NHTSA Complaint #10898370 — 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEELS ON THE 2006 ELANTRA WE OWN IS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH TO THE POINT THAT THE NUTSERTS HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTING FREEPLAY IN THE REAR WHEELS CAUSED THE CAR TO FISHTAIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. AFTER NO HELP FROM HYUNDAI REGIONAL MANAGER AND CORPORATE OFFICE, WE RESEARCHED THIS CONDITION ONLINE. SEEMS THAT 2000-2003 ELANTRAS AND SEVERAL YEARS OF THE SONATA MODELS HAVE THIS VERY SAME DEFECT. OUR YEAR AND MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN SEVERE FRAME ROT RECALLS, BUT IT SHOULD BE. BASED ON OUR RESEARCH, THESE PARTS RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND GENERALLY START ON THE RIGHT SIDE. OURS IS SO CRUMBLED, IT HAS ROTTED IN HALF. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS CAR MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR EITHER A RECALL OR A BUYBACK. I'M QUOTING THIS FROM THE SITE: "CRITICAL VEHICLE COMPONENTS THAT BREAK, FALL APART OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING POTENTIAL LOSS OD VEHICLE CONTROL OR INJURY TO PERSONS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE." MY WIFE WAS LUCKY SHE WASN'T GOING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. JUDGING BY THE EXISTING CLASS ACTION SUITS WE'VE SEEN ONLINE AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR THIS VERY SAME RUST PROBLEM IN OTHER MODEL YEARS, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THEY ARE USING THE SAME REAR WHEELBASE SUPPORT DESIGN AND FLAWED STEEL COMPONENTS IN ALL THEIR MID-SIZED SEDANS.