NHTSA Complaint #11080904 — 2013 KIA SOUL

AS I WAS DRIVING ACROSS, WITH A GREEN LIGHT, A SIX LANE (PLUS ADDITIONAL TURN LANES) CITY STREET AT PERHAPS 25 MPH, A DRIVER RUNNING HER RED LIGHT STRUCK MY VEHICLE BROAD SIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DO NOT KNOW HER SPEED BUT CAN SAY THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD SHE WAS TRAVELING IS 40 MPH. THE REASON FOR THIS REPORT IS THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SNAP OFF AND BECOME AN AIRBORNE MENACE. THE MIRROR GAVE ME A LARGE LUMP JUST ABOVE MY RIGHT EYE AND CAUSED A CONTUSION ON MY RIGHT CHEEK THAT AFTER BLEEDING PROFUSELY NEEDED FOUR STITCHES TO CLOSE. I WAS LUCKY. THE JAGGED EDGE THAT CUT MY CHEEK WAS ONLY A COUPLE INCHES FROM MY EYE AND POTENTIAL BLINDNESS. THE MIRROR'S (MODEL ZTVHL3) PHYSICAL CONNECTION FAILED AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE BALL JOINT AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND THE METAL CONDUIT AT THE REAR OF THE MIRROR. THE METAL WAS UNABLE TO WITHSTAND THE FORCE OF THE SIDE IMPACT AND TORQUED OUT OF SHAPE. THE WIRING ALONE WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE MIRROR IN PLACE, AND THE MIRROR WENT AIRBORNE.