NHTSA Complaint #10280353 — 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ON IN 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE WIRING HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT BY SOFT DRINK SPILLING INTO THE CONSOLE FROM THE CUP HOLDERS AND SHORTING OUT THE WIRING HARNESS, DISABLING THE AIR BAGS. THERE ARE NO WARNING STICKERS ON THE CONSOLE WARNING OF THE RISK OF LEAKAGE FROM THE CUPHOLDER INTO THE CONSOLE AND NO WARNING TO THIS EFFECT IN THE OWNER?S MANUAL. WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND OWNER CAUTIONED BY TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER ON DANGER OF LIQUID SEEPING FROM CUP HOLDER INTO CONSOLE AND RECOMMENDED NOT USING CONSOLE CUP HOLDERS BUT ONES IN BACK SEAT INSTEAD. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET RESULTED IN DISCOVERY THAT THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAD RESULTED IN A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECALL OF THE 2001 - 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF A PROTECTIVE COVER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED IN THE 2007 ELANTRA AND A DESIGN FLAW STILL EXISTS SUCH THAT A MINOR SPILL FROM THE CUP HOLDER INSTALLED ON THE CONSOLE CAN SHORT OUT THE WIRING MAKING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE AND PUTTING THE PASSENGERS AT RISK AND RESULTED IN AT LEAST ONE DEATH PRIOR TO THE EARLIER RECALL. (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2008/03/NHTSA_HYUNDAI.HTML). *TR