NHTSA Complaint #10135183 — 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA( VIN# KMHWF35V5XA04162) ON SOUTH AVENUE IN STATEN ISLAND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF.DEALER SAID THE CAUSE WAS CRACKED K FRAME, THEN LATER UPON ASKING FOR DAMAGE ESTIMAT SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO BENT K FRAME. SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED DECIDED TO TAKE CAR TO MY OWN MECHANIC. UPON EXAMINATION HE SHOWED METHAT THE K FRAME WAS NEITHER CRACKE NOR BENT, IT WAS SIMPLY RUSTED THROUGHOUT AND THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY JUST FELL OFF WHEN THE RUST COULD NO LONGER HOLD IT TO THE FRAME.CALEED BACK BOTH DEALE AND CORPORATE HYUNDAI NOT ONLY FOR REDRESS BUT ALSO TO EXAMINE FOR DEFECT THAT COULD RESULTING INJURY TO OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATION. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANT FOR THE K FRAME AND THAT ANY PROBLEM WHETHER DUE TO ROT, RUST, OR OTHERWISE WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WOULD NOT SEND ANY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO EXAMINE THE CAR PERIOD.IF THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH, HYUNDAI'S REFUSAL TO EVEN TAKE A TIME OUT TO SEE IF THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM INDICATES A CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHO MAY BE DRIVING SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE CAR IS ATILL INTACT AND AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT ADVISE ME TO DO WITH IT. PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I CAN'T LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS FOREVER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANNETTE HYLAND