NHTSA Complaint #10701219 — 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, MY WIFE HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AT 10 O'CLOCK IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROLLER ARM HAD BROKE - A RECALL CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS REPAIRED IN 2010 (OR SO WE THOUGHT). DUE TO THIS THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND WE ARE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT, ALTHOUGH THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROLLER ARM WILL BE COVERED, THE DAMAGE TO THE STRUTS AND TIRES ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SUM $973.31. OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC STATES THAT THE FRONT TIRES (UNDER 4 YEARS OLD AND HAVING LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM) AND THE STRUTS (UNDER 5 YEARS OLD) WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED IF NOT FOR THE ISSUE WITH THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROLLER ARM. AT OUR RECALL APPOINTMENT ON DECEMBER 22, 2014 (FOR A SEPARATE ISSUE), THE DEALERSHIP SAW NO ISSUE DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. OUR 2002 SANTA FE HAS 91,000 MILES, AND IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS SINCE THAT APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 300 MILES, AS MY WIFE'S WORK IS LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM HOME. HYUNDAI MOTORS AMERICA STATES THAT THEY ARE SEPARATE ISSUES AND THEREFORE NOT PART OF THE REPAIRS THEY WILL COVER. *TR