NHTSA Complaint #11143686 — 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: IT GRIEVES ME TO ESCALATE THIS CONCERN TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SEEK RESOLUTION WITH HYUNDAI, BUT THE CORPORATE OFFICE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND IGNORANT TO THE SAFETY CONCERN. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE DEFECT OF THE POWER STEERING COUPLER ON HYUNDAI ELANTRA MODELS THAT AFFECTS TIRES, STEERING, BALANCING, ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND HAS EITHER REPAIRED OR REIMBURSED OWNERS OF HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR THE DEFECT UP TO 100,000 MILES OR 120,000 MILES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. I PURCHASED THE ELANTRA AT 89,000 MILES AND INQUIRED ABOUT A NOISE IN THE CAR. THE DEALER IGNORED IT, AND THE CARFAX DID NOT HAVE ANY MENTION OF THE DEFECT. AFTER TWO SETS OF TIRES, 3 ALIGNMENTS, AND ADDITIONAL REPAIR, I BEGAN TO WONDER AFTER, SEVERAL TIRES BLEW DURING MY DRIVE AFTER LOADING ON THE GROCERIES! HOW CAN THE TIRES WITH 50% LIFE LEFT--ALL OF THEM--BLOW ON THE ROAD? THERE IS NOTHING MENTIONED IN THE MANUAL? SADLY, DURING MY SEVERAL VISITS TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS (BOTH IN TAMPA AND ORLANDO), NOBODY AT THE DEALER MENTIONED ONCE ABOUT THIS ISSUE?! FINALLY, THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE I REPLACED THE TIRES INDICATED ABOUT THE COUPLER ISSUE. I REACHED OUT TO HYUNDAI'S CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED TO REPAIR AND WILL BE REIMBURSED. WELL, I REPAIRED THE ISSUE UPON DISCOVERY AT 122,800 MILES, BUT HYUNDAI IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE FOR THE DEFECT OF THEIR ISSUE. I WRESTLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE TIRES BLOW UP ON THE ROAD, SEVERAL SETS OF TIRES MUST BE REPLACED WITH ALIGNMENT AND ADDITIONAL REPAIR? I WRESTLE TO GRASP THAT HYUNDAI DOES NOT INFORM BUYERS IN ANY WAY OF THE ISSUE, AND THE DEALERS ARE SILENT ON THE ISSUE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE? AFTER HOURS OF SPENDING TIME ON THIS ISSUE, ALL THAT I WOULD LIKE IS THE REIMBURSEMENT OF $340 I PAID TO FIX THE DEFECT OF THE CAR.THIS IS NOT MY FAULT!