NHTSA Complaint #11123599 — 2018 KIA NIRO

NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. DESIGN SAFETY ISSUE. THE DESIGN OF THE EMERGENCY LIFTGATE SAFETY RELEASE REQUIRES THE USE OF THE VEHICLE'S MECHANICAL KEY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR LIFTGATE IN AN EMERGENCY (SEE OWNERS MANUAL PAGE 4-26. THE NEED TO HAVE A KEY IN HAND UTTERLY DEFEATS THE INTENDED CONCEPT OF AN EMERGENCY RELEASE. THIS DESIGN WOULD BE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE TRUNK OF A SEDAN AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HATCHBACK OR LIFTGATE. A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE FIX WOULD BE TO INSTALL A SIMPLE METAL LEVER IN THE DOOR THROUGH THE SLOT PROVIDED FOR INSERTING THE KEY. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR EMERGENCY RELEASE MECHANISMS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS IS THROUGH THE INDUSTRY OR IF THERE ARE IN FACT DIFFERENT STANDARDS. I WOULD URGE NHTSA TO REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE ALL DOORS OPENABLE FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A KEY OR ANY OTHER TOOL, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT IS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED AS AN EMERGENCY MEANS OF EXIT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP THE DRIVING PUBLIC SAFE. SINCERELY (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).