NHTSA Complaint #10257393 — 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE DRIVER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. HE OBSERVED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND HAD IT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NINE MONTHS LATER. HE CONNECTED THE BATTERY TO A GAUGE, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT FAILED AGAIN. SINCE THE BATTERY WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR 2-3 DAYS, IT CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN . THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILS BECAUSE THE RADIO IS CAUSING IT TO DRAIN, AS IF IT WERE STILL ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THIS IS WHY THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO NOT LET THE VEHICLE IDLE FOR MORE THAN TWO DAYS. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE; HOWEVER, IT COULD BE COVERED UNDER THE THREE YEARS/30,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THE REMEDY WAS TO PULL THE POWER CONNECTOR. UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB