NHTSA Complaint #10286856 — 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

THE CAR IS A 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SO AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE WITH THE DEALER (HAMILTON HYUNDAI, CHAMBERSBRUG, PA TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE DEALER SAID THAT MOISTURE FROM THE CENTER MOUNTED CUP HOLDER GOT INTO A ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DIRECTLY BELOW AND CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO GET HOT, MELT TOGETHER AND THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE DASH, ALSO MELTED. NO FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS ACTIVATED. THE AIR BAGS AT THIS POINT WERE INOPERABLE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE CAR COULD POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE WHILE OPERATING. THE CAR WAS ALSO THERE FOR THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE SWITCH THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD OR COULDN'T ILLUMINATE. THE PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND ALL DUE TO A POORLY ENGINEERED DESIGN. THE FACT THAT WE WERE WARNED THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE IS DISTURBING AND HYUNDAI SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP. THERE IS ANOTHER 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AT THE DEALER THAT HAS THE SAME HARNESS MELTED DOWN. *TR