NHTSA Complaint #10181890 — 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS -- ONE MONTH AGO (JANUARY 2007) THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMMENCED SLOWLY, DIMLY APPEARING THEN SLOWLY FADING OUT IN ONE CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CONDITION REPEATS AS LONG AS THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED "ON." I NOTICED HYUNDAI'S RECALL OF THE 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR EXACTLY THAT PROBLEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. EVIDENTLY, THE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY ONE-OR-MORE FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS. THE RESULT, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INFORMATION, IS THAT ONE OR MORE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DEALER ENTERED MY VEHICLE'S VIN, TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SENSORS WITHOUT CHARGE. BECAUSE OF THE EXORBITANT COST OF REPLACEMENT, PLEASE ASK HYUNDAI TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL AND/OR MAIL ME A LETTER OF CREDIT THAT I CAN GIVE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS CONDITION REPAIRED. ACCORDINGLY, I MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU AND/OR HYUNDAI, HERE CONCERNED. OTHERWISE, LAST JUNE, 2006, BOTH SUN VISOR RETAINING BRACKETS (HOLDING THE VISOR TO THE ROOF) CRACKED ABOUT A MONTH APART, RENDERING THE SUN VISORS USELESS, IN THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THE VISOR CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. . .IT SIMPLY DROPS AND HANGS WHEN RELEASED FROM THE RETAINER. MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRACKET BROKE JUST AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, WHEN THE SUN WAS SHINING DIRECTLY INTO MY EYES AT A LEVEL JUST ABOVE THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD AT THE TIME, SUCH THAT I PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE SUN ROSE A BIT HIGHER IN THE SKY. THOSE BRACKETS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS; LIKEWISE, THE AIRBAG SENSORS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS. *JB ABL.PCO