NHTSA Complaint #10503058 — 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. IN 2009 THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF MY CAR RUSTED AND BROKE IN HALF, WHICH I HAD REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, HYUNDAI DRILLED A HOLE FOR WATER TO ESCAPE AND PUT A WAX COATING ON THE CONTROL ARMS, WHICH WOULD LATER WEAR OFF. AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK, I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE WOULD NO LONGER BE AN ISSUE WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AS I DO NOT RECALL BEING TOLD IN PERSON NOR IN WRITING THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE STATUS OF SAID PARTS. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER REVIEWING MY RECEIPT, IT DOES NOT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT FURTHER MAINTENANCE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. ON MARCH 5, 2013 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARM AND RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HYUNDAI EMPLOYEES, HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES, AND MY OWN MECHANIC, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THUS IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING AS A CONSUMER AND A HUMAN BEING TO KNOW THAT HYUNDAI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THE FACT THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT A COMPLETE FIX, AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, WHEREBY PUTTING MANY PEOPLES' LIVES IN DANGER.I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL OWNERS OF THESE CARS BE CONTACTED TO WARN THEM ABOUT THE SAFETY HAZARDS THEY POSSESS. *TR