NHTSA Complaint #11265516 — 2008 HYUNDAI ENTOURAGE

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANIC. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS DISPLACED, THE 2 FRONT WHEELS WERE NOT PARALLEL AND THE WHEEL HAD HIT THE FRONT BUMPER COVER CAUSING IT TO COME LOOSE. THE TOW DRIVER NOTED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS HITTING THE FRONT BUMPER COVER AS IT WAS PULLED ONTO THE FLAT BED. I CALLED HYUNDAI CORP AND LOCAL DEALER ON FOLLOWING DAY (MONDAY). I TRIED TO GET DIRECTION REGARDING INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. SINCE AN ADDITIONAL TOW COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE; I ASKED IF HYUNDAI COULD INSPECT AT THE LOCAL SHOP. I COULD NOT GET ANY DIRECTION ON HOW TO GET THE CAR INSPECTED. ON THE 3RD CALL I WAS ADVISED THAT SAFETY RECALLS ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 1 YEAR AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE. WHEN I ASKED IF I NEEDED TO CONTACT NHTSA, JACK INDICATED THAT SINCE I MENTIONED NHTSA HE IS REQUIRED TO PASS THE CASE TO A SR HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE AND THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE VERY SOON. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RETURN CALL OR OTHER COMMUNICATION FROM ANYONE AT HYUNDAI CORP OR THE LOCAL DEALER. THE ATTACHED PICS SHOW THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM CORROSION AND FAILURE. THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED IN 2014 WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT ADEQUATE. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL WAS A HORRIFYING FEELING. I AM HOPEFUL THAT NHTSA WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SO THAT OTHERS ARE NOT CONTINUED TO BE PUT IN PERIL. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCURRENCES OF LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE IN VEHICLES THAT WERE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL AT FREEHOLD HYUNDAI SHORTLY AFTER I RECEIVED NOTICE.