NHTSA Complaint #10789677 — 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON

LETTER TO NSTB AND MA ATTORNEY GENERAL, RE HYUNDAI UNDERBODY CORROSION ON 8/6/2015 I RECEIVED A HYUNDAI "SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOTIFICATION" ON MY 2005 TUCSON FOR "UNDER BODY CORROSION." I DID HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE COMPLETED. ('ARRESTS' IT, THEY CLAIM, BUT NOT REMOVES IT.) BY THAT DATE I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES CAUSED BY THE CORROSION, BOTH OF WHICH I BELIEVE HAD HIGH POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS, EVEN FATAL ACCIDENTS. THE REPAIRS COST ALMOST $2,000, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE. I AM MORE CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES. LUCKILY, THE FUEL TANK FALLING ONTO THE DRIVE SHAFT DID NOT RUPTURE AND EXPLODE. THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ABRUPT STOP INTO THE RIGHT CURB. HAD IT BEEN THE LEFT FRONT,, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAD IT BEEN AT TURNPIKE SPEED I SUSPECT A LIKELY ROLLOVER. THE LEFT FRONT ARM WAS ALSO NEAR FAILURE. I SENT TWO EMAILS TO HYUNDAI, AND MADE A NUMBER OF CALLS, IN PART REQUESTING REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO TELL THEM MY CONCERN THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ASKED THEM TO BUY IT BACK AT A FAIR PRICE. NO RESPONSE. TWICE, THEY PROMISED TO CONTACT ME IN 2 TO 5 DAYS, THEY DIDN'T, EVER.. WHEN I LATER CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEM I HAD SOLD THE CAR (AT A LOSS IN VALUE) THEY JUST BRUSHED ME OFF. (TO PARAPHRASE THEM: 'IT'S NO LONGER AN ISSUE SINCE YOU NOW DON'T OWN IT'). I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS (REPAIR INVOICES, WITH FINDINGS, AND EMAILS IF YOU WISH). I AM REQUESTING YOU TAKE ACTION TO INVESTIGATE, AND AS NEEDED, TAKE ACTION TO ISSUE STRONGER SANCTIONS AGAINST HYUNDAI, THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL THE AFFECTED CARS.