NHTSA Complaint #10109864 — 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6. AS I WAS COASTING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, APPROACH A STOP LIGHT, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS ABLE TO STOP ONLY BY APPLYING THE BRAKE WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE, BARELY AVOIDING A COLLISION WITH CARS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. I THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE BEGAN ALTERNATELY REVVING UP TO BEYOND 3,000 RPM AND BACK DOWN TO IDLE REPEATEDLY. THIS STOPPED AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAPPENED TWICE MORE AT SUCCEEDING STOP LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH-INHIBITOR (PART NO. 42700-39050). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT COVERED BY SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 03-40-013. WHILE I MANAGED TO AVERT AN ACCIDENT, THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A MANDATORY RECALL. *JB