NHTSA Complaint #10483332 — 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2011 I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MICE GETTING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE IN SPITE OF ALWAYS CLOSING ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS. I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF A COWORKER'S FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAD THE SAME CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY THERE WAS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT FILED RECENTLY WITH NHTSA (ODI ID NUMBER : 10477843). AT EVERY SERVICE STOP, I WOULD ASK IF THERE WAS ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS SENT BY HYUNDAI FOR THE ISSUE. ON WED, 10/17 WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK, THERE WAS A MOUSE ON THE DASHBOARD INCHES AWAY FROM ME. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT I WANTED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM LOCATE THE PLACE WHERE THE MICE ARE GETTING IN. I WAS AMAZED WHEN THEY SHOWED ME A LARGE OPENING IN THE METAL FIREWALL FOR THE CABIN AIR FILTER RIGHT NEXT TO A LARGE GAP IN THE COWL MEANT TO COVER IT. THAT DESIGN ALLOWS A RODENT, LIKE A MOUSE, UNINHIBITED ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE CABIN WITHOUT ANY NEED TO DAMAGE OR CHEW THE COWL TO GET IN. I SUPPLIED FOIL TAPE AND ALUMINUM SCREENING TO CORRECT THE FLAW, BUT I HAD TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR THE LABOR TO DO SO. I FILED A DISPUTE WITH HYUNDAI USA AND IT WAS DECLINED, MEANING THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THEIR DESIGN OVERSIGHT. IF I DID NOT SEE THE MOUSE UNTIL AFTER I WAS ON THE ROAD, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR