NHTSA Complaint #10468204 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT KNEE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND RIGHT ARM. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON HIS OWN AFTER THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ASSIGNED AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CRASH. AN ENGINEER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.