NHTSA Complaint #10899459 — 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LOWER STEERING COUPLER BUSHING ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I SEE THAT MY YEAR MODEL CAR IS NOT HE ONLY CAR MADE BY HUNDAI(KIA ARE ALSO BEING REPORTED TO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM). IT APPEARS THIS PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL REVISIONS DUE TO IT NOT HOLDING UP TO THE RIGORS OF IT'S JOB. THIS PLASTIC PART COSTS UNDER <$10, BUT THE LABOR COST OF REPLACING THIS IS IN EXCESS OF $200. YOU WOULD THINK THAT ANY CRITICAL PART OF THE STEERING MECHANISM WOULD BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT WOULD LAST LONGER. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PLASTIC PIECE, A THUDDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS MAY OCCUR IF THIS ITEM WERE TO FAIL WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING.