NHTSA Complaint #11355448 — 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID

TL* THE CONTACT AND HIS DAUGHTER LEASED A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD ACTIVE INDEPENDENTLY AS THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE HAD ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE ACTIVATION, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR TIRES BEGAN TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS AND THE CONTACT ALSO LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING.THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND ULTIMATELY LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INITIALLY TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE SHE WAS REMOVED BY PARAMEDICS, SHE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR MINOR BRUISES AND BURNS IN AN AMBULANCE. SHE DID NOT SEEK FURTHER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.