NHTSA Complaint #10451877 — 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A COUNTY ROAD DOING APPROX. 45 MPH. THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE SUDDENLY TILTED 50 DEGREES INWARD AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE AUTO. AFTER NEARLY MISSING A TELEPHONE POLE, SHE PLOWED INTO A CORN FIELD AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. SHE SUFFERED A SPRAINED WRIST FROM STEERING WHEEL "WHIP" AND BRUISED HER KNEE IN THE ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION BY THE MECHANIC , HE FOUND THAT THE A FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAD BROKE IN HALF. THE METAL IN THE FRAME HAD RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE BY PREVIOUS UNDER-CARRIAGE REPAIRS, SUCH AS TIRE CHANGE, OIL CHANGE ETC. THE CAR HAS HAD SUPERB MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY AND HAS BEEN BOUGHT AND SOLD WITHIN THE SAME FAMILY SINCE BEING BOUGHT NEW BY THE SON IN 2002. WE LOVE THE CAR AND HAVE ENJOYED THE 123,000 MILES OF DRIVING BUT ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI BECAUSE WE HAVE NO RECORD OF EVER RECEIVING A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. HYUNDAI HAS DECIDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE BUT HAS NOT SAID WHETHER THEY WILL REPAIR THE BODY DAMAGE OR THE TRANSMISSION IF DAMAGED FROM THE INCIDENT. WE COULD NOT GET MOVE THE SHIFTER AFTER THE INCIDENT. *TR