NHTSA Complaint #10547992 — 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA ON GOOD ROAD AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN THE LEFT THROUGH-LANE OF A MULTILANE STREET, I MADE A QUICK STOP (NOT AND EMERGENCY STOP) WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW. THE ROAD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND DRY, AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT ABOUT 80 DEGREES F. UPON MAKING THIS STOP THE CAR PULLED UNUSUALLY SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT - IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. AFTER THIS STOP, THE FRONT TIRE(S) MADE UNUSUAL SQUEELING NOISES UPON TURNING, AND THE STEERING FELT UNUSUAL AND SHAKEY. I DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY (ABOUT A MILE) TO THE PLACE WE WERE VISITING IN LAS VEGAS AND THE NEXT MORNING TOOK THE CAR DIRECTLY TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FRAME CROSSMEMBER (FRONT SUBFRAME) HAD A CORROSION HOLE THROUGH THE FRONT SUBBFRAME AND THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) TIRE TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND SITTING AT AN ANGLE. THE DEALER'S ADVICE WAS THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND IT COULD FURTHER FAIL AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THEY ADVISED THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THIS THIS FRONT SUBFRAME WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A REPLACEABLE PIECE - WHICH WAS ORDERED, AND REPLACEMENT PLANNED. THE CAR WAS LEFT WITH THE HYUNDAI DEALER, AND NOT DRIVEN FURTHER. THIS SITUATION IS ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO NHTSA REFERENCE NUMBER 13V354000 FOR THE REAL SUSPENSION FOR SOME HYUNDAI VEHICLES THAT LED TO HYUNDAI RECALL CAMPAIGN 113 APPROVED IN SEPT 2013. HYUNDAI RECORDS SHOW THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN ILLINOIS (ONE OF THE APPROVED 113-RECALL STATES) AND IT WAS DRIVEN THERE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS OR SO. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12-01-029 DATED OCTOBER 2012 (SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 09-01-020-2) WHICH ADDRESSES THIS FRONT SUBFRAME PROBLEM, BUT, I AM TOLD, IT IS NOT AN APPROVED RECALL. *TR