NHTSA Complaint #11311505 — 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A RAINY DAY, THE ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE; IT WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE BRAKING ON ITS OWN AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHICH, AFTER IT DISSIPATED, I ASSUMED TO BE HOT, LOCKED UP BRAKES. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER MY HOUSEMATE CALLED TO ME FROM THE LIVING ROOM TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND TO CALL 9-1-1. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, UNDER A MAGNOLIA TREE. THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, AND WERE ABOUT 4-5FT HIGH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND HOSED THE CAR DOWN, TAKING ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT, HAD MELTED, AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DECIMATED. THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD HAD SHATTERED FROM THE FIRE, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD HAD BURNED THROUGH TO THE CABIN. THE ENTIRE CABIN IS DAMAGED FROM THE SMOKE, THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR MELTED THROUGH. WHILE THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END, THE DRIVERS SIDE IS WORSE, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPEARS TO HAVE THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE FUSE BOX OR BATTERY AFTER THE FIRE.