NHTSA Complaint #10626163 — 2014 KIA SOUL

WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WE PULLED OFF HIGHWAY TO LOOK AT A TOURIST ATTRACTION. NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. PARKED, TURNED CAR OFF. GOT OUT. GLANCED BACK AT THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOON THERE WERE FLAMES DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH FRONT END (LOOKED LIKE MELTING PLASTIC). CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WITHIN 1 MINUTE FLAMES WERE JUMPING UP ON INTERIOR (DASH AREA) AND EXTERIOR (UNDER HOOD). GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM NEARBY BUSINESS, BUT WITH HOOD CLOSED, DID NOT HELP. WITHIN 4 MINUTES ENTIRE FRONT END AND FRONT INTERIOR WERE ENGULFED IN ENORMOUS FLAMES. MANY POPPING NOISES (EXPLOSIONS). FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR MELTED TO THE GROUND. I SHOULD NOTE THAT WHILE WE LEFT THE CAR UNLOCKED WHEN WE GOT OUT, THE DOORS LOCKED THEMSELVES DURING THE FIRE, AND THE KEY FOB WAS INOPERABLE (LOCK ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR WERE FRIED). HAD A PERSON OR PET BEEN IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. MY HUSBAND CUT HIS FACE DURING THIS, BUT DID NOT SEEK A DOCTOR. ALL PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE CAR ARE SEVERELY DAMAGED BY SMOKE. *TR