 FOR A BATTERY AND LABOR. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND APPROXIMATELY 40K MILES ON IT. *TR

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THE VEHICLE HAS 59,000 MILES AND IS CONSUMING OIL AT A HIGH RATE. A FAULT LIGHT CAME ON PUTTING THE CAR IN LIMP MODE WHERE IT REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE WITH NO RESOLUTION FOR NEARLY A MONTH. THERE ARE REPORTS OF FIRES AND OTHER FATALITIES WITH THIS MODEL AND THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED IN ORDER TO FORCE KIA MOTORS TO BUY-BACK THESE CARS.

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I WILL START THIS REPORT WITH SAYING HOW UTTERLY APPALLED I AM WITH THE "SERVICE" THAT KIA HAS PROVIED REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING MY 2.0 LITER 2016 KIA SOUL AT 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT WHEN MY ENGINE SEIZED AND STARTED KNOCKING. IT SLOWED DOWN TO 40MPH WITHIN SECONDS AND IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND TURN ONTO A COUNTRY BACKROAD BEFORE IT JUST SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD IT TOWED TO A BODYSHOP OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WAS JUST A MINOR ISSUE. TURNS OUT WE COULDNT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. LOW AND BEHOLD THE ENGINE HAD A PISTON ROD THAT FELL OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE KNOCKING AND THE ENGINE TO START LEAKING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATED THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE BODYSHOP WAS NICE ENOUGH TO CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR US AND FOUND ONE THAT FITS OUR ISSUES EXACTLY. BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW ITS ONLY FOR THE 1.6 LITER ENGINE AND OURS WONT BE COVERED BECAUSE ITS A 2.0...EVEN THOUGH ITS THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WE THEN GO ON TO FILING A CLAIM WITH KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PAID TO HAVE TO CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW. AGAIN HOPEFUL THAT THEY WOULD SEE THE ISSUE AND OFFER TO PAY FOR IT UNDER GOODWILL SINCE IT IS SO COMMON A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT MOST ALL OF THEIR CARS. I WAS BESIDE MYSELF WHEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT IT WASNT THE SAME PROBLEM AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS MIRRORS THE RECALL ISSUES TO A T. WELL WE ESCALATED THE CLAIM THROUGH CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY CAME BACK AND STILL DENIED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR CAR. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO LOOK AT TAKING LEGAL ACTIONS TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE US BEING A YOUNG COUPLE WITH CHILDREN WE DO NOT HAVE THE $8,000-$12,000 IT WILL TAKE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BLOWN. WE KEPT UP WITH OIL, IT WAS UNDER 80,000 MILES, AND HAD NOT HAD ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE RECALL THIS.

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