What 802 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul EV

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN INTO A AUTO SHOP. TOLD IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I SAW THAT 2016 KIA SOULS WERE BEING RECALLED WITH DAMAGED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. WANTING TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED.

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THIS IS REGARDING HIGH EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES THAT MAY DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POTENTIALLY OTHER PARTS, DEALERS ARE SUPPOSED TO UPGRADE SOFTWARE ON ALL KIA SOULS EVEN IF NOT RECALLED. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WARRENTON OREGON SAYS MY CAR DOESN'T NEED IT, I STRONGLY DISAGREE AND WANRYTHIS SOFTWARE UPDATED ASAP!

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WHEN I AM AT A STOP OR GOING TO TURN FROM A STOP MY CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES AND THEY JUST SAY IT IS A SAFETY SENSOR IN THE CAR. I FIND IT A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND TAKING OFF FROM STOPS AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS NUMEROUS OF TIMES.

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CAR STARTED SLIPPING GEARS AND HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND IT HAD NO OIL, ADDED PROPER AMOUNT AND TYPE OF OIL. WHEN IDLING CHECK OIL LIGHT FLASHES RED EVEN WITH PROPER OIL LEVEL. DEALERSHIP STATES SOUNDS LIKE, THEY CURRENTLY ARE CHECKING IT, ENGINE AND ROD ISSUE.

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I PURCHASED MY KIA SOUL IN FEBRUARY 2016. I'VE DRIVEN AROUND 45,000 MILES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT UNTIL THE OTHER NIGHT. DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN A LOUD SCREECH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR JERKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO STALL BUT IT DIDN'T. A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES. DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. ADDED AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL SINCE I SAW THE OIL LIGHT FLICKER. I THEN DROVE HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE WAY. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT WAS OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SO, I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (1.5 MILES AT THE MOST) AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED $4,000 TO $6,000 FOR A USED ONE AND FOR A NEW ONE IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. SEVERAL OF THE OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT WENT BANKRUPT. I HAVE NO WAY TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THOSE RECEIPTS. ALL I COULD SUPPLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONE RECEIPT AND THEY HAD ONE RECEIPT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. THEREFORE, NO COPIES... NO WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST TO REPAIR IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. THE DEALER WILL BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND $4,000 AT BEST. WHY IS IT THAT ONE MINUTE A 3 YEAR OLD CAR IS RUNNING GREAT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S PARKED AND IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE? SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT ABOUT THAT AND I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.

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AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND ON START UP. MY MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED COLD IN THE MORNING ON A QUIET STREET. I HAD NOTICED THAT WEEK, THAT WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO FULL DAYS AND WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BANGING SOUND AND SO COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE CAR WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHICH THEY COMPLETED AND AGAIN HAD THE CAR OVER NIGHT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE BANGING SOUND HAD CEASED; HOWEVER, HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL "MISSING" ON START UP AND WHILE IDLING. GIVEN THE RECENT INCIDENTS WITH KIA MOTORS, AM I JUST WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS? IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE 1.6 LITERS TRIM LEVEL IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED (BASE MODEL).

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AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED MY 2016 KIA SOUL IN THE GARAGE AND 15 MINUTES LATER I HEARD A NOISE IN THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE STATIONARY KIA. THE ENTIRE GARAGE CAUGHT FIRE AND INCLUDED MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS AN INFINITI G35. THE PRIMARY FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD/FRONT RIGHT FENDER SEAM WITH MINOR FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE KIA. WE KNOW THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE KIA SOUL. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD, HAD APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES, AND HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICED ONCE AT THE HENDERSON KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK WAS THE FUEL VAPOR LEAK BECAUSE MY SON'S 2016 KIA FORTE, ALSO PURCHASED FROM HENDERSON KIA, HAD A SEVERE FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT HE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER MY KIA SOUL FIRE. THE SPEED OF MY GARAGE FIRE IS CONSISTENT WITH A FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE HENDERSON KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MY SON'S KIA FORTE. WE HAD TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HOME FOR FIVE MONTHS WHILE THE HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THERE WAS OVER $142,000 DAMAGE TO OUR HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.

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NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AS OF YET. I WAS VIEWING MY CREDIT KARMA SITE AND THE RECALL WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CRANK UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE PARTIALLY STARTED AND AN UNKNOWN INDICATOR ON THE STEERING WHEEL FLASHED FOR LESS THAN TEN SECONDS BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V608000 (STEERING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING FAILURES RELATED TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2017. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TAKATA RECALL IS INCOMPLETE FOR GEAR SHIFT PENION

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WHILE DRIVING CONDENSATION BUILD UP INSIDE OF MY CAR AND THIS HAPPEN TWICE. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE A HOSE DRAINED.

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I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT INVOLVED ME LEAVING THE ROAD AND THAT I WAS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE LANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EMBANKMENT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER THE FORCE OF MY CAR GOING AIRBORNE AND LANDING SO HARD THAT MY UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR WAS TORN UP NEEDING ALMOST 6,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. INCLUDING BREAKING MY OIL FILTER OFF OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE COMPLETELY DEPLOYED. BUT THEY DID NOT. I REALLY AM SCARED THAT IF I WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED TO SAVE MY OR MY FAMILIES LIFE.

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ON A TRIP, I WAS DRIVING ON A COLD, RAINY NIGHT AND THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO FOG UP SO I TURNED ON THE HEAT/DEFROSTER WHICH CAUSED ALL THE WINDOWS TO QUICKLY AND TOTALLY FOG OVER. THE RIGHT SIDE WAS SPITTING WATER ON TO THE WINDSHIELD THIS WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT TOOK OVER FIVE MINUTES FOR THE WINDOWS TO CLEAR EVEN AFTER I TURNED ON THE A/C AND WAS WIPING THEM WITH A TOWEL. I DID A TEST THE NEXT MORNING WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING BUT COLD AND DAMP. I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEAT/DEFROSTER. ALL THE WINDOWS AND EVEN MY GLASSES FOGGED OVER. IT WAS OVER TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE WINDOWS CLEARED EVEN WITH THE A/C ON AND USING A TOWEL. I CHECKED ON LINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. E.G. THIS VIDEO SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SBOJEHJMCYI&SNS=EMISL HERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/SOUL/2015/AC_HEATER/EXTREME_HUMIDITY_ON_WINDOWS.SHTML HTTPS://WWW.KIASOULFORUMS.COM/2-SOUL-GENERAL-DISCUSSION-GEN-1/73641-INSIDE-WINDOWS-FOG-UP-REAL-BAD.HTML I LIVE IN THE DESERT SO RARELY RUN INTO THESE CONDITIONS BUT THAT DOESN'T LESSEN THE DANGER. KIA DEALERS SEEM TO AVOID SAYING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S DESIGN BUT IT SEEMS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY POOR DRAINAGE AND/OR POORLY DESIGNED AIR FLOW.

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OIL LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO CHECK OIL. AS CAR SLOWED DOWN THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK AND MISFIRE. WHEN THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH IT STALLED / CUT OFF AND I HAD TO COAST TO A PARKING LOT TO STOP. CAR TURNED BACK ON, BUT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SQUEAKING AND KNOCKING BADLY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE MOTOR IS "BLOWN". SINCE ALL SERVICE RECORDS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY (UNDER 60K MILES), EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT A LACK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS CANNOT BE THE SOLE REASON WARRANTY CLAIMS ARE DENIED. THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS MOTOR IS ALREADY RECALLED, AND THIS VERSION IS ALREADY SUSPECTED TO BE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. QUOTED ROUGHLY $6,000 TO REPAIR THE MOTOR, HAS A REPLACEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND ALL MOTORS ARE BACKORDERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

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VEHICLE IS USING OIL. BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AROUND 60,000 MILES, TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT'S NORMAL FOR IT TO USE OIL. I'M HAVING TO ADD 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 800-1000 MILES. IT ALSO RUNS VERY ROUGH AND WAS TOLD SINCE IT'S NOT THROWING A CODE, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I'VE HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE AND HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT BLOW-BY WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE OIL CAP IS OFF. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. I KNOW THIS ISN'T RIGHT. I'M APPROACHING MY 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND I THINK THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME EVERYTHING IS NORMAL, WAITING FOR ME TO PASS THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL WITH KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.

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ON HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS HYDROPLANED IN TO CONCRETE BARRIER WALL AT ABOUT 70 MPH FIRST IMPACT ON DRIVERS FRONT CORNER NEAR HEADLIGHT. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

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I WAS GETTING READY TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND THE ENGINE DIED. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND TWO MEN IN TWO VEHICLES STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAD WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ALSO THREW SOME DIRT ON THE FIRE TO PUT IT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE KIA SOUL TOWED TO DENVER COLORADO TO HAVE THEIR AGENT LOOK IT THE KIA. IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS NOT AN ARSON FIRE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH THE KIA SOUL WAS BOUGHT NEVER INSPECTED THE SOUL. ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON SCHEDULE BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 9 MONTHS I OWNED THE KIA. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2016 AND CAUGHT FIRE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NEVER DETERMINED AND KIA NEVER TOOK ANY RESPONSIBLE.

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THE HORN AND ALARM DONT WORK EVEN WHEN I SET THE ALARM THERES NO BEEP JUST FLASHES AND IVE PRESS THE HORN MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A SOUND THIS OCCUR DURING DRIVING AND AFTER WHILE I WAS STATIONARY JUST TO CHECK

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MY SOUL HAS BEEN OVER HEATING,STALLING,AND BACK FIRING,EVEN HAD SMOKE COME FROM ENGINE 2 TIMES.HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 7 TIMES FOR THERMOSTAT ISSUE, THAT THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX .PLUS MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR IT NOT HAVING ANY GET UP AND GO .IT HAS TO BE REALLY FAST TO GO UP HILLS .ON HIGHWAY OR MAIN ROADS .

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THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT ENGAGE EASILY. THEY THINK THEY ARE BUCKELED UP UNTIL I POINT AT THE INDICATOR LIGHT, OR THEY BUCKLE UP AND IT JUST DOESN'T CLICK LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THEY WILL PULL IT OUT AND TRY MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL IT ENGAGES.. THIS IS ALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.. I JUST DON'T WANT ANY SURPRISES IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I NEED MY PASSENGERS SECURED...

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CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE SCHEDULE. IT WAS LAST SERVICED ON 7/31/18 WHEN IT PASSED NYS INSPECTION. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED ON 9/18/18 @ 7:03 PM BY DAUGHTER THAT CAR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE SOUND ON 9/17/18. PLANNED TO HAVE DEALER CHECK OUT CAR ON 9/19/18. ON 9/18/18 @ APPROXIMATELY 8:35 PM, WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE LOCAL PORTION OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR'S OIL LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMOKE CAME INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND, PULLED OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT, STEPPED AWAY FROM IT AND THE ENGINE ERUPTED IN FLAMES. BY APPROXIMATELY 8:50 PM THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT WAS FIRE BOMBED.

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MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES THEY SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND DON'T COME BACK ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM NOT WHEN I USE MY INDICATORS. WHEN I FLICK THE INDICATOR ON MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON.

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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO RETRACT AFTER THE ARE USED. THE PULL OUT BUT THEY WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN THE SEAT BELT AREA

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BACKED UP DRIVEWAY TO PARK CAR IN GARAGE. PUT CAR IN "PARK". GOT OUT TO CLEAR PARKING SPACE IN GARAGE. TURNED AROUND TO SEE CAR ROLLING DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO WALL- WHILE IN "PARK".

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I HAVE A 2016 KIA SOUL, FULLY LOADED MODEL. SIX MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR FROM THE DEALER (BOUGHT NEW WITH 8 MILES), I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, FROM A STOP OR SLOW. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE/LAG/ALMOST STALL FOR 2-5 SECONDS, BEFORE CATCHING AND STARTING TO SPEED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND EVERY TIME, HAVE MENTIONED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN, ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, THEY SAID TO PUT GAS TREATMENT IN THE TANK AND IF I THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, THEN BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE CRANKCASE FILTER CHANGED (THIS IS THE UPSELL THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING ON ME FOR A YEAR NOW. I HAVE UNDER 30,000 MILES, MOST OF WHICH ARE CROSS-COUNTRY MILES. TODAY, I HAVE THE SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEM BUT THIS TIME AROUND, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY SPONGY AND DIFFICULT TO SLOW, WHEN BREAKING TO PULL OVER. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND LET IT IDLE TO LISTEN FOR ANY ODD OR UNFAMILIAR NOISES. THE CAR SOUNDED NORMAL. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THIS ACCELERATION ISSUE HAPPENS ON THE CITY STREETS, AS WELL AS THE HIGHWAY.

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