I bought a kia cerato and just after using it for only 3 years with mileage of 33,000km, with regular servicing, the car suddenly just had a engine seizure and stopped. I took it to a kia service center for check and sludge and corrosion was seen inside the engine. Probably causes such as oil pump failure, grade oil of oil and bla bla bla but all these did not give me a definite reason for the sudden failure. My knowledge and experience of fixing generator engines just kept me wondering. My service record has been done repeatedly on the engine in the kia centre and was shock with this failure. An independent mechanic also came with alot of speculation and so did not help much. I was really in love with this car so i got another engine from kia centre and this really cause me a fortune to fix the car. However i drive this car with fear not knowing what to can happen next.

Simply put, at exactly 57,714 kilometers my KIA Cerato's engine raced/revved, made a terrible metallic clanging noise and seized completely.

That was just 400 kilometers after the 60,000 k service.

The dealership told me it was due to missing the 30k and 45k services, causing sludge in the engine that taxed the oil pump... which failed resulting in the bearing knock and the engine being destroyed.

Sceotical, I hired an independent forensic mechanic. He immediately ruled out the oil pump story, stating it was near prestine. The pistons, however, upon microscopic examination showed signs of corrosion, most likely from the oil becoming acidic due to the 2 missed services... so I have no leg to stand on.

I deeply regret buying a KIA now. I had been the cars biggest fan previously.

The cost of repair is nearly 60% the purchase price, which is financed and still has 3 years to go. I cannot afford the repairs, and no have no car.