Something went terribly wrong shortly after Keith Nash got behind the wheel of his mother’s 2014 Kia Soul in April 2017.
“I thought he already left until I heard that first explosion,” Carol Nash recently told WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio. “And then I heard somebody holler, ‘Go out the window!’”
By the time Carol made it outside, her Kia Sorrento was completely engulfed in flames. There was nothing she could do to help her son.
“To watch my child die in front of my eyes, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody,” Nash said. “I want closure and I want answers for him.”
Petition Demands NHTSA Investigate Kia and Hyundai Fires
Carol Nash is not alone in her search for answers.
Last June, the Center for Auto Safety demanded that the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) open an investigation into unexplained fires that had suddenly erupted in some popular Kia and Hyundai models.
At the time, 100 drivers had reported non-collision related fires involving the 2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
In July, the group revised its petition to include the 2011-2015 Kia Soul.
By the beginning of October, more than 400 Kia and Hyundai drivers nationwide had reported similar experiences to the NHTSA.
So far, no other deaths or injuries have been attributed to these incidents.
No Explanation from Kia or Hyundai
It’s not clear why these Kia and Hyundai vehicles are catching fire.
About 40% were manufactured at a single Kia Motors plant in West Point, Georgia. Roughly 80% of the engines came from a separate Hyundai plant in Alabama.
“It’s highly unusual to see this number of fires related to a specific make and year,” Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, told WCPO-TV.
“They don’t seem to have any explanation for why these fires are happening,” he continued. “There does not seem to be any urgency – we have hundreds of cars over multiple models catching on fire.”
Were You or a Loved One Injured in an Unexplained Kia or Hyundai Fire? Contact Our Undefeated Automobile Recall Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here.
Our Undefeated Automobile Recall Lawyers are investigating non-collision related fires involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles and will post an update should new information become available.
With over $1 billion won for our clients, including hundreds of people injured or tragically killed due to defective vehicles and faulty components, our attorneys have the resources and skills to successfully take on the world’s largest automakers and ensure that our clients and their families are fully compensated for all of their injuries and losses.
If you or someone you love were injured because of an unexplained Kia or Hyundai fire, call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and since we only represent clients on a contingency fee-basis, you’ll owe nothing unless we win your case.