THIS PROBLEM IS TRUE OF OUR 2007 AND 2008 SANTA FE'S AND HAS EXISTED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CARS. I HAVE FINALLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR NOT ONLY MY WIFE BUT ALSO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE OF SLIGHT BUILD. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT IS EASILY CORRECTABLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE CREATED CASE#[XXX] WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA --THEY HAVE RESPONDED THAT THEY WILL PASS ALONG THE INFORMATION TO ENGINEERING --BUT THEY HAVE NOTED THAT I WILL NOT BE CONTACTED BY HYUNDAI REGARDING DEPOSITION OF THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM -- MY WIFE WEIGHS ABOUT 95 LBS. SHE FREQUENTLY DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE IS ESSENTIALLY UNPROTECTED IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. SHE JUST DOESN'T WEIGH ENOUGH TO RELIABLY ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. HYUNDAI SPENDS QUITE A FEW PAGES IN THEIR MANUAL TO COVER THEMSELVES LEGALLY. THEY COMMENT THAT IF ALL ELSE FAILS JUST SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. I WOULD IMAGINE FEW HUSBANDS AND WIVES OPT FOR THIS SOLUTION. MOST CONSUMERS PROBABLY HAVEN'T READ THE MANUAL, IGNORE THE OFF SIGN OR DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, OR DON'T CARE AND RISK THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SHOULD ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FOR SAY ANYONE OVER 66 LBS. I BELIEVE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER HAS RECENTLY DONE SO. IT IS STUPID THAT I HAVE WAITED THIS LONG TO COMPLAIN -- BUT I KEPT THINKING THEIR WOULD EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL AND I NORMALLY JUST DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS. HYUNDAI COULD MAKE AN ALTERNATE SENSOR AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEEDED IT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RANGE OF VISION ON THE LOW BEAMS IS SUB-STANDARD. GOING UP HILLS, THEY SEEM TO SHINE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE HILL AS IF THEIR LONG RANGE AIM WAS DOWN, NOT UP. GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL , THEY APPEAR TO SHINE ON A HORIZONTAL PLANE - NOT DOWN ON THE ROAD. THE HIGH BEAMS ARE FINE, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE USING JUST THE LOW BEAMS. HYUNDAI SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FOCUS OF THE LIGHT EMITTED BY THE LAMPS OR WITH THEIR AIM. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT FIT FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING. *TR