NHTSA Complaint #10021290 — 2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

THREE TIMES IN FIVE DAYS, MY 2000 HYUNDAI WAS IN THE SHOP - TWO OF THESE TIMES IT HAD TO BE TOWED WHILE I WAITED ALONE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE CAR WAS OKAY. I TOOK IT BACK THE DAY FOLLOWING AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS NOT IDLING CORRECTLY. I RECEIVED IT BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WITHIN 10 MILES OF DRIVING WAS HAVING SURGES IN THE ENGINE AND THE RPM'S WOULD RACE INTO THE RED. I PULLED OVER AND THE DEALER TOLD ME TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR BACK. I TRIED, BUT NEVER MADE IT. THE CLOSER I GOT, THE WORSE THE CAR BUCKED AND THE RPM'S RACED. I FINALLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AS I DECIDED WHETHER TO CONTINUE ON OR PULL OVER, BUT BEFORE I COULD DECIDE, MY CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I QUICKLY GOT THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND INTO THE GRASS. THE RPM'S STILL ERRATIC AND THE CAR IDLED AT 2.5-3 RPM'S. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND IS NOT SAFE. DEALERSHIP STILL CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.*AK