NHTSA Complaint #11571357 — 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA

Vehicle 1 operating normally in traffic on [XXX] in Westfield MA. Operator 1 notices alert on dashboard. As Operator 1 looks down briefly and returns eyes immediately to the road, she sees Vehicle 2 braking to slow or stop. Operator 1 depresses brakes, but vehicle does not slow as it usually does, nor does Automatic Emergency Braking engage as it always has in the past. Front of Vehicle 1 makes contact with rear of Vehicle 2. Dashcam footage appears like brakes did not activate at all, either manually or automatically. Vehicle 1 airbags deploy. Westfield Police respond, as well as Westfield Fire, who cut the battery cable. Vehicle towed to Interstate Towing, Inc. Yard 5, 20 Clifton St, Westfield, Ma 01085. (413) 593-1900 interstatetowing.com. Owner 1 viewed vehicle at tow yard, and noted that the battery was completely melted, with only portions of the plastic casing along with internal plates visible. Much of the plastic and rubber components immediately adjacent to battery location were melted and deformed. As a layperson, it almost appears as though the battery was in the process of shorting out just prior to the collision, possibly rendering many of the safety systems inoperable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)