NHTSA Complaint #10531503 — 2011 KIA SPORTAGE

THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO SMOKE PRESENT UNDERNEATH. THE CAR THEN STARTED ITSELF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE BACK REAR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE REAR WINDOW WIPER STARTED GOING. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. THE SMOKE WAS GETTING WORSE. THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON AND AGAIN THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DISCONNECTED MY CAR BATTERY ALONG WITH SPRAYING WATER ON THE FUSE PANEL TO GET IT TO STOP SMOKING. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE FUSE PANEL WHICH STARTED THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE TOW COMPANY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS THE FOURTH KIA SPORTAGE THAT THEY HAD TO TOW FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON, A SHORT IN THE FUSE PANEL. *TR