NHTSA complaint: 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH APPROX. 75,000 MILES, AND NO MECHANICAL OR COSMETIC ISSUES, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR 10 MINUTES AT TAVERN IN THE SQUARE RESTAURANT IN LOWELL, MA. PATRONS WHO WERE PARKED NEARBY HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE ELECTRICAL SPARKS AND THEN WITNESSED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD WHICH THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THEY RAN IN TO RETRIEVE MY FAMILY AND I AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THAT TIME. I HAVE VIDEOS AND PICTURES THAT CAN BE FORWARDED TO YOU. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT WAS ON HOLD FOR 40 MINUTES AND IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED BEFORE SPEAKING TO ANYONE. THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. THE CAR WAS IN OUR GARAGE JUST 30 MINUTES PRIOR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH SOME OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES WHICH I WASN'T AWARE OF UNTIL NOW BUT I DON'T SEE THAT MY CAR WAS LISTED AS A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES. IT WAS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND EVERY PENNY I EARNED WAS USED TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO. I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE THAT WOULD COVER THIS SITUATION SO THIS IS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO PROCEED AND ALSO WHERE TO FORWARD THE VIDEO AND PHOTO DETAILS.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation