Buying a brand-new car is supposed to eliminate headaches.
No strange noises. No warning lights. No surprise repair bills. Just years of trouble-free driving, or at least that’s the promise buyers expect when they leave a dealership with a factory-fresh vehicle.
That’s why one new Kia vehicle owner was understandably frustrated after her car developed a check engine light just one week after purchase. Even worse, the vehicle had only covered around 200 miles.
The issue surfaced in a viral TikTok posted by mechanic Olivier B., who showed the nearly new Kia in his shop while diagnosing what turned out to be a much bigger issue than a simple warning light.
The Check Engine Light Was Just The Beginning
According to the mechanic, the customer brought the car in after the check engine light suddenly appeared.
That alone would be annoying on a brand-new vehicle, but things got stranger once diagnostics began. After plugging into the car, the mechanic said no trouble codes initially appeared.
That usually suggests everything is normal.
However, the engine didn’t sound normal.
The mechanic said the motor sounded “off,” so he dug deeper and started monitoring live engine data instead of relying solely on stored codes.
That’s When He Found A Misfire
After revving the engine and watching live data, the problem finally revealed itself.
Cylinder three was misfiring.
That means one of the engine’s cylinders wasn’t combusting properly, which can lead to rough idling, hesitation, power loss, poor fuel economy, and long-term engine damage if ignored.
On a high-mileage used car, it would still be frustrating.
On a brand-new vehicle with just 200 miles, it’s far more concerning.
What Usually Causes A Misfire?
There are several possible reasons this happens.
Faulty spark plugs are one of the most common causes because they’re responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture. Bad ignition coils can also trigger a misfire if they fail to deliver enough voltage.
Fuel injectors can cause similar problems if they become clogged.
Vacuum leaks or a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor can also throw off the engine’s air-fuel mixture and create similar symptoms.
The exact issue with this Kia vehicle wasn’t confirmed in the video.
New Cars Aren’t Always Perfect
@olivierb_2.0 #fyp #kia #carproblems #newtech ♬ original sound – Responsive-_-
Modern vehicles are more complicated than ever.
Even brand-new cars can leave the factory with defective parts, software issues, or quality control problems that don’t show up until owners start putting miles on them.
That doesn’t mean this Kia is doomed.
It does show why buyers should take warning lights seriously — even when the car is practically brand new.