NHTSA Complaint #10542264 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA (APPROX 45,000 MILES) DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT POPPED OFF AND WAS HANGING. AFTER LOOKING IN THE TRUNK AT THE INSIDE TAIL LIGHT AREA, I SAW PLASTIC PIECES AROUND THE SCREWS THAT WERE CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF; THUS CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHT TO POP OFF AND HANG. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE TAIL LIGHT DID NOT FALL OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I THEN DICOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT STUDS WERE BEGINNING TO BREAK OFF TOO AND DO THE SAME THING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED THE CLIPS BROKE BUT IT LOOKED FORCED AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UNDERSTAND THIS CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM WHO HAS A GARAGE FOR THE CAR. I WAS SIMPLYING DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TAIL LIGHT POPPED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND OTHERS.