NHTSA Complaint #10513952 — 2007 HYUNDAI ENTOURAGE

I WAS STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE TURNING LEFT, AND A LINE OF CARS CAME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEHIND ME. THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND ME WAS UNAWARE THAT I WAS STOPPED BECAUSE APPARENTLY MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AND THE DRIVER HAD TO SWERVE QUICKLY INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC; THE CAR BEHIND HIM SWERVED INTO THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN LANE. WE ARE FORTUNATE WE WERE NOT HIT AND THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS HIT. ASSUMING THE FAULT WAS WITH THE OTHER DRIVER, I CONTINUED DRIVING OUR ENTOURAGE UNAWARE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM, ONLY TO DISCOVER ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT AFTER DARK THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR CLOSE TO A MONTH THIS WAY--THE ESC LIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN ON THAT LONG--NOT REALIZING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALSO AFFECTING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2009. THOUGH EVERY WEBSITE I'VE CONSULTED INCLUDES THE ENTOURAGE IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, HYUNDAI MAINTAINS THAT IT IS NOT INCLUDED. IT BEFUDDLES ME THAT A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING THE 07 ENTOURAGE IS BEING COMPLETELY IGNORED BY HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING BECAUSE OWNERS WILL NOT KNOW THAT THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FAILING TO ENGAGE, UNLESS AN ACCIDENT OR NEAR ACCIDENT OCCURS. EVEN THEN, (LIKE OUR FAMILY) THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THE PROBLEM. UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED/HONORED, THE ONLY WAY TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM IS TO HAVE IT WHILE OPERATING THE CAR. IN OUR CASE, MY CHILDREN RIDE EVERYWHERE WITH ME IN THE ENTOURAGE. I SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE, AND GOT NOWHERE. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANOTHER HYUNDAI IN THE FUTURE. *TR