NHTSA Complaint #10632590 — 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2014, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA (PURCHASED JANUARY 2014) TO SCHOOL ON A SURFACE STREET. SHE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND UPON ACCELERATING HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY INTO A PARKING SPACE. SHE NOTICED THAT SHE HAD A FLAT TIRE. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AND I SHOWED UP TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE OEM HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRE AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (HYUNDAI INLAND EMPIRE) FOR REPAIR. THE HOLE WAS TOO BIG TO REPAIR AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. TWO HOURS LATER THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AND STATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RIM BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $399 FOR THE RIM AND $153.67 FOR THE TIRE. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT MECHANISM TO CRACK THE RIM. THIS WAS A SIMPLE FLAT TIRE ON A HIGH TRAFFIC, 30 - 40 MPH STREET, AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING. BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS WERE IN THE CAR AND BOTH CONFIRM THAT THEY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO TIRE SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO EVIDENCE OF RIM DAMAGE. I HAVE OWNED 8 CARS IN MY LIFETIME AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL FLAT TIRES, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CRACKED RIM. THIS IS AN 8 MONTH OLD CAR WITH LOW MILES AND THERE IS NO OTHER REASON FOR A CRACKED $399 RIM, OTHER THAN MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND 12 OTHER REPORTED CASES OF CRACKED RIMS IN THE 2013 ELANTRA. AS A PARENT, WHO PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR HIS DAUGHTER BASED ON THE SAFETY RATING, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE TIRE BLOW-OUT AND THE CRACKED RIM. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI, BOTH CUSTOMER CARE AND THE DEALER, AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE RIM OR ADMIT ANY DEFECT OR FAULT. A NINE MONTH OLD RIM SHOULD NOT CRACK WITH A SIMPLE FLAT TIRE. THE FACT THAT 12 OTHER CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS IS SUBSTANTIAL. *TR