2001 Hyundai Santa Fe Suspension

ON JUNE 30, 2010 AT APPROX 9:50 AM CDT, I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE AS IF ON A SHEET OF ICE. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ACTUALLY OPTIMAL WITH NO WATER, ICE OR OTHER ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS. I WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE MY VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN EXIT WHILE GENTLY APPLYING MY BRAKES TO GRADUALLY REDUCE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS CANTED ON THE ROADWAY (REAR END SIGNIFICANTLY DISPLACED TO RIGHT) AS I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP. I WAS BASICALLY DRAGGING THE REAR END BEHIND ME. A FRIEND CONFIRMED THIS APPEARANCE AND THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR TIRE WAS ALSO DEVIATED TOWARD THE RIGHT AND THAT BOTH TIRES WERE ANGLED INWARD AS HE FOLLOWED ME TO THE REPAIR SHOP. AT THIS TIME, I WAS UNAWARE OF A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA ACTION # EA08023, RECALL CAMPAIGN # 09V123000) THAT APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE. THE REAR TRAILING ARMS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION AND FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY OWNERS WHO HAD PURCHASED THAT VEHICLE IN A SALT-BELT STATE, OR WERE REGISTERED IN A SALT-BELT STATE AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL (APRIL 2009) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE DANGER. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED IN OREGON AND I HAVE RESIDED IN OKLAHOMA FOR THE 4 YEARS. I DID SPEND 4 YEARS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN 2 SALT-BELT STATES, HOWEVER, EXPOSED TO THE CONDITIONS THAT ACCELERATED THE CORROSION OF THE FLAWED PARTS. AFTER I DISCOVERED THIS RECALL ON MY OWN ON 7/8/2010, I GOT THE VEHICLE TOWED TO EDMOND HYUNDAI IN EDMOND, OK AND BEGAN TRYING TO GET THIS RECALL WORK DONE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS HAD FAILED AND HAD SIGNIFICANT CORROSION. HYUNDAI AGREED TO REPLACE THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, BUT HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR TOWING AND OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGES THAT RESULTED FROM THIS COMPONENT FAILURE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE WHILE MINE IS IN THE SHOP OR PAY FOR A COMPARABLE RENTAL VEHICLE. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS TO HYUNDAI'S NATIONAL OFFICE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE; BOTH TRAILING ARMS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HER THAT RECALL 09V123000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) WAS IN EFFECT. THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS REPAIRED AND THE REAR AXLE REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE SHAKES, SHIMMIES AND RATTLES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AS IT PULLED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

REGULAR INTERSTATE DRIVING, I THEN SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL, AND CROSSED THREE LANES, DARTING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS TRAFFIC AND GOT IT UNDER CONTROL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE IS WHERE I DISCOVERED THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS HANGING OFF. *TR

AT ABOUT 11:00AM ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010, I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE OUTBOUND ON ROOSEVELT BRIDGE IN WASHINGTON, DC. SPEED WAS ABOUT 30-40 MPH WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHICH BEGAN TO FISHTAIL FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT. MIRACULOUSLY HIT NOTHING AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL AND BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP AFTER ABOUT 3/10 OF A MILE. I LATER LEARNED THAT THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY A TOTAL FRACTURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAD FRACTURED AS THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE PART. VEHICLE WAS CARRYING NO LOAD BUT ME AS DRIVER AND DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE OR OTHER OBSTRUCTION. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AT A HIGHER SPEED WITH TRAFFIC ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE 50 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, MUCH OF IT IN SNOW AND ICE IN NEW ENGLAND, AND NEVER EXPERIENCED TOTALLY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF CONTROL LIKE THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS STUDIED THIS SITUATION AND THAT HYUNDAI HAS A RECALL IN "SALT BELT" STATES ONLY (INCLUDES DC AND MARYLAND BUT REMARKABLY NOT NORTHERN VIRGINIA WHICH IS THE AREA OF VIRGINIA IN WHICH I LIVE). SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT DC AND MD ARE INCLUDED, BUT NOT NORTHERN VIRGINIA DESPITE THE FACT THAT SO MANY NORTHERN VIRGINIANS DRIVE IN DC AND MARYLAND EVERY DAY. I HAVE RETAINED THE FRACTURED PART WHICH I HAD REPLACED. HYUNDAI IS NOW TELLING ME THAT PASSENGER SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM HAS NO RUST. THIS SEEMS STRANGE AND IS HARD TO BELIEVE GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PART THAT IS ABOUT 6 FEET AWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR AND GIVEN THAT BOTH ARE ORIGINAL PARTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACTS MECHANIC DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS REPAIR FACILITY WHERE HE FOUND THAT RECALL 09V123000, SUSPENSION REAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT WAIT SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR TRAVEL TO A DEALER WHICH IS 30 MILES AWAY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

AS I WAS BACKING UP THE 2001 SANTA FE SUV AT MY PARENTS DRIVE WAY, I HEARD A LOUD THUMP. I THOUGHT I WENT OVER A BIKE OR SOMETHING ELSE, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO LOOK. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CAVED INWARD, AND A METAL PART WAS BROKEN AND HANGING DOWN. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO COME TO OUR HOME AND LOAD THE CAR ONTO A FLATBED. AFTER DISCOVERING THERE WERE NUMEROUS CASES OF 2001 SANTA FE CONTROL ARMS RUSTING OUT, I DECIDED TO FILE AN NHTSA COMPLAINT. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR DESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARM. FURTHERMORE, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT CONTROL ARM IS SHOWING THE SAME SIGNS OF RUST THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM. IT WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL BE EXPENSIVE. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. DURING STATE INSPECTION HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT MOTOR CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE . A TECHNICIAN FROM A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY REPLACED THE COMPONENT AT AN EXPENSE OF $190.00. AFTER THE REPAIR HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE REAR TRAILING ARM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126000.

REAR SUSPENSION: LOST STEERING GOING OVER A BRIDGE. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND ALL RODS AND SPRINGS ARE RUSTED OUT WITH HUGE RUSTED HOLES. CRACKED AND RUSTED, ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON THEIR WAY HOME AND WENT ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN MY WIFE HEARD A CLUNK AND THOUGHT A CHUNK OF ICE FELL OFF THE CAR. SHE SAID THE CAR THEN HANDLED AS IF IT WERE ON BLACK ICE ALL OVER THE ROAD. I PULLED THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND FOUND THE LEFT REAR TRAILING BROKE NEXT TO THE SPRING MOUNT TOWARDS THE WHEEL. NOT HAVING DISMANTLED ANY COMPONENTS, USING A VISUAL INSPECTION THE PART HAD ONLY A FEW SPOTS THAT HAD BEEN HOLDING JUDGING BY THE RUST ON THE BROKEN PART. THE CAR IS STILL IN MY SHOP AND I WILL BE CALLING HYUNDAI MONDAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PART. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY WIFE AND 17 MONTH DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER SEEN TRAILING ARMS, CONTROL ARMS OR MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BREAK LIKE THIS ONE DID WITHOUT HAVING BEEN IN SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. THIS PART FAILED FROM THE TOP DOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO BEND. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT NUMBER 3632527. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE DROPPED CAUSING LANE CHANGE , LEFT REAR TIRE RUBBING ON STRUT-SHOCK , TRAILING ARM BROKE LEFT REAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE. THE WHEELS ARE TILTED INWARD WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE DEALER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL SEVERELY TOWARDS THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE DRIVER REDUCED THE SPEED RATE AND CONTINUED IN OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THERE WAS FRONT SUB-FRAME PERFORATION WHICH WAS A RESULT OF SEVERE INTERNAL CORROSION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000. UPDATED 01/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. A RUSTED HOLE IN THE SUB-FRAME OCCURRED WHERE THE UPPER A-ARM WAS SECURED. FAILURE OF RETAINING BOLT WOULD RESULT IN SUSPENSION COLLAPSE AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SAME MAKE, BUT DIFFERENT MODEL. UPDATED 01/22/10.*JB

2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LOWER CONTROL ARE COMPLETED ROTTED OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. CALLED HYUNDAI THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SAVE THE CONTROL ARM WHICH I DID. THE COST OF REPAIRS WERE $500+. NOW THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS ROTTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A FEW MONTHS. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2001 SANTA FE, MY STEPSON EXPERIENCED DRIVING DIFFICULTY WHEN HE COULD NOT EASILY CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS BENT OUTWARD APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES LATERALLY. WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT, REAR TRAILING ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED. THE LEFT, REAR TRAILING ARM IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST-THROUGH. I HAVE DEEMED THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND AM THANKFUL THAT NOBODY WAS HURT. *TR

RUSTING OF LOWER SUB-FRAME ON A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CAUSE STEERING PROBLEMS LEADING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. *TR

OUR 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE...GOING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WE HEARD A THUNK AND THE SUV ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL...FISHTAILING...FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO A SAFE STOP AND TOWED....MY MECHANIC COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW THIN THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS ( WHICH IS WHAT BROKE) STATING IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, MAINLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN CAUSING PREMATURE AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS...THE OTHER SIDE WAS READY TO BREAK THROUGH TOO HE OBSERVED. LUCKILY THERE WAS TRAFFIC THAT NIGHT AND WE WERE NOT GOING THAT FAST, HAD THAT HAPPEN AT 65, THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN APT TO ROLL OVER. *TR

IN APRIL 2008, THE RIGHT TRAILING ARM OF MY 2001HYUNDAI SANTA FE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. REPLACEMENT WAS $712. LAT WEEK (NOVEMBER 2008) THE LEFT TRAILING ARM RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO DROP, CRASHING THROUGH THE STRUT, WHEEL BALANCING AGAINST SIDE. THIS REPLACEMENT COST $762. HYUNDAI NEVER ALLOWED FOR DRAINAGE IN THE TRAILING ARMS FROM 2001 TO 2004. NO RECALL AS IT HAPPENS IN HIGH SALT STATES. I BELIEVE THEY ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THIS NOW. VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE LUCKY BOTH TIMES, BUT THIS HAS CAUSED OTHER VEHICLES TO FLIP OVER AND CAUSED DEATHS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM FAILED BECAUSE IT HAD RUSTED AND BROKE CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO TURN OUT AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SHE JUST GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE RUNNING 70 MILES PER HOUR, THIS COULD HAVE HAD A REAL SAD OUT COME. WE ARE HAVING BOTH TRAILING ARMS REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO FELT THE VEHICLE JERKING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND HE COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

AS MY WIFE WAS BACKING UP THE 2001 SANTA FE SUV AT A LOCAL PARK, SHE HEARD A LOUD THUMP. SHE THOUGHT SHE WENT OVER A POTHOLE, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO LOOK. SHE DIDN'T SEE A POTHOLE, AND GOT BACK INTO THE CAR. AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, A RHYTHMIC SCREECH BECAME VERY LOUD FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE. SHE STOPPED THE CAR, AND AGAIN GOT OUT TO TAKE A LOOK. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE LOOKED NORMAL. SHE GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, SLOWLY. THE SCREECHING BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. WHEN SHE GOT HOME, SHE LOOKED AT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IT WAS CAVED INWARD, AND A METAL PART WAS BROKEN AND HANGING DOWN. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO COME TO OUR HOME AND LOAD THE CAR ONTO A FLATBED TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. THE HYUNDAI MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM HAD FULLY RUSTED OUT AND THE SUSPENSION HAD BROKEN THROUGH. THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM, THE LATERAL LINK, THE ABS SENSOR, CAM VOLT, AND NUT HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1,549.22. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCOVERING THERE WERE NUMEROUS CASES OF 2001 SANTA FE CONTROL ARMS RUSTING OUT, I DECIDED TO FILE AN NHTSA COMPLAINT. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE TOLLWAY. IT IS MY OPINION THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR DESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARM. FURTHERMORE, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT CONTROL ARM IS SHOWING THE SAME SIGNS OF RUST THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM. IT WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL BE EXPENSIVE. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

RETURNING FROM 2 HOUR HIGHWAY TRIP, TURNED INTO DEVELOPMENT, HEARD LOUD SNAPPING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY, INFORMED DRIVER SIDE REAR CONTROL ARMS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WELL ON WAY. AXLE WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. ONLY AXLE UNDER WARRANTY--HAD DEALER REPLACE SUCH. TOOK VEHICLE TO REGULAR GARAGE FOR REMAINDER OF REPAIRS. GARAGE EXTREMELY SURPRISED AT AMOUNT OF RUST CONTAINED IN REAR SUSPENSION----PAPER THIN. HAVE SAVED PARTS FOR ANYONE WISHING TO LOOK AT THEM. HAVE NOTED ON-GOING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS WITH SAME PROBLEM--MUST BE A HYUNDAI ISSUE--AS MINE IS A SANTA FE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS AND/OR DEATHS SHOULD CONTROL FAIL DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WAS TOLD CONTROL ARM IS DEFECTIVE, AS THERE IS NO HOLES FOR ANY WATER/CONDENSATION TO DRAIN, THEREFORE WATER SITS AND RUSTS THEM OUT. *TR

VEHICLE: 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF A KEY SUSPENSION COMPONENT: THE RIGHT REAR BEARING ARM. THIS COMPONENT, WHICH ATTACHES THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AXLE TO THE CHASSIS COMPLETELY FAILED DURING A DRIVE ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT SPEEDS UNDER 55 MPH ON APRIL 9, 2008. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT A QUARTER OF A TURN, AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. MY MECHANIC INFORMS ME THAT THIS COMPONENT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IN MY CASE, IT IS COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT COULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A WEIGHT BEARING SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. HAD THIS FAILURE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I AM SURE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WOULD HAVE COMPLETED DEPARTED THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL AND PROBABLE DISASTER. WE CONSIDER OURSELVES VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS EXPENSIVE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS NEARLY $1,000. THE COST OF THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT ALONE WAS $567.79. I CONSIDER THIS FAILURE NOT A NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCE AND WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE PART AND VEHICLE FOR COMPLETE ANALYSIS. I HAVE THE OLD PART AS WELL AS DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED COMPONENT FOR YOUR REVIEW AS WELL AS REPAIR DOCUMENTATION. I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO COVER THE COST OF THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IN MY OPINION, THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NEVER FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND CERTAINLY NEVER FAIL IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS FAILURE HAS REALLY SHAKEN MY CONFIDENCE IN HYUNDAI'S DESIGN AND ENGINEERING QUALITY. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I AM CERTAIN THAT AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. *TR

A-FRAME OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR RUSTED THROUGH AND MY TIRE AND WHEEL FELL OFF. *TR