NHTSA Complaint #10264504 — 2005 KIA RIO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND, AFTER A SHORT TIME OF ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. SHE TOOK PRESSURE OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT NOTHING CHANGED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT ACCELERATE. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED STEAM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SHE PULLED THE LATCH TO LOOSEN THE HOOD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ALONG WITH A BURNING ODOR. ANOTHER DRIVER ARRIVED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AND USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO CEASE, BUT THEN IGNITED AGAIN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES FOR GOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO PROVIDED HER WITH A CASE NUMBER AND INFORMED HER THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. SHE HAS NOT YET HEARD BACK REGARDING THE INVESTIGATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 37,000.