NHTSA Complaint #11235068 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY IN THE THIRD LANE (FAR LEFT), THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN COASTING TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HE NEARLY CRASHED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING A GALLON OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT PRESENT. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER FID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE BY AAA. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED THEN TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BEARING SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET AND THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING A RENTAL VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.