NHTSA Complaint #11254210 — 2015 KIA FORTE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM DRIVE INTO PARK, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN TWO CRASHES DUE TO THE FAILURE. *ON THE FIRST OCCASION, WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD AND STRUCK A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BANKING FACILITY AT AN UNKNOWN HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED AND POLICE REPORT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT ALL THREE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL TO BE EVALUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO KIA OF LINCOLN (1145 N 48TH ST, LINCOLN, NE 68504, 402-434-7000) AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONE OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAD HEARD OF THIS FAILURE OCCURRING PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,568. *BF ('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).')*JB