NHTSA Complaint #10326261 — 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON

THE LOWER ENGINE SPLASH COVER CAME OFF MY 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON. I WAS LUCKY IT CAME OFF WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IF THIS LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC CAME OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT COULD ALSO BE HAZARDOUS TO ANY VEHICLES BEHIND A CAR LOSING THIS PART. THE SPLASH PAN IS BOLTED ON WITH THE BOLTS GOING UP INTO A RECESS AND HAS A METAL WASHER GOING AGAINST THE PLASTIC. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS PART IS TAKEN OFF EACH TIME THE OIL IS CHANGED. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON IT THIS MEANS THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 15 TIMES. DUE TO THE FACT I WAS BACKING UP THE SPLASH PAN WAS NOT DAMAGED VERY MUCH. THE PLASTIC WHERE THE WASHER HITS IT IS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY AND THE HOLES HAVE BECOME LARGE ENOUGH THAT THE WASHER NO LONGER WILL HOLD IT. YOU CAN?T PUT A LARGER WASHER ON IT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT IS RECESSED. THIS PROBABLY HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BECAUSE THE DEALER HAD ONE IN STOCK. *TR