NHTSA Complaint #11407392 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

I HAD JUST LEFT THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON I-30 EASTBOUND IN BENTON, AR. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN ACTING JERKY AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I STARTED TO CROSS OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKING COMING OUT THE BACK. I GOT ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER, PARKED IN FRONT OF EXIT 118, AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN MY VEHICLE CALLING A RIDE WHEN I NOTICED A GENTLEMAN RUNNING TOWARDS ME YELLING, "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!" I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE, WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER DOOR TO RETRIEVE MY PURSE AND LAPTOP BAG FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND MOVED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. BY THE TIME, I HAD RETRIEVED MY ITEMS OUT OF THE FRONT SEAT, THERE WAS SMOKING COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BY THE TIME, I HAD BEGUN WALKING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, YOU COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. I WAS CALLING 911 AS I WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE BY K & A TIRES IN MALVERN, AR. THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED, AN OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INVOICE WAS IN THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER WAS GIVEN INFORMATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS/IS UNDER AN NHTSA RECALL# 20V519.