NHTSA Complaint #11210029 — 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 IN OHIO MY SHARKFIN BLEW OFF. I WAS GOING AROUND 75 MPH. NO VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE WHICH LASTED A FEW SECONDS. WITHIN 10 MILES I STOPPED MY CAR A SERVICE STATION AND DISCOVERED MY PLASTIC SHARK FIN COVER HAD BLOWN OFF. NOTHING HIT THE CAR. NO BLOOD, NO SCRATCHES. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I MUST HAVE TAKEN IT THROUGH A CAR WASH. I HAVE HAD 3 SONATAS AND HAVE NEVER TAKEN ONE THROUGH A CAR WASH. WHEN I FIRST GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE RECEPTIONIST AT THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT PART, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER TRIED DENYING IT. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO OTHER SONATA OWNERS AND SOME HAVE EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR PROBLEM.WHEN I REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI THEY FAILED TO TAKE ACTION. THE PHOTOS WILL SHOW THAT THE VERY SMALL SCREWS IN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT ATTACH TO THE PLASTIC SHARK FIN COVER HAVE VERY LITTLE PENETRATION INTO THE SHARK FIN COVER. INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 9, 2019, REPORTED IT ON MAY 10. I ENDED UP PAYING $353.03 FOR THE PART AND INSTALLATION. I AM SUGGESTING THAT THE WIND AT 75 MPH LIFTED THE PLASTIC COVER BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE A RIPPING SOUND LIKE ONE SCREW AT A TIME. NOT ONLY DID IT CAUSE ME TO TAKE MY EYES OF THE ROAD, BUT THE PART FLYING BACK COULD HAVE POSED A SERIOUS SAFETY TO ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVING BEHIND ME. AND LIKE I MENTIONED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FAILURE.