2001 Hyundai Elantra Suspension

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED AND RESULTED IN THE WHEEL FALLING OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM ALSO RUSTED. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE SAME THING IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE OTHER SIDE. DEALER SUGGESTED THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER SAID THAT THE PART WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AND DENIED THE CLAIM. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1,500.00. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED BY CONSUMER'S SON IN LAW. ALSO PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE. *AK *NM

I HAVE HAD BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 SANTA FE REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE 5/03. THE FIRST WAS 5/03 AT 44K AND THE DEALER REPLACED COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND WAS 9/04 AT 80K NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC COMPLETE, AND THE THIRD WAS 3/05 AT 100K AGAIN BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. I HAVE CALLED HYUNDAI 3 TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE TO MY INQUIRIES.

THE VEHICLE HAS A MODERATE TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION THAT OCCURS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE VIBRATION CAN, AT TIMES, SHAKE YOUR HANDS BACK AND FORTH AS THE WHEEL IS GRIPPED. OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW THAT OWN ELANTRAS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE DATE PROVIDED IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE CAR FOR THE VIBRATION. I FIRST REPORTED IT DURING THE 12 MONTH/12,000 FREE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. SINCE THEN, THE CAR HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE VIBRATION. THE LAST SERVICE DONE TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS A RADIAL FORCE BALANCE. THIS SEEMED TO HELP SLIGHTLY, BUT THE VIBRATION STILL PERSISTED AND REMAINS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE.*JB

DURING THE WINTER OF 2002, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO, AFTER CHARGING ME FOR A BALANCE AND ROTATION TO "IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM" TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END. IN JUNE, 2003 I HAD THE FACTORY MICHELIN'S (WHICH HAD ABOUT 32,00 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED) REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES AND A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE PULLING IS GONE, BUT THE VIBRATION REMAINS. IT IS PARTICULALRY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

AS WITH OTHERS THAT I HAVE READ THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES OVER 60-65 MPH AND STOPS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE VECHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE NEW. I HAVE HAD 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, 2 TIRE ROTATIONS AND ALL TIRES BALANCED. ALL TEMPORARY FIXES. THE PULLING GRADUALLY RETURNED AS DID THE VIBRATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.*AK

AT 20,000 MILES, THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN BADLY AND UNEVENLY. WAS TOLD BY A MICHELIN DEALER IT WAS UNSAFE TO RIDE ON TIRES. WAS TOLD BY 2 DEALERSHIPS (WHO DID NOT LOOK AT THE CAR) THIS WAS A ROTATION PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT TIRES WERE FINE. DEALERSHIP FINALLY REALIGNED REAR WHEELS, BOTH WERE OUT OF TOE TO THE SAME DEGREE. I COMPLAINED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES SINCE IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FACTORY SETTING AND NOT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE IN MAINTENANCE. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PAY HALF THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE TIRES. *NLM

RIGHT FRONT END VIBRATION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK