What 1,371 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Optima

MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON HUDSON BRIDGE RD. AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT TAKE OFF AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGE. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO RESTART, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR MOVE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOMEONE HELPED ME PUSH OUT THE STREET AND THE NEXT THINK WE NOTICE ARE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND A WORKER AT A NEARBY SHOP USED AN ENTIRE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE FLAMES CONTINUED UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT. THE FIRE BURNED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND TIRES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AT EVERGREEN KIA (LOCATED AT 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 211-3116). THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE IN JANUARY OF 2019. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AS SMOKE APPEARED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BERWYN KIA (LOCATED AT 7050 OGDEN AVE, BERWYN, IL 60402, (708) 797-0300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE STARTER AND STARTER SYSTEM REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THE AND I AM UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES, JUST LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED OUT AND STARTED GOING SLOWLY I COULD NOT APPLY BRAKES TO THE CAR AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE DASH AND THE ENGINE WITH NO OTHER CURRENT CONDITIONS I HAD TO THROW THE CAR IN PARK WITH OUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE I NOTICED FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH NO CURRENT SOLUTION OR PROBLEM THIS IS VERY WEIRD

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILED DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

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MY BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY LOCKED UP AND GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I WASN'T SURE OF THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I LEFT IT THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4HOURS BEFORE COMING BACK TO IT. I WANTED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED BEFORE CALLING A TOW TRUCK. AFTER I HIT THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR IT BEGAN TO SMOKE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE IT BEGAN TO SHOOT FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED TO NOTHING. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID SHE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO BAD LIKE THAT IN AN ENGINE. THE MAN AT THE COLLISION CENTER TOLD HER THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FUELED BY GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ENGINE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I AM JUST GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE CAN BE SITTING STATIONARY AND CATCH ON FIRE. MY CAR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO MY INSURANCE ADJUST TODAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR. I WANT SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I FEEL THAT KIA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED. THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED ON MY OWN AND I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD IT A YEAR AND THIS HAPPENS.

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TAKARA RECALL: MY ENGINE HAD BEEN KNOCKING/SHAKING FOR A GOOD MINUTE NOW. WHEN I HAVE IT RUNNING AND HOOD OPEN IT'S JUST VIBRATING EXTREMELY HARD AND CONSTANTLY.I'VE NOTICED IT WANTS TO STALL OR NO SHIFT CORRECTLY AFTER A DEAD STOP AND SOMETHING GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. EVEN WHILE JUST IDLING I CAN FEEL THE ENGINE SHAKING THE WHOLE CAR FROM INSIDE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED BEFORE STALLING. SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT THE A VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS 3 CHILDREN WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH A RENTAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

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A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO ME BY KIA IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TOTALLY REPLACED. ON MAY 16, 2019 MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN PASSERBY'S WERE HONKING AND FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT HIM. HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, WHEN HE LOST STEERING, AND BREAKS. HE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WHILE MOVING AND THEN THE CAR EXPLODED, A TOTAL OF 3 SEPARATE TIMES BEFORE FIRE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE REPORT AND INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.

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WAITING ON A RED LIGHT, THE KIA OPTIMA STALLED AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN. WITHIN SECONDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN HAD A VERY LIMITED TIME TO GET OUT FROM THE BURNING CAR INTO SAFETY. THE BURNING CAR WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL POLICE CORDONED OFF THE LANE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE TIME OF THE FIRE WAS AROUND 12:30PM.

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WAS DRIVING ON I45 IN PFLUGERVILLE DOING A U TURN TO GO WEST BOUND. HEARD A LOUD BAND LIKE SOMETHING "FELL OUT" OF THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHOOT SPARKS AND FLAMES. I WAS WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AN SOME FRIENDS SO WE ALL JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. MY MOM PICKED US ALL UP AND TXDOT STAYED WITH THE CAR WHILE MY MOM GOT A TOW TRUCK. MY MOM CALL INSURANCE AND HAD THE CAR TO HER MECHANIC AND WHEN THEY STARTED IT UP IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SHOOT FLAMES AND SPARKS. THEY FOUND A HOLD IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON A 60K MILE CAR. KIA HAS SO MANY RECALLS AND THIS CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR WAS IN THE RECALL ABUT NOT THE VIN NUMBER. SOUTHWEST KIA IN AUSTIN TOOK FOREVER TO "INVESTIGATE." THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS BUT RATHER JIFFY LUBE LEFT A RAG IN CAR THAT GOT SUCKED THROUGH THE DIPSTICKS AND WRAPPED AROUND THE CRANK SHANK. I HAD DRIVEN FROM TEXAS TO ARIZONA TO COLORADO AND BACK TO TEXAS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS RAG FROM PRIOR MECHANICS THAT LOOKED AT IT BEFORE KIA DID THEIR INVESTIGATION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS IS A FAULTY ISSUE WITH KIA AND THEY ARE TRYING TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. THEY ARE RECALLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS FOR ENGINE FIRES. WHEN DEALING WITH KIA NOW THEY ARE HOSTILE AND CALL IT AN "ALLEGED FIRE." THEY ARE NOW SAYING AN ADJUSTER NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT BUT THAT WAS OVER A WEEK AGO. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE CASE MANGER FOR RECALLS IS ON VACATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND POWERED DOWN. THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF A STORE. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE BUSINESS OWNER OF THE STORE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT THE FIRE HAD ALREADY BEEN EXTINGUISHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BECK & MASTEN KIA (25503 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77377, (281) 539-1111). THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400. *TR

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MY CAR RANDOMLY CAUGHT FIRE AT 10:30 PM WHILE IT WAS ALREADY SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY SINCE 7 PM. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS NOW MELTED ON MY DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT. PUTTING MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE AT DANGER.

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ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. CAR ACTING FUNNY PULLED INTO REST STOP. SMELLED SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO A PREVIOUS KIA RECALL. CAR IS TOTALED.

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WHILE DRIVING OFF THE INTERSTATE THE KIA OPTIMA STARTED TO SMOKE AND WHEN PULLED OVER FLAMES STARTED TO COME FROM THE HOOD(CAR STILL ONE). THE FLAMES ONLY GOT BIGGER AND EVENTUALLY TOTALED THE VEHICLE .

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"TAKATA RECALL". MY KIA HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME, I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME GOING TO ARKANSAS, AND THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST HIT US. I HAVE LOST WAGES FROM WORK, LOST TIME WAITING TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED, IT HAS CAUSED STRESS AND ANXIETY AND RIGHT NOW I JUST GOT THREE MORE RECALL LETTERS IN THE MAIL. THESE CARES ARE UNSAFE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WANT KIA HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND TO GET THESE DANGEROUS CARS OFF THE STREETS BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED.

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ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

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ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE EXPLODED, CAR WAS IN GULFED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT AS FAST AS I COULD. TOTAL BURN DOWN AND TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES

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WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING OUT THE REAR END AND LOST ALL POWER. WHEN I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED, FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. ONCE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE CAPTAIN SAID IN HIS EXPERIENCE THIS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. KIA ALSO HAS CLAIMS ABOUT SPONTANEOUS FIRES IN SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING MINE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE FACTORY IN THE OIL CAUSING A FIRE.

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ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 930AM, WHILE ON DUTY AT WORK(CORRECTION OFFICER) MY KIA OPTIMA GDI 2013 WENT UP IN FLAMES IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB.. I WAS NOT PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY BEEN ON DUTY 530AM THAT MORNING. ONCE I MADE IT TO THE SCENE MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ALMOST BURNT TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LABELED IT AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR THE BURN FROM THE INSIDE OUT, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD SEVERAL PERSONAL ITEMS OF MINE BURNT IN THE FIRE AND ALSO WORK EQUIPMENT THAT WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. SINCE THE INCIDENT I'VE SUFFERED MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND I DEPENDED ON MY CAR TO GET ME WHERE I NEEDED TO GO. THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND HARD. I'M SEEKING HELP FROM KIA MOTORS. *TR

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WHILE DIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SX. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH STATED FLASHING WHILE DRIVING I PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY MY DAUGHTER AND I SEEN SMOKE COME FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND I THEN SEEN A REFLECTION ON THE GROUND IT WAS 9PM AT NIGHT. THAT'S WHEN MY DAUGHTER AND I WALKED AS FAR AS WE COULD ON THE HWY AND CALLED THE POLICE. I HAVE CALLED KIA NATIONAL FILED A COMPLAINT I HEARD FROM SOMEONE ONCE AND HAVENT HEARD FROM ANYONE ELSE SINCE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2018.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

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WAS DRIVING THE CAR, SMELLED A ELECTRICAL SMELL, AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, 17 MINUETS AFTER IT BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALERSDHIP

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MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE JUST SHORT OF DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 15-20 MIN ON 9/23/18. WE GOT NO WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD WE HEARD A LIGHT POP NOISE, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHEN WE GOT OFF THERE WAS FIRE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD THAT FASTLY SPREAD THROUGHT OUT UP TO THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR DESTROYING THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM AZ TO CA THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. I STILL HAVE NO EXPLANATION WHY MY 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH JUST A LITTLE OVER 86K MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE.

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MY CAR (KIA OPTIMA 2013) WAS PART OF THE RECALL IN 2017 AND IN DECEMBER 2017 MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA. I HAD MY CAR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED MY ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL. 9 MOS LATER SEPTEMBER 16TH 2018 MY FIANCEE WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY AND HE HAD NO BRAKES AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE HONKING AND YELLING YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO TRY AND SLOW DOWN TO EXIT THE FREEWAY HE WAS PICKING UP SPEED BECAUSE HE WAS GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR WAS WAS STARTING TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. HE WAS HOPING THE WINDOWS WOULD GO DOWN AND THEY DID HE START EXITING FREEWAY PUSHING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING A CURB TURNING THE WHEEL TOWARDS THE CURB STILL ROLLING HE JUMPS OUT OFT THE CAR RUNNING AWAY FROM VEHICLE. JUST SECONDS AFTER HE GETS OUT HE SAID THE CAR JUST WAS IN FLAMES BURNING FROM THE ENGINE TIRES POPPING AND WINDOWS BREAKING OUT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 8,000 MILES ON NEW MOTOR THE WHOLE CAR HAD 108,000 THE WAS A 2013 5 YEARS OLD

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