Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Steering complaints

15 reports

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Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2024

Service BrakesSteeringUnknown Or Other

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Component or System Failed or Malfunctioned: The ABS harness connecting to the ABS module is the primary culprit. Specifically, the top part of the harness is not adequately sealed, which has led to water ingress and subsequent wire shorting. Availability for Inspection: No, the ABS harness is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The malfunctioning ABS harness poses a significant safety risk. When the ABS system fails, it affects braking performance, stability control, and traction control. This jeopardizes the safety of both the driver and other road users. Confirmation by Service Centers: While the issue was previously identified by the Hyundai Dealer it was attributed to a short in the Tow Hitch Wire. Unfortunately, the problem was not adequately resolved at that time. The recent appearance of the ESC Light, ABS Light, and Traction Control Light confirms that the issue persists. Inspections: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives specifically for this issue. However, the symptoms (warning lights) have been observed consistently during driving. Warning Lamps and Symptoms: ESC Light: Periodic flashing and occasional getting stuck. ABS Light and Traction Control Light: Illuminating after driving, especially during turns or rapid acceleration. These symptoms have been present for an extended period. Cause Assessment: The top part of the ABS harnesses not being properly sealed has allowed water ingress, leading to wire shorting.

NHTSA ODI #11575323

82,000 miles · Feb 27, 2024

Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

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The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH and slowing to exit a highway while turning to the right on the exit ramp the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering failed, and extra force was needed to turn the steering wheel. The contact did not notice any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stopped and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the steering regained normal functionality. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure returned and additionally, the vehicle was leaking engine oil. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the alternator needed to be replaced and that the seal on the oil drain plug was replaced. The vehicle was repaired but was still leaking oil and experiencing intermittent engine stalls. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11574324

86,000 miles · Jul 24, 2020

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury

VEHICLE ALTERNATOR WENT, SOMETHING IN DRIVESHAFT BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO RIGHT ON ITS OWN INTO TELEPHONE POLE, SIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. RECALLS ARE OUT ON THESE ISSUES BUT NO ONE HAS COVERED VEHICLE LOSS AND LOAN.

NHTSA ODI #11341300

133,000 miles · Aug 31, 2019

SteeringUnknown Or Other

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EVERY TIME SOMEONE DRIVES THROUGH A TINY BIT OF WATER ON ANY ROAD, AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT FOR LIKE 30 SECONDS. LOOSE ALL ABILITY TO SAFELY MANEUVER OFF THE ROAD. WE HAVE TO AVOID DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON RAINY DAYS BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO LOSE STEERING. IT SEEMS LIKE POSSIBLY THE BELT GETS WET AND SLIPS OR POSSIBLY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE DUMMY LIGHTS ON THE DASH START FLICKERING AS WELL. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR CITY SPEEDS AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11252561

101,410 miles · Aug 25, 2018

Steering

THE GEAR SHIFT IS STICKING AND WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, TURNED ON IN A PARKING LOT WITH OTHER CARS AROUND.

NHTSA ODI #11122289

170,000 miles · May 11, 2018

EngineSteering

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HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WHEN OIL LIGHT GLOWS BUT DOESN'T COME ON FULLY. AS DRIVER SLOWS TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, OIL LIGHT COMES ON FULLY W/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWER STEERING QUITSALL AT ONCE, MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT WAS ON A TURN ON I81. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. IN TERMS OF RELEVANT HISTORY, WHEN TRIP STARTED, NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. BUT INCIDENT CAME A FEW DAYS AFTER THE OIL LIGHT HAD GLOWED (NOT FULLY LIT). THE OIL WAS A TAD LOW BUT NOT A FULL QUART. IT WAS TOPPED OFF WHICH TURNED THE OIL LIGHT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO CAME ON BRIEFLY AT A DIFFERENT TIME FROM THE OIL LIGHT BUT AROUND THE SAME DAY AS THE OIL LIGHT. IT TOO HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF AFTER BEING ON BRIEFLY. SO THE DAY OF INCIDENT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT ALL AND THERE HAD BEEN NONE ON EXCEPT FOR THAT BRIEF TIME I DESCRIBED ABOVE. PEOPLE HAVE SINCE SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE THE CAR HAD STALLED. I DID NOT THINK THAT THE CAR HAD STALLED. RATHER, IT JUST SEEMED AS THO THE POWER FOR THE STEERING HAD QUIT. ONCE THE CAR WAS AT THE SHOP, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BAD BANGING SOUND WHEN THE CAR ENGINE WAS ON AND THE MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT A ROD HAD BROKEN. UNTIL THIS HAPPENED, THE ENGINE APPEARED TO RUN WELL AND THERE WAS NO BANGING SOUND OR ANY OTHER NOISE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE SERVICE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL WAS FULL BUT MENTIONED IT BEING ALL OVER. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I WAS VERY LUCKY.

NHTSA ODI #11093429

170,000 miles · May 11, 2018

EngineSteering

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HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WHEN OIL LIGHT GLOWS BUT DOESN'T COME ON FULLY. AS DRIVER SLOWS TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, OIL LIGHT COMES ON FULLY W/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWER STEERING QUITS-ALL AT ONCE, MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT WAS ON A TURN ON I-81. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. IN TERMS OF RELEVANT HISTORY, WHEN TRIP STARTED, NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. BUT INCIDENT CAME A FEW DAYS AFTER THE OIL LIGHT HAD GLOWED (NOT FULLY LIT). THE OIL WAS A TAD LOW BUT NOT A FULL QUART. IT WAS TOPPED OFF WHICH TURNED THE OIL LIGHT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO CAME ON BRIEFLY AT A DIFFERENT TIME FROM THE OIL LIGHT BUT AROUND THE SAME DAY AS THE OIL LIGHT. IT TOO HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF AFTER BEING ON BRIEFLY. SO THE DAY OF INCIDENT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT ALL AND THERE HAD BEEN NONE ON EXCEPT FOR THAT BRIEF TIME I DESCRIBED ABOVE. PEOPLE HAVE SINCE SPECULATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE THE CAR HAD STALLED. I DID NOT THINK THAT THE CAR HAD STALLED. RATHER, IT JUST SEEMED AS THO THE POWER FOR THE STEERING HAD QUIT. ONCE THE CAR WAS AT THE SHOP, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BAD BANGING SOUND WHEN THE CAR ENGINE WAS ON AND THE MECHANIC SPECULATED THAT A ROD HAD BROKEN. UNTIL THIS HAPPENED, THE ENGINE APPEARED TO RUN WELL AND THERE WAS NO BANGING SOUND OR ANY OTHER NOISE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE SERVICE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL WAS FULL BUT MENTIONED IT BEING ALL OVER. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I WAS VERY LUCKY.

NHTSA ODI #11093427

141,000 miles · Jul 27, 2016

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. UNABLE TO START. DANGEROUS SITUATION, UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE AND LOSS POWER. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE ALTERNATOR RECALL. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON DASH, NO ISSUES. WITH THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR RECALL, OIL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS I DID NOT KNOW WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10889019

70,000 miles · Jan 18, 2016

EngineService BrakesSteering

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"ABS FAILURE" AND "ALTERNATOR RECALL 121" THE BREAK, ABS, ESC AND CHK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND STAY ON. FROM TIME TO TIME THE TPMS LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON AND SPEEDOMETER WILL BE AT ZERO WHEN DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WILL FROM TIME TO TIME COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, EVEN WHILE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTICS BY HYUNDAI IT SEEMS 2 ITEMS ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS, 1) FAULTY ABS MODULE THAT WAS BEEN REPORTED BY 100'S OF PEOPLE AND 2) FAULTY ALTERNATOR THAT AFFECTS THE LOSS IN POWER, AGAIN WITH 100'S OF COMPLAINTS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALTERNATOR BUT NOT THE ABS MODULE. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND WITH ONLY 70000 MILES, THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED/FIXED UNDER HYUNDAI USA WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10820784

66,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015

Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND TRY TO MAKE A LEFT...THE ABS, AND OTHER LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND THE ENGINE STALL.ALL ASSISTED POWER WAS LOSS FOR DIRECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT TURN. COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE. MECHANICS FIND BRAKE FLUID IN THE ABS CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #10744891

Official recalls

20V705000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets

Nov 13, 2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles that were previously recalled under recall number 14V-415. Oil may leak from the front cylinder bank cover gasket, potentially dripping onto the alternator and causing the charging system to become inoperative.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inoperative charging system can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the valve cover gasket and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 197.

14V415000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Jul 8, 2014

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles manufactured from December 26, 2006, through July 24, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an oil leak from the front cylinder bank valve cover gasket. If there is a sufficient amount of oil dropped onto the alternator, the alternator will be damaged causing the charging system to become inoperative.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the alternator is damaged, the charging system warning lamp in the instrument cluster will illuminate, and the engine will lose power and the vehicle will eventually stop operating while being driven. An unexpected failure of motive power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect/repair or replace the alternator and the front valve cover gasket, free of charge. Hyundai sent out an interim letter to owners on September 3, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 121.

13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

11V472000 · Air Bags:frontal

Sep 9, 2011

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 26, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 20, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

09V122000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 15, 2009

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE09003 · Stop Lamp Switch Failure

Opened Jan 14, 2009 · Closed Apr 24, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electronic Stability Control; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift; Power Train:manual Transmission:column Shift Assembly; Power Train:manual Transmission:floor Shift Assembly; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

BY LETTER DATED APRIL 15, 2009, HYUNDAI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09V122) TO REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON MANY OF ITS MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 VEHICLES.SEE RECALL 09V122 FOR A COMPLETE LIST. THE AGENCY OPENED ITS INVESTIGATION BASED ON FIVE COMPLAINTS OF STOP LAMP FAILURE ACROSS SEVERAL 2007 HYUNDAI MODELS. THE AGENCY ALSO RECEIVED EARLY WARNING (EWR) REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE.MOST OF THOSE FAILURES WERE TRACED TO THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH THAT CONTROLS STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO LIGHT DURING BRAKING, OR ALTERNATIVELY, IT CAN CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY LIT EVEN WHEN A DRIVER TAKES THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. FAILURE OF THE STOP LAMPS TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY CREATES THE HAZARD OF REAR END COLLISIONS WHEN DRIVERS FOLLOWING THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. HYUNDAI REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT (A FRONTAL IMPACT), WITHOUT INJURY, THAT WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT.THE AGENCY REVIEWED THE INCIDENT AND CANNOT CONCLUDE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH: FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE, INTERFERENCE WITH PROPER FUNCTIONING OF ANTILOCK BRAKES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND INABILITY TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK POSITION.BASED ON THE ABOVE SAFETY RECALL, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (10)

Electronic Stability Control

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Power Train:manual Transmission:column Shift Assembly

Power Train:manual Transmission:floor Shift Assembly

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control