NHTSA Complaint #11364123 — 2014 KIA OPTIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FORWARD, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS MAKING A U-TURN. THE CONTACT TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT GOT OUT RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE HIS FIANC WAS UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO CUT THE SEATBELT IN ORDER TO RELEASE AND DRAG HER OUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO RETRIEVE ITEMS BUT THE VEHICLE THEN ENGULFED IN FLAMES CAUSING AN EXPLOSION. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE CONTACT FRACTURED HIS RIGHT WRIST, RIGHT ANKLE AND SUSTAINED SEVERE BURN TO HIS BODY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACTS FIANC WHO WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEGS, WRISTS, RIGHT FOOT AND ANKLE FRACTURED, FIRE BURNED THROUGH OUT HER BODY CAUSING HER TO LOSE HER LOWER INTESTINE. THE CONTACTS FIANC WAS IN A COMA AND IN THE HOSPITAL FOR OVER 90 DAYS. THERE WAS A VEHICLE WHO MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE AND IT WAS INFORMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) APRIL 13, 2020 WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVES CAUSED THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.*DT