2015 Kia Rio

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and the contact smelled an oil burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic stated that the engine was misfiring, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer confirmed the misfire and stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 139,287.

When the accessory power (not ignition) is left on for more than 5 minutes and I go to start the car WITHOUT returning the key to the off position first, the power steering WILL fail and will cease to operate. I have to turn the car off completely and then restart it to get the power steering to operate again. I am used to it now but someone that is not used to it, they will be surprised if they pull out straight and go to turn with no assistance. The power steering warning light will stay illuminated during the failure but is hard to notice as it comes on momentarily (like an oil light) when the ignition is tuned on and the engine is started. The warning light is small and just blends in with the dash. My car is available for inspection at any time. Yes, others are at risk. I CAN reproduce the problem at any time. Reported to Kia dealer but they could care less. First occurred a few months after the car was bought new and happens multiple times weekly to present date. The car now has 68,000 miles on the odometer.

Last night, my car ran exactly as usual. No warning lights on the dash. No strange sounds. This morning when I started the car, there was a weird ticking sound coming from the engine. I decided to take the car into the shop. About a mile from home, it began to have trouble with acceleration and would randomly stall for a fraction of a second before catching again. The ticking sound became unbearable just as the check engine light and oil level lights turned on, so I pulled over and called a tow truck. After inspection at the auto shop, my beloved car was diagnosed with premature engine failure. The mechanic explained that this engine consumed oil rather than just using it to lubricate the moving parts, meaning that even religious oil changes are not enough. Had I continued driving instead of calling a tow, my car likely would have caught fire! Now I have no car (well a car but no engine) and because I am the second owner, the warranty doesn't apply to me. I have been a loyal Kia and Hyundai owner despite bad publicity over the years because I saw major improvements and innovative growth in the company. Kia tells me that because there is no active recall on the engine and I don't qualify for the warranty, there's nothing they can do. Please note they are actively involved in a lawsuit with the goal of recalling the 1.6L Gamma engines in Kia Rio 2015 for this very reason! There are a small percentage of defective engines that pose a fire risk in these cars. Raising awareness by contacting the company directly and reporting to NHTSA is the only way that Kia/Hyundai might do something about it!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CONTACT'S HEAD IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH BLACK SMOKE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BUSTED LIP, BRUISED EYE, A WHIPLASH, AND A CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVE AS OF YET. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO A LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, HAND HEARD A POP UNDER MY HOOD. MY ENGINE AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND I LOST ALL POWER. AFTER POLLING OVER AND TURNING MY CAR OFF, I NOTICED A TONE OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD LATCH AND PEAKED UNDER WITH OUT OPENING THE HOOD AFTER SEEING LIGHT. I NOTICED THE FLAMES AND GRABBED MY PHONE TO CALL 911. SOON AFTER THE CAR WAS ENGULFED INFLAMES AND 3 BANGS WHERE HEARD. BOTH TIRES AND I'M GUESSING THE FUEL LINE ERUPTED. THE FRONT HALF OF MY CAR WAS NOW ABLAZE STARTING TO REACH THE INTERIOR STARTED TO BURN BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT THE FIRE OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BLIND SPOT, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARWORLD (LOCATED AT 11916 PRAIRIE AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250, (833) 219-9951), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,241.

'TAMARA RECALL' MY CAR DRIVE GEAR HAS TWICE SLIPPED INTO 'SHIFT GEAR... 1ST, 2ND, ALONG WITH A NOTICEABLE LOU DAY SOUND: USUALLY I PUT CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSAL, THEN DRIVE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON; THEN 2ND TIME I NOTICE NEAR SPEED, IT SHOWED NUMBERS INSTEAD OF D FOR DRIVE. VECHILE WAS IN MOTION, I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. CUT CAR OFF AND STARTED CAR UP AGAIN. ALL WAS GOOD. 1ST TIME I DROVE TO GOT HOME DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

ON MAY 4, 2019, AT AROUND 2:15 PM I WAS DRVING AROUND 15 MILES/HR FOR 1 MILE & I STOPPED AROUND 230TH AVENUE SW & HIGHWAY 99 IN SEATTLE. I STOPPED BECAUSE I HEARD SOME ENGINE NOISES. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SOON AFTER SAW FLAMES UNDER THE ENGINE. THE FLAMES GREW BIGGER AND THE WHOLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. BY 2:45, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISED. THE COMPLETE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNT.