NHTSA Complaint #10895805 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SO THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, MY SPEED LIMIT WAS AROUND 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR MADE A NOISE THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO CRASH INTO MY REAR END. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I PANICKED TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR TO ATTEMPT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AND I PULLED BACK ONTO THE ROAD TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY, AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR BEHIND ME GOT OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE TO CHECK ON ME. THE MAN STATED, "I CAN PUSH YOU OFF THE ROAD, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH YOUR ENGINE OR PERHAPS SPARK PLUGS OR WIRES AND IT'S NOT STAYING CONNECTED OR FIRING OFF A CHARGE, I'M NOT SURE." I THANKED THE KIND STRANGER AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED HYNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE REP INFORMED ME ABOUT THE ENGINE RECALL NOTICE AND CONTACTED THE TOWING COMPANY TO LOCATE AND TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER WAITING 1 HOUR AND A HALF, I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME TO REFERENCE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HAVING ME TOWED "FREE OF CHARGE." THE HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE REP DID NOT HAVE A RECORD THAT HYNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE PLACED A CALL TO THEM AT ALL AND FURTHER MORE THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER WAS NOW CLOSED. APPARENTLY, ON SUNDAY THEY CLOSE AT 3PM. MY CAR IS STILL SITTING WHERE IT STOPPED BECAUSE THE HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NEEDS THE "APPROVAL" AND REFERENCE NUMBER TO TOW THE CAR ON HYUNDAI FOR FREE. HYUNDAI HAS BASICALLY PRODUCED A "LEMON" DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS HAD "SEVERAL" DANGEROUS RECALLS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2011. THEY SHOULD BE DEEMED UNSAFE AND TAKEN OFF THE ROADS COMPLETELY AND CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR MONEY BACK.