Manufacturer: HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI)
Manufacturer Id: 1034
Model: Elantra
Model Year: 2012
Plant Company Name: Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Alabama
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: GLS(Middle grade)
Series2: UD
TPMS: Direct
Valve Train Design: Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1997
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 68MPH A LADDER FELL OFF OF A TRUCK AND FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED. NEITHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY, NOT DRIVABLE. DEALER CONTACTED AND THERE HAS BEEN NOT RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES. *AK
2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012 IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND REAR SEAT WARMERS. THE SWITCH FOR THE FRONT SEATS RESETS TO OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE REAR SEAT WARMERS WILL BE ACTIVATED AGAIN UNTIL THEY ARE MANUALLY DEACTIVATED. A CAVEAT IN THE HYUNDAI MANUAL STATES: "WITH THE SEAT WARMER SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE SEAT TURNS OFF AND ON AUTOMATICALLY DEPENDING ON THE SEAT TEMPERATURE." THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS TO PREVENT INJURY TO SOMEONE USING THE SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD THE REAR SEAT WARMERS POSE WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING USED BY A PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THEY ARE ACTIVATED. ON COLD WINTER DAYS THE REAR SEAT WARMERS COULD BE HEATING AT MAXIMUM WATTAGE EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE DRIVER. WITH THIS BEING A SEATING AREA OFTEN USED BY CHILDREN, I BELIEVE THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE SWITCHES COULD BE LEFT IN THE ON POSITION FREQUENTLY AND FOR LENGTHY PERIODS OF TIME. THIS POSES BOTH A HEALTH RISK, AS WELL AS, UNDUE WEAR ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REAR SEAT COMPONENTS. *TR