NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
153 reports40,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
AT APPROXIMATELY 40K MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ANNOYING PING & POWER LOSS, (DEAD SPOT), WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL OR INTO A CORNER. DEALER 1ST TOLD ME THAT AFTER AN EXTENSIVE TEST DRIVE NO TROUBLE WAS FOUND, HOWEVER THE MILEAGE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHEN I BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, OBVIOUSLY TEST DRIVE WAS NOT PERFORMED, H…
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AT APPROXIMATELY 40K MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ANNOYING PING & POWER LOSS, (DEAD SPOT), WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL OR INTO A CORNER. DEALER 1ST TOLD ME THAT AFTER AN EXTENSIVE TEST DRIVE NO TROUBLE WAS FOUND, HOWEVER THE MILEAGE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHEN I BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, OBVIOUSLY TEST DRIVE WAS NOT PERFORMED, HAD THE MECHANIC COME FOR A RIDE WITH ME, NOISE WAS APPARENT IMMEDIATELY ALTHOUGH MECHANIC DID HIS BEST NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT UNTIL I TOOK A TURN ONTO A STEEP INCLINE WHERE NOISE BECAME QUITE PREVALENT & MECHANIC DID ACKNOWLEDGE IT & STATED THAT IT WAS THE GDI PUMP WHICH WE THEN SCHEDULED TO HAVE REPLACED. SHORTLY BEFORE MY SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THEIR MIND & NOW SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A CARBON BUILD UP & SUGGESTED THAT I USE TOP TIER GAS & A FUEL ADDITIVE @ 7,500 MILE INTERVALS, (TECHRON WAS RECOMMENDED), HOWEVER I'VE ALWAYS USED TOP TIER GAS, MOSTLY PURCHASED @ SHELL. DEALERSHIP THEN DECIDED THAT A FUEL SYSTEM FLUSH WAS THE WAY TO GO, WHICH THEY PERFORMED @ NO CHARGE IN AUGUST LAST YEAR. FLUS DIDN'T HELP & I CALLED DEALERSHIP AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER THE FLUSH, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THE NOISE TO GO AWAY & THE POWER LOSS TO WORK ITSELF OUT & RECOMMENDED TO CONTINUE USING THE TOP TIER GAS, AS I ALWAYS HAD & TO ADD THE TECHRON @ PRESCRIBED INTERVALS WHICH I DID. NOISE HAS NEVER GONE AWAY & POWER LOSS, (DEAD SPOT) IS STILL PREVALENT, MORE SO WHEN WARM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN IN MAY OF THIS YEAR AS IT IS GETTING WORSE, ALSO OPENED A CASE WITH KIA CONSUMER CARE DEPT, WHICH I SHOULD'VE DONE RIGHT AT THE ONSET LAST YEAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM & THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO FIX IT BUT THEY STILL WANT TO DO ANOTHER FUEL SYSTEM FLUSH WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR. CCD HAS ONLY GIVING ME LIP SERVICE & TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA ODI #10876772
58,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
NHTSA ODI #10875234
25,000 miles · Mar 14, 2016
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO SOLUS KH25 TIRES, SIZE: P185/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED AIR. THE TIRES WERE INFLAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO SOLUS KH25 TIRES, SIZE: P185/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED AIR. THE TIRES WERE INFLATED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SEVERAL DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN UNEVENLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10846482
55,000 miles · Nov 14, 2015
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiperWheels
1) REPLACED OX SENSOR@ 35000 MILES 2) REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING @ 45000 MILES 3) REAR WINDOW IS TOO SMALL TO SEE SAFELY. BLIND SPOT IS LARGE. 4) HEADLIGHT AUTO-SENSOR SETTING DOES NOT INITIATE LIGHTS IN DAYLIGHT RAIN CONDITIONS. 5) SEAT DESIGN DOES NOT PROVIDE LUMBAR SUPPORT AND HEADREST IS PERMANETLY ANGLED TO CAUS…
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1) REPLACED OX SENSOR@ 35000 MILES 2) REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING @ 45000 MILES 3) REAR WINDOW IS TOO SMALL TO SEE SAFELY. BLIND SPOT IS LARGE. 4) HEADLIGHT AUTO-SENSOR SETTING DOES NOT INITIATE LIGHTS IN DAYLIGHT RAIN CONDITIONS. 5) SEAT DESIGN DOES NOT PROVIDE LUMBAR SUPPORT AND HEADREST IS PERMANETLY ANGLED TO CAUSE NECK PAIN DURING A LONG DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #10790428
62,000 miles · Nov 8, 2015
Service Brakes
CAR HAS 62,000 MILES, REAR BRAKE WENT OUT FIRST, UPON INSPECTION, ON THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT, ON THE SIDE OF THE PADDING THERE WAS METAL TO METAL, MIDDLE PART HAD MINIMAL HAIR LINE MINIMAL OF PADDING LEFT HOWEVER THE LEFT ONE STILL HAD HALFWAY PADDING, PRETTY GOOD, ROTOR WOULD NOT TURN, BRAKES HAD STAYED IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIM…
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CAR HAS 62,000 MILES, REAR BRAKE WENT OUT FIRST, UPON INSPECTION, ON THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT, ON THE SIDE OF THE PADDING THERE WAS METAL TO METAL, MIDDLE PART HAD MINIMAL HAIR LINE MINIMAL OF PADDING LEFT HOWEVER THE LEFT ONE STILL HAD HALFWAY PADDING, PRETTY GOOD, ROTOR WOULD NOT TURN, BRAKES HAD STAYED IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, WHEEL CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE, CANNOT PLACE A NEW BRAKE PAD, DUE TO THE PISTON CONSTANTLY COMING OUT, 2 MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND ONE OF THEM DID SUCCESSFUL GET THE BRAKE PADS IN PLACE AND PLACED THE CALIPER BACK, HOWEVER, THE ROTOR WOULD NOT TURN, MEANING MY BRAKES WOULD STAY IN PLACE ALL THE TIME THUS, HAVING TO FORCE THE CAR TO MOVE. MECHANIC SAYS THAT I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE BRAKES SET AT THE SAME TIME, AND WHAT WAS ODD FOR HIM WAS THAT ONLY ONE SIDE GAVE OUT SOONER THAN THE OTHER, WHEN IT FACT IT SHOULD BE THE FRONT ONES TO GIVE OUT FIRST AND THEN THE REAR ONES BUT NO, ONLY 1 SIDE FROM THE REAR GAVE OUT, THE FRONT ONES HAD REALLY GOOD PADDING LEFT. BUT THIS POSES A BIG ISSUE FOR ME, SAFETY ISSUE, FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHEN WE ARE IN THE CAR, IT COULD LIGHT UP IN FLAMES, BURST MY TIRE, SPARK UP, PLEASE HELP. I HAD TO PUT THE USED BRAKE PADS FROM THE LEFT SIDE ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME PADDING, NEW ONES CANNOT BE PLACED BECAUSE AS SOON AS I PLACE THE CLAMP TO PUSH THE PISTON IN, AND I REMOVE IT, IT COMES RIGHT OUT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERES SOME PRESSURE THERE. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS TO BE COVERED IN THE WARRANTY BUT IM SURE THIS IS NOT ONLY HAPPENING TO ME, PLEASE HELP!!!!
NHTSA ODI #10789059
37,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
NHTSA ODI #10782304
64,252 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY, ACCELERATE, AND STALL. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY, ACCELERATE, AND STALL. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,252.
NHTSA ODI #10779937
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2013 KIA RIO. THE FIRST ISSUE IS ACCELERATION. AROUND THE 30,000 MI MARK, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED AN INDUCTION SVC. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THE SAME GOOD ACCELERATION ABILITY IT HAD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE B…
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I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2013 KIA RIO. THE FIRST ISSUE IS ACCELERATION. AROUND THE 30,000 MI MARK, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED AN INDUCTION SVC. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THE SAME GOOD ACCELERATION ABILITY IT HAD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS JUST NORMAL WEAR ON THE CAR. THE SECOND IS SOMETHING WITH THE STARTER, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. I USE THE WORD "SOMETHING" BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ON MAY 18, 2015. POST THAT BATTERY PURCHASE, THE CAR DID NOT START ON JUNE 27, 2015 (I HAD TO GET A JUMP). THIS NO CRANK WAS POST A BATTERY, STARTER AND ALTERNATOR CHECK BY THE DEALERSHIP ON MAY 23, 2015. BY THE WAY, THE TESTS ALL CAME BACK FINDING NO FAULT. I HAD TWO MORE NO CRANK SITUATIONS ON JULY 19 AND AUGUST 2, 2015. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER JULY 19 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY KIA THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT'S HOT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE HELL OF ST. LOUIS, MO SUMMER AT 55 MILES IN 2012 AND DID NOT HAVE THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10745774
55,000 miles · Jun 22, 2015
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AS THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AS THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #10726621
51,000 miles · May 20, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS WAITING BEHIND SOMEONE AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR THEM TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND SOMEONE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ME AND SMASHED ME INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. THE PERSON ADMIT HE DID.NOT SEE US STOPPED AND HIT ME AT ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE AT HOW HARD I WAS HIT AN…
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I WAS WAITING BEHIND SOMEONE AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR THEM TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND SOMEONE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ME AND SMASHED ME INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. THE PERSON ADMIT HE DID.NOT SEE US STOPPED AND HIT ME AT ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE AT HOW HARD I WAS HIT AND HOW HARD THE CAR FORCED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME . I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DOUBLE WHIPLASH AND SEVERAL TORN. MUSCLES IN MY CHEST AND SHOULDERS A BRUISE THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL ON MY RIGHT HIP FROM THE SEAT BELT AND A BURN ON MY LEFT ELBOW FROM HOW HARD IT HIT MY DOOR BOTH THE PALMS OF MY HANDS WERE BRUISED AND I COULD BARELY WALK FOR 2 DAYS FROM SORENESS AND HAVE BEEN SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR FOR 5 MONTHS NOW MY CAR WAS TOTALLED
NHTSA ODI #10717560
NHTSA investigations
2AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.