Personal Injury Law

Hyundai Recalls 139,500 of Its 2011 Sonatas for Steering Defect

By Hurley, McKenna & Murtz

Hyundai is recalling ?about 139,500 of its new 2011 Sonatas because of a steering defect that could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.? (C. Jensen, NY Times Wheels, 9/26). The recall affects all Sonatas manufactured in Montgomery, AL from December 11, 2009 through September 10, 2010.

The recall is a major blow to the Korean Manufacturer, which was hoping to capitalize on those consumers who became weary of Toyota vehicles after Toyota?s recalling fiasco earlier this year. Hyundai executives were hoping the Sonata would become a serious competitor with the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.

The NHTSA says the issue arose because the ?intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.? As a result of the apparent manufacturing defect, ?the driver could experience a loss of or reduction in steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.?

As a car and truck accident attorney, I always encourage consumers to stay informed about recalls affecting their vehicles and to act swiftly to remedy any safety issues.

Full post as published by Illinois Car and Truck Accident Lawyer Blog on September 27, 2010 (boomark / email).