NHTSA Complaint #10417147 — 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, SUSPENSION AND STEERING IN 2007 SANTA FE. I THINK THEY ARE CONNECTED AND AFFECT EACH OTHERBY POOR DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS. PURCHASED AS NEW VEHICLE IN 12/2007. NOTICED WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL A DIFFERENT SPEEDS, CONDITIONS AT 3K MILES. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NOTICED RATTLE AND KLUNKING NOISE IN LEFT FRONT WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT 12K MILES. NO DEALER OR MECHANIC COULD DIAGNOSE ANYTHING WRONG. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AT 26K BECAUSE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WORN TO BELT ON INSIDE. ALL WHEELS ALIGNED AT SAME TIME. STILL HAD WOBBLE, VIBRATION AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, ACCELERATING, COASTING, ETC. NUMEROUS BALANCING AND ROTATIONS. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 31K, REPLACED SWAY BARS AND LINKS, HAD WHEELS BEARINGS SERVICED. STILL WOBBLING, RATTLE IN FRONT END AND UNEVEN STEERING. AT 32K, HAD WHEEL BEARINGS REPACKED, ANOTHER FRONT END ALIGNMENT, AND ALL WHEELS,TIRES RECALIBRATED TO HYUNDAI SPECIFICATIONS. VEHICLE DROVE PERFECTLY...FOR 3 DAYS. ALL RATTLES, NOISES, WOBBLES, UNEVEN STEERING PROBLEMS RETURNED. GOING BACK TO DEALER 3RD TIME IN 1 MONTH. RATTLE AND WOBBLE GETS WORSE EVERYDAY. DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I DRIVE 15 MILES TO AND FROM WORK ON SMALL EXPRESSWAY IN AUSTIN, TX. NO OFF ROADING, NO PULLING ANY TRAILERS. ONLY HAIL DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR. NO FRONT END COLLISIONS, ENGINE PROBLEMS OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE BEFORE THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED. (SMALL COLLISION AT 30,500K. I WAS AT STOP, DRIVER IN BACK REAR-ENDED ME AT 5MPH. MY FRONT END TAPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DEALER BODY SHOP REPLACED FRONT BUMPER "SHOCK ABSORBERS. NO DAMAGE TO FRAME OR SUSPENSION. IS THIS A SUBFRAME PROBLEM, AXLE ASSEMBLY ISSUE OR WHAT? LOTS OF COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET REGARDING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANY FURTHER THAN TO AND FROM WORK. CANNOT AFFORD TO TRADE IN, BUY DIFFERENT VEHICLE. . *TT