NHTSA Complaint #11103972 — 2007 HYUNDAI TUCSON

I WAS DOING A 75MPH IN THE STATE OF COLORADO AND SUDDENLY I LOST ALL THE POWER IN STEERING. THE BRAKES WERE JAMMED. THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T BUDGE. I GOT RATTLED IN THIS SITUATION BUT ADRENALINE TOOK OVER AND I COULD SLIGHTLY SWERVE THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ON THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES OFTEN, JUST TO SLOW DOWN THE SPEED AND HENCE TO A FULL STOP. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS MY ONLY RESORT IN THIS INCIDENT. I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE MET WITH AN ACCIDENT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. UPON DIAGNOSIS, I FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN DOWN AND THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER TO MOTORS AND HENCE THE ENTIRE BREAKING AND STEERING ASSEMBLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN FOR THE SAME, NO CHECK ENGINE OR ANY SIGN THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. HAD THERE BEEN AN INDICATION, I WOULD HAVE GOT THE ISSUE SORTED OUT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF CARS ON ROAD WHICH ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OVER CAR AND HENCE CATASTROPHIC/ FATAL ACCIDENTS. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR FOR 200 MILES TO REPAIR SHOP. IT BROKE DOWN AT A LONELY SPOT. THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE COMPANY IS "WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE FOR A LOT OF SIMILAR CARS AND HENCE WE WON'T BE TAKING ANY ACTION". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH KIND OF ISSUES. AT LEAST A WARNING SHOULD BE SENT TO CURRENT CAR OWNERS SO THAT WE CAN SAVE SOME LIVES.