NHTSA Complaint #10322340 — 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON

ON 3/23/2010 WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON (MILEAGE 17372 )ON A RAINY DAY, MY FRONT WIPERS STOPPED IN THE 1:00 POSITION (APPROX) RESTRICTING MY VISUAL SIGHT OF OTHER VEHICLES AND OBJECTS ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD THRU TOWN. I WAS TERRIFIED SINCE I COULD NOT JUST STOP THE CAR AND HAD TO DRIVE APPROX 100' WITH POOR VISIBILITY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE INCIDENT & TO GET SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD DRIVING WITH NO WIPERS AND TO GET IT IN. I EXPLAINED THAT I LIVED 50 MINUTES AWAY AND HAD TO WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE DRIVE. ON 3/25/10 I DROVE MY TUCSON TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CHARGED 47.50 FOR THE REPAIR IF IT ENDED UP BEING A NUT, DUE TO THE WARRANTY NOT COVERING IT. I STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD & THAT I REFUSED TO PAY SUCH A CHARGE. I TOLD THE TECH THAT IF I WAS CHARGED I WOULD FOLLOW THRU WITH THE PROPER CHANNELS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SUCH CHARGE. AFTER SERVICING MY TUCSON I WAS TOLD THAT THEY FOUND THE WIPERS LOOSE AT THE MOTOR AND THEY FOUND THE NUT OFF LINKAGE. THEY REPLACED NUT, TESTED THE TUCSON AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS DONE. THE GENTLEMEN TOLD ME THIS NUT BECOME LOOSE DUE TO SNOW/ICE BEING ON MY WINDSHIELD & TRYING TO USE THE WIPERS. HE STATED THAT THEY MANUFACTURE IT THIS WAY SO YOU DONT BLOW THE WIPER MOTOR. SO MUST BE YOU CANT DRIVE WHEN ITS SNOWING OR SLEETING OUT EITHER SINCE THIS COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO BECOME LOOSE ON THE WIPER TRANSMISSION?... THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME! IT WAS RAINING OUT. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE GOT IT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SO NO CHARGE....