NHTSA Complaint #10522360 — 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

I AM REPORTING A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE ON JUNE 05, 2013, WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE EARLY THAT MORNING AS THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN "DRIVE" MODE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS "FROZEN" AND REFUSED TO MOVE TO "PARK" TO ENABLE HER TO SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO "REVERSE" OR TO ANY OTHER GEAR! SHE TURNED THE KEY ONE NOTCH TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO RELEASE THE TRANSMISSION; THE CAR "JUMPED" THE PARKING CURB AND COLLIDED ABOUT 4 FEET FORWARD WITH A TREE, HEAVILY DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVE! THIS WAS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD NO NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE VEHICLE AND ITS OPERATION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND NOTHING SINCE THE INCIDENT.