Gene Simmons is calling BS on the media for playing up the seriousness of his recent car wreck ... writing the incident off as a "fender-bender."

The rock and roll legend was spotted by photogs in Los Angeles Wednesday ... getting behind the wheel of a car just weeks after he passed out while driving in Malibu and crashed into another vehicle. Gallery Launch Gallery Getty

Simmons spoke to the paps ... and called the media "fake news" -- 'cause he feels the severity of his car crash was blown up in the press ... when he says it was really just a run-of-the-mill accident.

Gene says there are more important stories in the world than his little "fender-bender" ... and, he thinks the media should shift their focus to those stories instead. Play video content

We obtained video of G

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