2001 Hyundai Santa Fe

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to Marco’s body shop where it was diagnosed that both struts, new tires, front passenger side wheel cylinder, wheel mount, tie rod, and wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic noticed that the driver’s side cross member had fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer at a different location. The failure mileage was 140,000.

I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR. THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED SO MUCH THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT. HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE. THEY SAID NOT TO DRIVE IT AND YOU SHOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. THEY SAID THE TIRE WOULD FALL OFF OR WORSE. THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME IN THE FRONT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IT WOULD COST $2000. WHEN I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI, THEY SAID IT COULD COST UP TO $5000. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. I THEN TOWED IT HOME AND IT IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I BOUGHT.

SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE ROT TO POINT OF SEPARATION, LOSS OF STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. MY NEWLY LICENSED GRAND-DAUGHTER TOOK IT FOR A SHORT ABOUT TOWN DRIVE, NOT GETTING MORE THAN A QUARTER MILE BEFORE THE WHEEL SNAPPED OUT OF HER HANDS AND THE VEHICLE HEADED FOR THE CENTER LINE. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, MOVEMENT FORWARD WAS SLOPPY. AWEFUL NOISES COMING FROM BELOW. FLUIDS LEAKING. I KNEW THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH BUT NOT SUCH GREATLY WEAKENED PARTS. IMG_6087.JPG

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION AND SUBFRAME THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS MOUNTED TO WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,215.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,592.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT TIRES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

BECAME 2ND OWNER IN JUNE 2005. IN MARCH 2010, HYUNDAI RECALLED VEHICLE FOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT RUSTING/CORROSION, SPECIFICALLY REAR TRAILING ARMS & FRONT SUB-FRAME. [ HYUNDAI HAS HAD NUMEROUS (8-9 ??) SIMILAR SUSPENSION RECALLS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS FOR ELANTRA, SONATA, TIBURON, AZERA AND OTHER MODELS.] IN MARCH 2010, RESPONDING TO RECALL, VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI DEALER, WHERE DEALER ELECTED TO REPAIR, RATHER THAN REPLACE AFFECTED FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE PRESCRIBED RECALL REPAIR CONSISTED OF DRILLING (DRAIN) HOLES IN ALL FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, REMOVING EXCESS RUST FROM INSIDE COMPONENTS, THEN SPRAYING WITH ANTI-CORROSIVE WAX. AUGUST 7, 2013, RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM FAILED DUE TO CONTINUED EXCESSIVE CORROSION, CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND NEAR WHEEL COLLAPSE. HYUNDAI DEALER REVEALED CAUSE OF SUSPENSION FAILURE. HYUNDAI CORROSION SPECIALIST CONCLUDED THAT HYUNDAI WOULD REPLACE BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS ONLY (NOT FRONT SUB-FRAME COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE ALSO EXCESSIVELY RUSTED/CORRODED), BUT THAT BECAUSE OF VEHICLE'S 10+ YEAR AGE, OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL "INCIDENTAL AND RELATED SUSPENSION PARTS AND LABOR" EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE THE REAR TRAILING ARM REPLACEMENTS WERE BEING MADE. I AM APPEALING THIS HYUNDAI DECISION TO NHTSA BECAUSE THE REPAIR THAT HYUNDAI ELECTED TO PERFORM (VS A FULL COMPONENTS REPLACEMENT) IN MARCH 2010, WHEN VEHICLE WAS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD, HAS PROVEN TO BE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE, AND THAT OWNER HAS NOT CONTRIBUTED, IN ANY WAY, TO THIS SUSPENSION DEFECT. GIVEN HYUNDAI'S CORROSION VULNERABILITIES, THEIR INABILITY TO EFFECT A REPAIR IN 2010, AND THE OWNER'S NON-CONTRIBUTORY ROLE HERE, HYUNDAI SHOULD NOW REPLACE ALL FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE IN 2010, AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. *TR

DRIVING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH. CAR HOOD BLEW WIDE OPEN AND WAS LAYING UP, OVER MY WINDSHIELD. LEFT ME ALMOST BLINDED; ABLE TO SEE OUT A SMALL OPENING, ABOUT 2-4 INCHES AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD WHERE HOOD IS RAISED UP BY HINGES. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER OF ROAD SAFELY. BOTH HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY LATCH FAILED. CAR IS IN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT FOR MY NOW BENT AND DAMAGED HOOD. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THANK YOU G-D. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS HOOD FAILURE TO HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. HOPE THIS HELPS TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

AFTER TURNING A CORNER @ 15 MPH I HAD TO LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE 9 O-CLOCK POSITION IN ORDER TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I HAD AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL TIRE REPAIR SHOP. ONCE THEY LIFTED THE VEHICLE UP FOR INSPECTION THEY NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC I FELL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THE 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM SO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED I WAS THE 3RD VEHICLE THEY HAVE REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WITH NO COST TO ME. I FELL THAT ALL 2001 SANTA FE'S SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR AN INSPECTION AT THE LEAST. WE SHOULD NOT BE WAITING FOR A SEVERE ACCIDENT BEFORE THE NECESSARY STEPS ARE TAKEN. THERE ARE ONLY 30,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TOWN WHERE I HAD MY VEHICLE TAKEN FOR SERVICE, 3 REPAIRS WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT OVER THE ENTIRE USA THERE ARE A LOT MORE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR