NHTSA Complaint #11183283 — 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET, I SLOWLY TURNED A CORNER AND SUDDENLY LOST MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SAT BRIEFLY BLOCKING THE HEAVY TRAFFIC, AFTER BEING SLIGHTLY SHAKEN IN THE INCIDENT, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PROCEEDED TO PARK AND GET LUNCH. AFTER LUNCH, THE CAR STARTED UP OK, I GOT ON THE ROAD AND SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SO I IMMEDIATELY LIMPED INTO A NEARBY CAR REPAIR PLACE . THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS VERY HEAVY SLUDGE CLOGGING THE OIL FILTER, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE INDICATORS EVER COME ON BEFORE. THEY CLEANED OUT THE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND REPLACED THE FILTER AND PUMP. NOW THAT I AM READING ABOUT EVERYONE'S ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH OIL NOT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE, AND AFTER HEARING ON TV ABOUT HYUNDAI REFUSING TO RECALL MY PARTICULAR CAR, I AM VERY AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT, SINCE RECENTLY I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWICE A CERTAIN SLUGGISHNESS/DRAGGING WITH A SLIGHT KNOCKING FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I NOTICED THIS EFFECT TWICE AFTER HAVING DRIVEN THE CAR AT SPEEDS OF 60-70 MPH FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. EACH INSTANCE, I SLOWED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS, WHICH I DIDN'T, STARTED UP AGAIN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE WEIRD DRAGGING AND SHIMMY CONTINUED, SO I DROVE AT OR UNDER 50 MPH UNTIL IT SLOWLY DISSIPATED AND WENT BACK TO WHAT FELT NORMAL. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2012, WE BOUGHT IT SECOND-HAND FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES. I RELY HEAVILY ON THIS VEHICLE TO DRIVE 2 1/2 HOURS EACH WAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO CARE FOR MY ELDERLY MOM'S NEEDS IN BALTIMORE. I DON'T WANT TO DIE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE MY MOM DIES IN THE NURSING HOME!