NHTSA Complaint #10535238 — 2008 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ

WHILE EXITING THE RAMP OFF OF I-95 NORTH IN ASHLAND, VIRGINIA AT ABOUT 50 MPH, SUDDENLY A COUPLE OF DASH LIGHTS LIT UP, THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAL, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST RAN OFF THE RAMP BEFORE BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT CHECKED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A VALVE COVER GASKET OIL LEAK (THAT I HAD FIXED MONTHS EARLIER, ALONG WITH REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR IT SHORTED OUT), HAD LEAKED ONTO BOTH THE ALTERNATOR (SHORTING IT OUT AGAIN), AS WELL AS ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP IN WET WEATHER (THE ROAD WAS WET FROM RAIN AND WATER SPLASHED UP ONTO THE OILY BELT), WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT WAS A VERY SCARY, DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS AND TWO VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACEMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE FALL OF 2011. THIS MODEL HAS A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR