NHTSA complaint: 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA — ENGINE
MY SONATA COULD HAVE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED ME AND EVERY PASSENGER THAT SAT IN IT. IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT AND A TAILIGHT ALREADY AND THE A/C WOULD HAVE TO BE VACUUMED AND RECHARGED WHICH WAS ABOUT A $250 JOB. FIXED. IN SEPTEMBER I NOTICED MY STEERING COLUMN WOULD MAKE AN AWFUL RACKET WHEN DRIVING OVER NEARLY ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I DISCOVERED THERE WERE SIX OPEN RECALLS DATING BACK TO AT LEAST 2014. THESE RANGED FROM FAULTY DOOR HANDLES TO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING AND/OR DANGEROUS SUDDEN SHUTTING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. OCTOBER 5TH I TOOK THE CAR TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF BENTONVILLE, IN BENTONVILLE, AR. AFTER 5 HOURS, THEY SAID I WAS GOOD TO GO ON THE RECALLS AND AFTER $300 THE COUPLER WAS FIXED. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2ND, 2016. EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS GETTING LIGHTER AND DARKER. AT ABOUT 6PM THAT EVENING MY BOYFRIEND NOTICED THE CAR MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE SO HE PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE OIL AND WAITED AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE SOMEONE COULD BRING HIM SOME, GIVING THE CAR PLENTY OF TIME TO COOL AND BE GOOD TO GO. HE GOT GOING DOWN THE ROAD ONLY AT ABOUT 25MPH AND GOT ABOUT 500 YARDS WHEN THE CAR MADE A "WHOOSH" SOUND AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE COASTED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. AFTER UNLOADING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUTTING OPEN THE TRUNK TO COMPLETELY DROWN OUT THE FIRE. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 26TH, 2017, I C
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation