'These New Cars…': Woman Buys Brand-New Kia. Then Her Check Engine Light Comes On A Week Later

"These new cars..."

Photo by: olivierb_2.0

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Apr 21, at 6:00pm ET

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A brand-new car with 200 miles on it shouldn't be giving you problems. And if it is, you might want to return it—or at least take it to get checked. That's exactly what happened to one woman's Kia.

In a TikTok with more than 248,000 views, mechanic Oliver B. (@olivierb_2.0) films a customer's brand-new Kia that's already throwing a check engine light just a week after she bought it.

The car’s dashboard feels like a ticking time bomb. It says, "Vehicle will be turned off automatically in: 26:56."

"Swear to god these new cars," the mechanic begins. "Look at this. This thing only has 200 miles on it."

He explains that the check engine light came on, so he plugged in to scan the vehicle, only to come up empty. "No codes. Engine good," he says.

But something still wasn't sitting right. The motor was sounding off, so he pulled up live data to check for misfires. There was nothing at first, then he revved it up.

"There's a misfire right there," he says. "Misfire on cylinder three. Yep, yep."

What Causes A Cylinder Misfire?

A cylinder misfire occurs when one of the engine's cylinders fails to combust properly, and according to DARCARS Used Car & Service Center, there are a handful of common causes.

Worn or faulty spark plugs are the most common culprit, since they deliver the spark that ignites the fuel. Bad ignition coils are another possibility, since they convert low battery voltage into the high-voltage jolt needed to fire the plugs, and a failing coil will take out whichever cylinder it serves.

Clogged fuel injectors, vacuum leaks in the intake manifold, and a dirty or malfunctioning mass airflow sensor can all cause misfires, too, since they each mess with the engine's air-fuel mixture in different ways.

What Does A Misfire Feel Like?

If you've never experienced one, a cylinder misfire isn't always obvious. According to Tires Plus, it can feel like a sudden shudder, a jerking sensation, or a hesitation when accelerating, as if your car briefly forgot how to be a car.

At idle, you might notice a rough shake or vibration, almost like the engine is struggling to stay awake. Power loss is another sign, especially under load, like when you're merging onto a highway or going uphill. Fuel economy can tank, too.

And while the check engine light is often the first warning, it doesn't always show up right away.

People Blame Kia

While car trouble isn’t unique to any make or model, and even new cars can have problems, many people directed the blame at Kia.

“The FIRST problem is it’s a KIA,” one wrote. Another agreed, “Kia is no good.” A third wondered, “ idk what hold this car brand has on society.”

Someone else blamed the technology in newer vehicles.

“I hate new cars and new appliances; everything is junk,” they said.

Many had suggestions for the woman who bought the Kia. One said Kia would replace the engine under its warranty. Others thought she should cut her losses.

“Don’t even worry about fixing it! I need a refund,” one said.

What do you think?

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Motor1 reached out to Oliver via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll be sure to update this if either responds.

Update April 21: Via email, a Kia spokesperson told Motor1*, "This is a new car that will be covered by Kia’s 10 year/100k warranty, and we look forward to working with the local dealer to provide assistance."*

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