NHTSA Complaint #11383146 — 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

PRIOR TO CONTACTING NHTSA WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WE CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE INTERIOR IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR IS ON A LIFT (THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO US BY A THIRD PARTY REPAIR SHOP AND NOT THE DEALER). IT APPEARS THAT HYUNDAI MAY BE CONCEALING DATA FROM NHTSA REGARDING CORROSION PROBLEMS ON ITS VEHICLES. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT HYUNDAI IS SHIRKING ITS SAFETY OBLIGATIONS AND WILL NOT COVER CORROSION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS FUNCTIONAL OR SAFETY, IF THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. BASED ON PRIOR DEALINGS WITH NHTSA I KNOW THAT RECALLS ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IF VEHICLE SAFETY IS IN QUESTION. WHEN WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI, THEIR EXCUSE FOR WHY THE VEHICLE HAD A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY IN ILLINOIS AND ILLINOIS USES SALT ON THE ROADS IN WINTER. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLES IN THE US ARE DRIVEN ON ROADS THAT ARE SALTED IN THE WINTER. THIS EXCUSE IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE AND PERHAPS NHTSA NEEDS TO PROHIBIT HYUNDAI FROM SELLING VEHICLES IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE US IF THIS IS GOING TO BE HYUNDAI'S ATTITUDE. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER.