NHTSA Complaint #11288549 — 2014 HYUNDAI VELOSTER

THE AC/HEATER BLOWER MOTOR CONTROLLER IN THIS VEHICLE AND EVERY MODEL THAT SHARES THE SAME STYLE KNOB HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT. ALONG WITH THE FIRE HAZARD THIS PRESENTS IT ALSO EFFECTS THE USE OF DEFROST WHICH CAN BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IN SOME CLIMATES AND THE SWITCH MAY FAIL COMPLETELY RENDERING THE DEFROST FUNCTIONALLY UNUSABLE. ATTACHED YOU WILL SEE IMAGES OF THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SWITCH IN QUESTION AS WELL AS THE CONNECTOR FOR THE SWITCH WHICH HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS HEAT DAMAGE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. HYUNDAI CHOSE TO USE THE SWITCH ITSELF AS THE CURRENT PASSING CONDUCTOR INSTEAD OF A RELAY AS USED BY MOST MANUFACTURERS. THIS DECISION IS CLEARLY REFLECTED AS A NEGLIGENT ONE WITH REGARDS TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE SWITCH AND INCORRECT GAUGE OF THE WIRING USED FOR SAID SWITCH. WITH NORMAL USE IN ANY POSITION ON THE DIAL, THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE THE WIRING OF THE CONNECTOR, AND THE INSIDES OF THE SWITCH TO OVERHEAT. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF FUNCTIONALITY, THIS IS A MATTER OF SAFETY. WITH THESE LOW GAUGE WIRES BEING USED FOR THIS IT POSES A SERIOUS RISK OF FIRE. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTOS FOR EVIDENCE OF THE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR DEFORMATION CAUSED BY OVERHEATING. PLEASE BARE IN MIND THAT THE SWITCH COMPONENTS AND CONNECTOR APPEAR TO BE MADE OF PA6, A GLASS FIBER REINFORCED NYLON WHICH IS INTENDED TO STAND UP TO A GREAT DEAL OF HEAT. ADDITIONALLY THE WIRE WRAP (PICTURED BELOW) MEANT TO PROTECT THE WIRING ON THIS CONNECTOR FROM RATTLING IS MADE OF A CLOTH/COMPOSITE MATERIAL, WITH THE ABILITY TO MELT AND CATCH FIRE. THIS ISSUE IS A CONSTANT BEING DOWN TO THE WIRING. IN MOTION, STATIONARY, OR OTHERWISE HAS NO BEARING SO LONG AS THE CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE BEING USED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.