NHTSA Complaint #10668246 — 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

DEAR SAFERCAR, A LETTER WAS SENT BY ME TO HYUNDAI MOTORS IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE ISSUE IS THAT OUR CAR FAILS TO START AT VARIOUS TIME OR HAS ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WE PURCHASE THIS CAR FROM AN ELDERLY FRIEND WHO HAD THE CAR IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SAME REASON WE ARE WRITING THIS LETTER. SHE WAS TOLD AFTER ALL ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS THAT THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THIS WAS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE RESPONSE WE RECEIVED FROM HYUNDAI WAS THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A FRIEND AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS LIES WITH US AT OUR EXPENSE. WE FEEL THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT OUR PURCHASE BUT THE HEARTLESS NEGLIGENCE OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A 80+ YEAR OLD LADY, WHO HAD NO ONE TO BACK HER UP. I FEEL THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLES STEERING AND OR BRAKES AND ACCELERATION WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS CRITICAL TO OUR SAFETY. THE ENGINE HAS FAILED TO START AND STOPPED AT VARIOUS TIME AND SITUATIONS. PLEASE INFORM US IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE FOR US AND OUR SITUATION. PS THIS CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NEVER REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. HYUNDAI ALSO CONTENDS ,IN THEIR REPLY THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER ACTIVE AND THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT CAN BE RECALLED. HOW UNFORTUNATE FOR US!!!! *TR