NHTSA Complaint #10641129 — 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

FOR A LONG TIME I KEPT HEARING THIS CLUNKING TYPE NOISE BUT WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. THEN ON SUN. SEPT. 21, 2014 I NOTICED SOME EXTRA PLAY IN THE WHEEL. WHEN I MADE A TURN I HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL TWICE AS MUCH AS NORMAL AND THEN IT LOCKED AND I HAD TO REALLY PULL HARD TO GET IT BACK STRAIGHT. WE VERY CAREFULLY DROVE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP ONLY A MILE AWAY. THEY SAID MY POWER STEERING LINE WAS RIPPED OPEN. THEY SAID THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES TO THE POWER STEERING GEAR RACK SHEARED OFF OF THE SUBFRAME. I HAVE PICTURES. ALSO SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE COIL SPRINGS FOR CARS SOLD IN THE SALT BELT I THOUGHT THIS ALSO COULD BE A CORROSION ISSUE BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE BOLT DIDN'T COME LOOSE, THE ACTUAL SUBFRAME TORE APART AND THE STEERING RACK WAS JUST HANGING THERE BY ONE BOLT AND OVER TIME IT RIPPED THE RUBBER TO SHREDS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE FATALITIES. WE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW SUBFRAME AND STEERING RACK TO GET THE CAR DRIVABLE. IT SEEMS TO ME IT WAS FAULTY MANUFACTURING OR A RUST CORROSION ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME IS A HUGE THICK IRON FRAME WHERE YOU WOULD THINK NOTHING COULD BREAK IT, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE IT ACTUALLY RIPPED. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIRS. I WANTED THIS COMPLAINT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OTHER DRIVERS. *TR