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Hyundai - Brakes

Hyundai • Brakes • Stalling • Transmission • "Just Everything" • Airbags • Engine Failure • Fires • Sludge Problems --- News • Feds Study Hyundai Airbag Failures • Feds Investigate Suspension Failure in Hyundai Santa Fe • Rusting Hyundai Sonatas Prompt Federal Probe • NHTSA Probes Hyundai Air Bag Failure • Hyundai to Tap U.S. Sport Sedan Market • Hyundai Drops Back Into Minivan Market • Hyundai Drops Out of Minivan Market • Airbag Problems Plague New Hyundais • Hyundai Offers $85 Million to Settle Horsepower Suit • Hyundai Aces J.D. Powers Survey • Horsepower Overstated

Kristen of Vacaville CA (6/11/04):
My husband and I purchased a NEW Hyundai Elantra GT (which by the way only insures as a Elantra GLS because there is no insurance code for an Elantra GT, the GLS has a lower resale value), in 2001, we were honestly very happy with the vehicle and had not encountered any problems. Then in July 2003 I was put in the position of slamming on my brakes due to a pedestrian interfering with traffic, at the time I was just glad that no one was hurt and chalked it up to luck that the person in front of me stopped first. The car had substatial front end damage (in excess of $4500 to fix), the air bag did not deploy.

In Feb 2004 I was driving and attempted to stop for a red light, the car went right through the intersection hitting a truck head-on -- in the vehicle were myself, my three-year-old and my two-month-old. I was knocked so loopy by the impact that when I attempted to exit the vehicle I fell in the roadway. The damage was bad enough to total the car, the air bag did not deploy, the driver's side seat belt BROKE from impact.

Upon looking into the matter of the air bag we discovered by VIN that the car was actually under recall by Hyundai for a defect in the brake line "causing decreased ability to stop"! We notified Hyundai, we sent them all documents that they requested, they recieved them 3/22, we were told to give the process about 8 weeks for review by their legal department, it is now 6/9. I have been calling them regularly and have as of yesterday spoken to a supervisor by the name of Tim who swore he would call me back that day. I still have not heard from him or anyone else.

I attempted to use Hyundai's arbritration service provided by the BBB however that option is not open to me because the car is not available. Please note I contacted Hyundai by phone the end of February, by writing the beginning of March, they had all documentation requested including a signed form giving them permission to contact Progressive and to do an inspection (if so necessary), in the salvage yard, as of 5/15 the vehicle was sold to a dismantler. I am now in the process of locating an attorney that will take this case.

Financial consequences would include $1,000 in deductibles, having to purchase a vehicle to replace the Elantra GT, the cost that we had incurred in car payments to date of the accident (we were less than 2 years from pay off). There has to date been no evidence of physical damage, however I still cannot get in the car with out hearing my 3 year old remind me of car accidents and stopping for red lights, if we have to hit the brakes hard at all he gets concerned about being involved in another accident.

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