2015 Hyundai Elantra

I am writing to formally report a serious vehicle safety concern involving a 2015 Hyundai Elantra, VIN [XXX], which is owned by my mother. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power steering assistance, creating an immediate and significant safety concern. This could have caused a series issue to myself and others on the road. Following the incident, I took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership for inspection and diagnosis. The dealership advised that the vehicle’s VIN is not currently covered by a Hyundai recall for this issue. What is particularly concerning is that Hyundai has issued recalls involving power steering/electric power steering failures and related loss-of-steering-assistance concerns on various Hyundai models and model years. Given the nature of the failure and the similarities among reported power steering defects, I am concerned that this vehicle may be experiencing the same or a substantially similar safety-related defect, despite Hyundai currently stating that this particular VIN is not included in a recall. I respectfully ask NHTSA to: Review this incident and the underlying power steering failure associated with this 2015 Hyundai Elantra and determine whether the issue represents a broader safety defect. I understand that not every mechanical failure qualifies as a safety defect or recall. However, a sudden and unexpected loss of power steering assistance is fundamentally different from an ordinary wear-and-tear repair because it can affect the driver’s ability to safely control the vehicle. I am asking NHTSA to please review this matter as a potential safety defect. I would also appreciate confirmation that this complaint has been received and consideration of whether additional information, dealership documentation, diagnostic records, photographs, or repair estimates would assist with your investigation. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your role in protecting the safety of motorists and the public. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The ABS light, traction control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and steering wheel warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and has not been repaired. The contact also stated the vehicle was taken to the mechanic for an oil leak 3 times, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

When you go to stop at a stop.sihn or in general it fails to do so. It locks up an I slide an almost hit people multiple times. Today I was backing out of a parking lot an when I went to turn my steering wheel straight it locked up an failed to let me counter steer it. Causing me to go over a curb an almost blow my tire out. Leaving my tire with a big bubble on the side of my tire. Eventually going to lead to a blow out.

On February 17, 2023, my vehicle was broken into and damaged because thieves tried to highjack the car using a now common method of the end of a USB cable in the ignition. The passenger rear window, the steering column, and the key ignition were all damaged, and I had my vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealership. Nearly all 2011-2021 Kia and Hyundai vehicles are made easy to operate without a key, to steal, and to vandalize. This security vulnerability has resulted in Kia and Hyundai owners paying for repairs (even with insurance, owners need to pay the deductible) and higher insurance premiums. Hyundai and Kia did not disclose this defect, which is a material fact, and a fact that a reasonable person would rely on when purchasing a vehicle, consequently making these vehicles easy to steal, unsafe, and worth less than they should be. The service writer at the dealership informed me that it could take 30-45 days to get the parts since this type of vandalism has increased significantly over the last six months. It has become well-known that these thefts are due to security flaws (re: failure to implement standard security measures and install anti-theft devices) in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, leaving them notably susceptible to theft. Kia and Hyundai owners, including myself, are left with limited time use of rental cars during repairs, oftentimes because of the delay in the delivery of parts. This situation also leaves Kia and Hyundai owners with higher insurance rates (or being simply denied of obtaining insurance) because of these vehicles.

My 2015 Hyundai Elantra steering binds at highways speeds after having driven 20 minutes or so. I am able to overcome this by using extra effort to move the steering wheel; but it come back again. It does not happen at lower speeds. I consider this dangerous as I don't know if this binding (or sticking) problem will get worse. This has been going on since October of 2022. The binding occurs while driving straight at highway speeds.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE AREA AROUND THE ENGINE. THIS NOISE EVENTUALLY GREW TO A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED AND I BEGAN TO FEEL IT VIBRATING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN GRAND JUNCTION, CO TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED IT HE SAID HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND INSPECTING IT HE ASSURED ME THAT THE CONNECTION RODS AND BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE THAT HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ALSO GIVEN THE OPTION TO ONLY REPLACE THE LOWER HALF OF MY ENGINE FOR HALF THE PRICE BUT THAT PRICE WOULD POSSIBLY EVEN OUT TO AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE COST OF LABOR WOULD GO UP. I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND HAVE FOUND THAT RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE PART OF THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE FOR MY FAMILY AND I AS I HAVE NOT USED THIS VEHICLE SINCE MAY 2020 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN OR WILL DO TO HELP ME BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR MY VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 68 MILES PER HOUR I NOTICED AN ODD SKIPPING IN THE STEERING. EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND A STEERING WARNING LIGHT AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE DROVE TO A GAS STATION, TURNED IT OFF AND WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE SKIPPING CONTINUED AND WE HAVE HAD 2 MORE INSTANCES OF THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT, BOTH TIMES AT SLOW SPEEDS WHICH MADE IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT BY A CERTIFIED HYUNDAI SERVICE TECHNICIAN. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY EXPLAINED THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC PAYMENT AS WELL AS ANY REPAIR COSTS SINCE MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL.