NHTSA Complaint #10417312 — 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-295 AND APPROXIMATELY HALF MILE FROM THE EXIT I NEEDED, MY BATTERY LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I NEARED THE OFF RAMP AND SLOWED DOWN TO 60 MPH, I STARTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND I HAD LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ADEQUATELY, AND WITH BOTH HANDS CONTINUALLY FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING, I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO AN AREA SAFELY WHERE I COULD CONTACT MY MECHANIC AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THEIR PREMISES. UPON HIS INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF IN FRONT OF THE BLOCK, AND THE HOLES ARE DAMAGED. I DID CONTACT HYUNDAI, AND THEY SEEMED VERY UNCONCERNED BY THE INCIDENT. I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT THAT BOLTS BREAKING AT ONLY 52,000 MILES WITHOUT REASON WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE. EVEN THOUGH I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR USED, AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE CARFAX REPORT TO INDICATE THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS, AND OF COURSE, THE CAR WARRANTY UNDER HYUNDAI EXPIRED IN APRIL. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A ONE OFF INCIDENT, OR A POSSIBLE PATTERN. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR