2006 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH, THE CAR JERKED TO THE SIDE BY ITSELF. I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE JERK WITH THE WHEEL, AT WHICH POINT I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. IT APPEARED THAT THE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. THE CAR JERKED AGAIN, I WAS ONCE AGAIN UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE WHEEL ITSELF COULD TURN FREELY, BUT THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL. THE CAR JERKED AGAIN, ULTIMATELY SPINNING OUT AND CRASHING INTO THE MEDIAN HEADFIRST. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT I WAS LUCKILY UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR SOME SCRAPES, BRUISES, AND WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN A MILD CONCUSSION. THE CAR HAD BEHAVED ODDLY TWICE BEFORE: ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CAR HAD JERKED TO THE SIDE SIMILARLY, AT A SOMEWHAT LOWER SPEED (ABOUT 45 MPH). I DISMISSED THE INCIDENT AS HUMAN ERROR, OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD THAT I HADN'T SEEN, EVEN THOUGH IT FELT VERY STRANGE AND UNLIKE ANYTHING I'D EXPERIENCED BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE JERK AND FORGOT ABOUT IT. A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BUT THEN WENT OFF. DURING THAT 30 MINUTES, I WAS STOPPED AT SEVERAL STOP SIGNS. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM THE STOP SIGN, I HAD TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR MUCH HARDER THAN NORMAL TO EVEN ACHIEVE A LOW SPEED. THIS HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES, HOWEVER, THEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING LIKE NORMAL, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF, SO I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THESE INCIDENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE CRASH. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL IS PEELING, AFTER 2 YEARS AND 54,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT OUR 2006 HYUNDAI, IN JULY OF 2007. THE PEELING BEGAN AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND IS STEADILY GETTING WORSE. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TURN SMOOTHLY, AS THE PART OF THE RUBBER IS MISSING AND YOUR HANDS CANNOT GRIP THE WHEEL PROPERLY. HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL, AS THEY SAID THIS WAS CAUSED BY USING CHEMICALS SUCH AS ARMORALL ON THE WHEEL. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THEY HAVE USED POOR QUALITY WHEEL COVERING MATERIAL THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND EVERY DAY USE. EVERYONE USES ARMORALL TO SHINE UP THEIR CAR. NOW, WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES AT PERSONAL SAFETY RISK, AS THE WHEEL CANNOT BE GRIPPED PROPERLY, AS IT IS PEELING AWAY ON ONE PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD AT 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED REPEATEDLY FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS UNTIL IT FINALLY CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER'S BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND SHE BELIEVES THAT IT WILL BE CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOST. THE MECHANICS NEVER MENTIONED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,300.