NHTSA complaint: 2001 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MY HYUNDAI SATA FE, 2001, WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE CAR IGNITED INTO FLAMES. A WITNESS SAW THE FIRE BEGIN IN THE HOOD OF THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT REPORT, THERE WAS NO CRIME OR ARSON. INSTEAD IT CLEARLY SAYS THAT THE CAUSE OF IGNITION WAS ACCIDENTAL, AND THE EQUIPMENT OR HEAT SOURCE FAILED. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE ENGINE DUE TO MANUFACTURER. THIS WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HYUNDAI. HYUNDAI DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOR THE MALFUNCTION IN THE ENGINE. GEICO'S CLAIM DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE INVESTIGATOR CLEARLY STATED THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT DUE TO MY ACTIONS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN THE CAR OR I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BURNED IN THE FIRE. HYUNDAI DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. I STILL HAVE A LOAN OUT ON THE CAR. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES AND I HAD FULL WARRANTY. GEICO HAS SETTLED FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. ALL I WANTED WAS ANOTHER CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH A USED CAR TO REPLACE THE CAR WHICH WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO HYUNDAI'S POOR MANUFACTURING. DAMAGE RESULTING I HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. DURING THAT TIME, I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I AM PAYING INSURANCE FOR THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH GEICO CONSIDERED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. ALL I WANT IS A REPLACEMENT OF MY CAR. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation