NHTSA Complaint #10260970 — 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

I HAD TO PUT ON THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP FROM HITTING A CAR THAT STOPPED SHORT. THE CAR JERKED AND WHEN I BEGAN TO PROCEED THERE WAS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. I GOT THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALER WHO IS JUST A MILE AWAY FROM WHERE THIS OCCURRED AND AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT END CAME WITHIN 1/2" OF CORRODED METAL FROM BREAKING OFF. THERE WAS ONLY 1/2" OF METAL LEFT HOLDING IT IN PLACE. I WAS TOLD THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE BOTH "ANNHILATED" AND WERE COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH OF THEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1000. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SPENT 2002-2008 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SUBJECT TO THE SALT AND WINTER CONDITIONS. IT ONLY HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TREATED WELL AND SERVICED ROUTINELY. LIKE OTHER CONSUMERS, WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND THAT THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT ON THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO BECOME SUBJECT TO CORROSION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE JUST 1 MILE TO THE DEALER WHO WILL BE PERFORMING SERVICE, BUT SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WHILE FURTHER AWAY, I WAS TOLD I WAS ONE POTHOLE AWAY FROM THE WHOLE FRONT END FALLING OFF. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT SEVERE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL PERSONAL HARM COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION OR WORSE, IF THE CONTROL ARMS HAD BROKEN FREE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR AT INCREASED SPEEDS. THIS IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS AND I HAD NO REASON TO THINK THAT A CAR THAT'S 7 YEARS OLD COULD SUFFER SOMETHING LIKE THIS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR