NHTSA Complaint #10465259 — 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 23, 2012, I WAS PARKING MY 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, AS USUAL, AND FELT THE CAR SLOWING DOWN AT FIRST; BUT THEN, JUST AS I WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY GOT REALLY LOUD AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY LURCHED FORWARD VERY FAST. IT JUMPED OVER THE PARKING STOP, THEN COLLIDED WITH A 2-FOOT HIGH CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS ONLY ABOUT 18" OR SO PAST THE PARKING STOP (IT WAS A BARRIER SEPARATING THAT PARKING LOT FROM AN ADJACENT ONE). LUCKILY FOR ME, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND SO I ONLY HAD A FEW BRUISES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. EVEN THOUGH IT'S TOO LATE FOR MY CAR, I REALLY WISH HYUNDAI WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. SINCE I WAS IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT, IF THAT CONCRETE BARRIER HAD NOT BEEN THERE TO STOP MY CAR, IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP MUCH WORSE - I COULD HAVE CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES OR EVEN HIT A PEDESTRIAN. IT REALLY SCARES ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR