NHTSA Complaint #11319551 — 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TURNING RIGHT; A TIRE BLEW. ON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, THE FRONT PASSENGER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT WITH RUST ON THE EXPOSED METAL. THE BENT CONTROL ARM ALLOWED THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE INTERIOR FENDER, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE TIRE FAILING. THE TIRE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION BEFORE THE SUDDEN FAILURE. ON RESEARCHING: THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR FRONT CONTROL ARM PROBLEMS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V125000. THIS RECALL CITES THAT ROAD SALT USED IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS CAN CAUSE INTERNAL DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS: LEADING TO FAILURE. LOOKING BACK THROUGH THIS CAR'S HISTORY: IT WAS ORIGINALLY REGISTERED IN OHIO, ONE OF THE STATES USING ROAD SALT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS CAR ESCAPED RECALL, BUT IT'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER 2003 ELANTRAS.