WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that several Hyundai and Kia vehicles must be investigated due to concerns that the cars spontaneously burst into flames. According to Techknowbits.com, 100 people sustained various degrees of injury, and one person died in the fires, which reportedly number in the thousands. The NHTSA said that its investigation involves over 3 million vehicles in the United States as in select other countries. The NHTSA will investigate the claims and determine a cause, if a cause may be determined.
The NHTSA launched its current inquiry into Hyundai and Kia vehicles after a consumer advocacy group petitioned the federal regulators to open a case. The consumer advocacy group, called the Center for Auto Safety, suggested that the NHTSA use its inherent investigatory powers to ascertain a cause of the fires. None of the fires subject to the investigation were the result of a crash. Instead, some 3,125 auto fires happened without a collision igniting the flames.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations will probe 2011 to 2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles along with 2011 to 2014 Kia Sorrento and Optima cars, in addition to the 2011 to 2015 model year Kia Soul vehicles. Regulators will focus their inquiry on these vehicles because of the type of engine used by these cars. NHTSA regulators will examine the 2.4 L to 2.0 L four-cylinder engines known as the “Theta II” model. These particular engines appear to be susceptible to spontaneous ignition. However, the NHTSA said that their investigators will not be constrained to solely inspecting the engines for spontaneous combustion problems and could look to other components for a cause.
Hyundai and Kia have announced that they shall cooperate with the NHTSA investigation. The NHTSA said that both companies have been open and transparent during their inquiry. The NHTSA did not give a timeframe for the completion of their probe.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to your car’s defective part or recall, call the Law Offices of Jason Turchin at 1-800-510-0750 for a free consultation with an experienced product liability lawsuit lawyer . We are available 24/7 to discuss your case.
