NHTSA Complaint #10088370 — 2002 KIA SPORTAGE

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY MY DAUGHTER FELT HER CAR JERK TO THE RIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO THE JERK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL ANYTHING ON THE CAR. IT BEGAN TO ROCK DESPITE HER EFFORTS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FRONT END OF HER KIA SPORTAGE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE SUFFERED ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF USE OF HER LEFT ARM. SHE IS STILL UNDERGOING TREATMENT AND THERAPY FOR THE INJURY AND ALSO WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE FURTHER SURGERY. THERE WERE WITNESSES BEHIND HER THAT REPORTED THAT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT, DID NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD JUST BEGAN TO FLIP. SHE DID NOT LOSE CONSCIENCE, DID NOT LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD. ALSO THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL AND SHE WAS GOING 5 MILES UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. WE REQUESTED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATE BUT THEY STATED THEY DO NOT DO INVESTIGATIONS. WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A STEERING MALFUNCTION AS WELL AS FAILURE ON THE AIRBAGS. *JB