NHTSA Complaint #10339108 — 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

I WAS DRIVING 11 MILES TO THE AIRPORT, INVOLVING 8 MILES OF 60 MPH FREEWAY DRIVING; THE REST WAS CITY DRIVING, 25-45 MPH WITH SEVERAL STOPS. AFTER I STOPPED AT THE SECURITY GATE AND PROCEEDED FORWARD, I HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING THUD ON THE FRONT END; THE CAR SCREECHED TO A HALT; AND I THOUGHT I COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE BLOCK OR A DEEP POTHOLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS TURNED NEARLY 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, WHILE THE LEFT WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT. THE DRIVE SHAFT AND TIE ROD WERE HOLDING THE WHEEL ON THE CAR, BUT THE MAIN STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF RUST AND CORROSION. MY CAR WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. I INFORMED THE AIRPORT POLICE OF THE INCIDENT AND PROMISED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OFF THE LOT WHEN I COMPLETED MY 3-HOUR SHIFT. I MET THE AIRPORT POLICE AND THE AAA TOW DRIVER AT 1:45 AM. THE BROKEN FRONT END MADE TOWING VERY DIFFICULT, AND SOME BODY DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THE WHEEL WELL AND FENDER RESTING ON THE TIRE IN TRANSIT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE AAA SHOP AT 2AM. I RESEARCHED THE FRONT END FAILURE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PRODUCT RECALL ON THE FAILED PART. I CALLED 800-633-5151 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT END COULD HAVE KILLED ME, IF IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES SOONER, SO I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. I WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND ADVISED TO HAVE THE HYUNDAI DEALER INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT SAID IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT HYUNDAI WOULD REPAIR THE CAR BASED ON "GOOD WILL." THE RECALL EXCLUDED NEBRASKA CARS, ALTHOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED IN MO AND DRIVEN TO WORK DAILY IN IOWA. MY LIFE WAS PLACED IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOPEFULLY, HYUNDAI WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING AN OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS DEFECT FOUND IN ALL 2003 ELANTRAS. *TR