AT 97,XXX MILES, THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE FAILURE RUPTURED THE OIL PAN, SPRAYING OIL ON THE ENGINE, EXHAUST HEADERS, AND THE ROAD. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, NOISE, OR PERFORMANCE LOSS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE SEEMS SIMILAR TO OTHER FAILURES WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI ENGINES, HOWEVER THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE WAS NOT LISTED IN A NHTSA RECALL. KIA HAS REFUSED TO WARRANTY THE FAILURE, STATING IT WAS NOT "DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT". THE ENGINE MODEL IS A 2.4L DOHC MPI THETA-II. OTHER THETA-II ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, JUST NOT THIS VERY SPECIFIC TYPE.