2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Suspensionfront Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V125000 (SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON OUR 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT, I DISCOVERED A RUST HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE HOLE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER LOCATED ABOUT 4 INCHES INWARD OF BALL JOINT ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CONTROL ARM. THE AREA SURROUNDING THE HOLE APPEARED TO BE VERY THIN AND BRITTLE. THE VEHICLE HAD 138000 MILES AT THE TIME THE ISSUE WAS NOTICED. WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CONTROL ARM. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS TOO EARLY IN THE CARS LIFE TO HAVE A MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENT BEGIN TO DETERIORATE DUE TO RUST. OF THE OTHER CARS WE HAVE OWNED, NONE HAVE DISPLAYED SIMILAR RUST TO THIS, EVEN AFTER 10+ YEARS OF USAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAILED AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VIN IS A PART OF RECALL NHTSA ID NUMBER 09V12500 (SUSPENSION FRONT: CONTROL ARM). AN APPOINTMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WHEN CAR IS ON AND STARTED. ALSO WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT MY CAR IS MAKING CRANKING NOISES UP IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *DT

ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2009 I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF AN INTERSTATE OFF-RAMP, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT. I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS TURNED INWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECT THE UNDER CARRIAGE, THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT IT HAD CRUMPLED WHEN I TRIED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS (THE RIGHT ARM WAS ALSO RUSTED). THE REASON I'M SENDING THIS MESSAGE IS BECAUSE MY STATE (KENTUCKY) IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE HYUNDAI RECALL (ID #58993) THAT WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA, ACTION NUMBER PE09011....

2002 ELANTRA GT MADE R TURN FROM FULL STOP ONTO CHESTER PIKE. HEARD GRINDING FROM PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL. CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. FRACTURED SUSPENSION ARM WAS SEEN. AXLE FAILURE WAS FOUND WHEN CARE WAS INSPECTED. RECALL WAS ISSUED 7/10/09. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I DO RECEIVE WEEKLY ADS FROM HYUNDAI SUGGESTING TRADE IN, SO THEY KNOW WHERE I AM. I NOW NEED TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET HYUNDAI TO PAY, AS I DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL MY CAR WAS TOWED TO AND REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. POLICE WERE ON SCENE WITH LIGHTS FLASHING TO PROTECT DISABLED VEHICLE UNTIL TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. NO REPORT WAS FILLED AS THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. *TR

TO WHOM THIS CONCERNS, REGARDING NHTSA "CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER" 09V125000. WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 ELANTRA THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL MOVED (SLIPPED/SNAPPED) OUT OF PLACE TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL WHEN TRYING TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR DID NOT STOP AS IT NORMALLY WOULD (IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO STOPPING POWER). MY VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MOON TWP AUTO BODY TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR THE DAMAGE. PART OF THE ESTIMATE WAS TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE ADJUSTER WROTE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW THAT ANYONE HANDLING THE CAR SHOULD TAKE CAUTION AS THE CONTROL ARM IS "RIPPED" OUT. FOR CONSIDERATION I POSE THIS QUESTION "WHY WOULD THE BODY SHOP ESTIMATE REPLACING THE CONTROL ARM IF IT WASN'T BROKEN?"...

GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH APPROACHING STOP SIGN. CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. COULD NOT EXIT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. EXITED PASSENGER SIDE TO FIND FRONT LEFT TIRE TURNED OUT AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM OF MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BROKE. THE WHEEL COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF, BUT LUCKILY IT DIDN'T. THIS HAPPENED ON A 2 LANE ROAD. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND IS STILL THERE. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL DATED APRIL 2009. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS HOTLINE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL IS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED AND DEALERSHIPS WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD MY CAR WON'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH. *TR

2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA-GREAT CAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. MEMORIAL DAY COMING HOME ON A SECONDARY ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN-BANG! COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR.A DRIVER GOING BY TELLS ME DON'T MOVE-THE WHEEL IS OFF THE CAR! HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE-THE LOWER CONTROL BAR HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND LET GO. THE METAL USED ON THIS PARTICULAR PART IS SO THIN IT IS SCARY! YOU WOULD EXPECT THE METAL USED FOR THIS PART WOULD BE RATHER THICK DUE TO THE SERIOUS PURPOSE IT SERVES AND THE CONSTANT STRESS IT MUST ENDURE.AT SEVEN YEARS OLD IT SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED AWAY TO THE POINT OF BREAKING IN TWO. THE ONLY SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED WAS A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHICH OCCURRED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE-SOUNDED LIKE CHAIN JINGLING, AND A SOMEWHAT SMOOTHER RIDE LIKE MY TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR. I HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS -THEY WALK AWAY IN...

LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND WHILE TURNING INTO GAS STATION EXPERIENCED SEVERE GRINDING NOISE AND COLLAPSE OF WHEEL. UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE AND HAD FLAT BEDDED TO GARAGE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH USING HYUNDAI REPLACEMENT PARTS. CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND COMPLAINED AND HAVE CASE NUMBER AND HOPE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES SPENT. *TR

2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKEN. *TR

CAR WAS RIDING NORMAL AS ALWAYS, THEN MADE LEFT TURN AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS PUSHED INTO THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. SLID OFF ROAD, RESULTING IN MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE. CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A SNAPPED LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM DUE TO RUST . PART WAS PERSONALLY REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE. BROKEN PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON 4/16/09. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 MILES. ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON VEHICLE (I.E., OIL CHANGES, 30K SERVICE, 60K SERVICE, 90K SERVICE). CONTROL ARM FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTY IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, IT FELT AS IF THE PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSED. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT SEE ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT NOTICED STEERING, GRINDING, AND RUBBING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE RUSTED CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

AFTER BRAKING, MY ELANTRA JERK, MADE AND AWFUL GRINDING SOUND, AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT A PART HAD BROKEN OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS "ROTTED THROUGH" AND THAT THIS IS OFTEN SEEN IN HYUNDAIS. THE LEFT SIDE ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH SIDES, AS THE LEFT SIDE MIGHT ONLY LAST A FEW MONTHS GIVEN THE DEGREE OF DETERIORATION. PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED. *TR

I HAD TO PUT ON THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP FROM HITTING A CAR THAT STOPPED SHORT. THE CAR JERKED AND WHEN I BEGAN TO PROCEED THERE WAS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. I GOT THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALER WHO IS JUST A MILE AWAY FROM WHERE THIS OCCURRED AND AFTER THE CAR WAS INSPECTED WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT END CAME WITHIN 1/2" OF CORRODED METAL FROM BREAKING OFF. THERE WAS ONLY 1/2" OF METAL LEFT HOLDING IT IN PLACE. I WAS TOLD THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE BOTH "ANNHILATED" AND WERE COMPLETED RUSTED OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH OF THEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1000. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SPENT 2002-2008 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SUBJECT TO THE SALT AND WINTER CONDITIONS. IT ONLY HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TREATED WELL AND SERVICED ROUTINELY....

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING THE TIE RODS AT THE COST OF $700. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT TO LET A POLICE CAR CROSS OUR LANE. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THIS CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND, AS THOUGH I HAD A FLAT TIRE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I HAVE ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED. *TR

I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND SOMETHING UNDER MY CAR SNAPPED AND THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE LOWER RIGHT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. *TR

2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FRONT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER 10YR/100,000 WARRANTY AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. CALLED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND TOLD THE SAME THING. ALSO LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALSO. *TR

LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS VERY WEAK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI 2002 ELANTRA GLS. *TR

THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT IN HALF WHILE STOPPING MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT, AND THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON MY WIFE'S 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS BEGAN TO SAG. BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS THAT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW OFF THE DEALER LOT. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING MY MECHANIC REPAIR A RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM FOR MY FROM WHEEL. IT WAS RUSTED ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH AND ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL MY CAR. I NOTICED THIS YESTERDAY WHILE CHANGING MY OIL IN PREPARATION FOR TAKING MY WIFE AND 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS ON A 1400 MILE ROUND TRIP VACATION FROM CINCINNATI TO MINNEAPOLIS. THE CHANCES OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY GETTING KILLED IN A CAR WRECK ON THIS TRIP WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. I CHECKED SOME INTERNET FORUMS AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME THING. OF COURSE, HYUNDAI CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I HAVE 78K MILES ON MY CAR. *TR

ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, I APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC. I HEARD SOMETHING CRACK, AND THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BACKING, AND CHECKING UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF I HIT SOMETHING, WHICH I DIDN'T I PROCEEDED, AND IT SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN TO HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK, WHEN HE ARRIVED HE LOOKED UNDER AND TOLD ME THAT MY LOWER RIGHT CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. I HAD IT TOWED IN AT A COST OF $61.00. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED AND TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY I HADN'T BEEN ON THE TURNPIKE, AS I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, AND THEY HADN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE REPAIR COST $324.85. I CALLED HYUNDAI, AND THEY ISSUED ME A CASE#3271798. AFTER FAXING THEM THE BILLS, I WAITED ABOUT...

DT: 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE FOR AN INSPECTION, ON 6-20-05, AND MECHANIC ROTATED/ BALANCED TIRES, AND REPLACED TWO TIRES WITH NEW ONES. ALSO, REPLACED FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM/ REPLACED A GASKET/ FRONT WHEELS WERE ALIGNED/ STEERING WHEEL WAS CENTERED, AND THEY CHECKED CASTER AND CAMBER ANGLES. THEN MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE PASSED NY STATE INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STARTED TRAVELING FROM NY TO VA ON 6-30, AND ON 7-2 VEHICLE STALLED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, OIL GAUGE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, IT WENT UP TO HIGHEST POINT. THIS WAS FIRST TIME VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN REPLACED RADIATOR AND RADIATOR...

THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS SHAKE ABOVE 65 MPH WHICH CAN ALSO BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I FEEL THE EXCESSIVE SHAKE COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB