NHTSA Complaint #11229065 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

MY BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY LOCKED UP AND GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I WASN'T SURE OF THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I LEFT IT THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4HOURS BEFORE COMING BACK TO IT. I WANTED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED BEFORE CALLING A TOW TRUCK. AFTER I HIT THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR IT BEGAN TO SMOKE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE IT BEGAN TO SHOOT FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED TO NOTHING. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID SHE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO BAD LIKE THAT IN AN ENGINE. THE MAN AT THE COLLISION CENTER TOLD HER THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FUELED BY GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ENGINE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I AM JUST GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE CAN BE SITTING STATIONARY AND CATCH ON FIRE. MY CAR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO MY INSURANCE ADJUST TODAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR. I WANT SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I FEEL THAT KIA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED. THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED ON MY OWN AND I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD IT A YEAR AND THIS HAPPENS.