2007 Kia Rondo: engine failure

Filed Jan 22, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · VA

While driving down the road at the indicated speed limit of 35 miles per hour, there was a loud thump and then my car stopped. Immediately, I was terrified. I didn't know what was going on. Someone pulled over to help me and I eased my car over to the side of the road with persons manually pushing the car because it would not start back up. I called for assistance and was towed home. Upon getting the car home, I was told that the engine is dead. I was shocked. I was told that I would end up having to replace the entire engine and that could be very expensive. My problem is that I was getting regular scheduled maintenance on the vehicle to include oil changes. I have no idea how a engine just blows like that without no warning light (electrical problem) coming on or anything. I just could not believe this. I started to do some research. I found several reports that the engine died in kia rondo models. I contacted kia to ask them if they had looked into this since so many reports have been made. They informed me that they do not have to do anything because the federal safety agency has not told them they had to. I then asked what about safety. I also said that this can cause fatalities because had I been on the highway and my car just stopped like that, I don't know what could have happened. This issue is occurring too often in this model of vehicle. And to be honest I think kia is aware of this because they actually stopped making this model. Something needs to be done. What am I to do about my transportation now that this engine is dead??? Kia needs to answer for this.

Filed Feb 3, 2014 · Engine · 57,000 miles · MO

Two times my engine died while driving in icy whether. This occurred when the wheels were spinning, it sounded as if some system was trying to stop the spin. The first time I was driving approx. 25 miles per hour on level ground. The second time, approx. Two to four weeks later also in icy conditions on level ground, incident occurred when driving in reverse. That time I intentionally applied the gas hard to test try to get the tires to spin, and the car died within one second of leaving park. I anticipate this will happen again and hope this does not happen during rush hour when I feel there is a high probability I will get in an accident if I am unable to pull off the road.

Filed Jan 14, 2014 · Engine · 110,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia rondo. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started to make a loud banging noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 110,000.

Filed May 1, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 16,500 miles · KS

Our engine blew up- specifically, the crankshaft broke through the 3rd cylinder. Vehicle was serviced by our kia dealership in the middle of march - oil/filter change and inspection. The next week we left on vacation to florida for a cruise. Vehicle was stored at a long term storage facility for the week. About 10 hours into our return road trip, we checked the oil level. Car was almost 2 quarts low. We added an additional quart. There is no indication on the dash that anything is wrong with the engine or the oil. We continued on our way. Another 5 hours into our trip, we are driving along with the cruise control set. The engine starts making loud knocking noises, I am unable to disengage the cruise control even though I am frantically pressing the brake. The engine is revving louder and louder until we hear a loud bang and the entire car looses power. We are past our 100,000 mile warranty with kia. However, there are two factors at play here that can be contributed to the car damage: 1.) the oil was low after only 2-3 weeks after an oil/filter change. I believe the service technician may have some culpability here by not adding enough oil or not tightening a cap, etc. It doesn't make sense that the oil was low. 2.) I recently found out that there was a recall on the brake light for our 2007 kia rondo. That it may cause an inability to disengage the cruise control. In addition to my husband, we had another couple in the car with us who can attest to my frantic actions to disengage the cruise control. My online research has shown that kia had a major problem with blown motors. They no longer make the engine for our vehicle. To fix this vehicle, it would have to be retrofitted with a current motor. This is very expensive. Obviously there is a reason why those motors aren't in production anymore. Why haven't they recalled these engines?

Filed Nov 20, 2012 · Engine · 95,500 miles · UT

The engine is faulty if they demand that only oem oil filters can be used otherwise engine will break and warranty will not cover it. My story: my 2007 kia rondo: so my check engine light goes on the other day. I take it my kia dealer and they say it's code 90011 - camshaft positioning sensor error. They tell me that there is a "kia bulletin" out about non-oem oil filters causing this error and that I should only be using oem filters. So, they change my oil and put on the new oem filter. They then tell me that should fix the problem, but if light comes back on to bring it back in. I left excited the light was off, and then I am not kidding - 1.3 miles later on the freeway home, all hell breaks loose in my engine! It threw a rod and oil spewed out everywhere. So, towed it back. They tell me how sorry they are. I tell them I still have 5k miles left in warranty. They tell me I need to show proof of all oil changes and bring them the receipts. I can only track down 9 oil changes for the last 5 years. I methodically changed the oil every 4k miles, many of them I did myself. Did I think to save the walmart receipts for oil and filters? Noper. Long story short, they denied my claim for the following reasons: 1. There is a "kia bulletin" that came out recently that says I should have only been using oem kia filters and I did not. 2. I could not produce enough receipts to prove that between self oil changes and otherwise were done every 3k miles. Even if I did get the receipts, they don't sell kia oem filters at walmart or autozone, big o, etc. So I am left with $7k still owing on a car that needs a $5200 engine. God bless south korea! P.s.s. When the dealer first change my oil, they said the oil was really quite clean and could tell I take care of the engine!!

Filed Aug 16, 2012 · Brakes · 74,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns 2007 kia rondo. The contact stated that the rear and front brakes failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brakes seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 74,000.

Filed Jun 29, 2009 · Driver assistance · 18,560 miles · FL

On freeway car suddenly lurched,felt like the brakes went on and engine died. Took car to ny dealer who said there was a recall on a part and they installed the part. Driving back to florida the same thing happened about 800 miles later. Called my venice dealer who said that he has had about forty calls about this recall part but does not have any of the parts and said that the dealer in ny probably put in an old or used part. Called kia service number and could not get any answers there about parts or help. Dealer is putting me first on the list for a repair. What is the most frustrating is the fact that the recall notice states that this part may put you at risk of a crash.