Hyundai is recalling almost 205,000 of its Elantra cars because the power steering could suddenly stop working, making the vehicle harder to turn, according to a report from the auto-maker posted on Saturday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Website.
The action covers the 2008-2010 Elantra and the 2009-2010 Elantra Touring. Hyundai said the driver would still be able to steer the car if the power steering was lost but that it would require “greater driver effort,” particularly at low speeds. The automaker did not mention any accidents or injuries related to the issue, but if you or one of your loved ones has been harmed due to the loss of power steering while driving one of the vehicle models mentioned above, do not hesitate to call the attorneys at Makarem & Associates at 800-610-9646 or via email at [email protected]
During the past year, N.H.T.S.A. and automakers have been under intense criticism from Congress over safety issues, much of it brought on by a long-ignored and deadly ignition-switch defect in millions of General Motors vehicles.
Hyundai said it had been aware of problems with the power steering in the Elantra since 2010 but had not carried out a recall because “Hyundai’s understanding has been that the loss of power steering assist has not, in the past, been considered as a safety-related defect in the United States,” the automaker wrote in an explanatory report posted on the N.H.T.S.A. website. But, Hyundai said, “the industry has increasingly handled similar issues through safety recalls,” and Hyundai concluded that one was necessary “to remain consistent with that industry trend.”
The safety agency also said it was intensifying its investigation into Takaka airbags that, in a crash, can send pieces of metal into the interior of a car. More than 18 million vehicles world-wide have already been recalled, and at least six deaths have been linked to the problem.
That investigation, which began last year, covers an estimated 11.5 million vehicles from BMW, Chrysler, Ford, G.M., Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota.
Vehicles Affected by Takata Airbag Recall:
BMW: 627,615 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan
2000 – 2006 3 Series Coupe
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon
2000 – 2006 3 Series Convertible
2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe
2001 – 2006 M3 Convertible
Chrysler: 371,309 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 4500
2008 – Dodge Ram 5500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Durango
2005 – 2008 Dodge Dakota
2005 – 2008 Chrysler 300
2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen
Ford: 58,669 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2004 – Ranger
2005 – 2006 GT
2005 – 2007 Mustang
General Motors: undetermined total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe
2005 – Saab 9-2X
Honda: 5,051,364 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2001 – 2007 Honda Accord
2001 – 2005 Honda Civic
2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V
2003 – 2011 Honda Element
2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey
2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot
2006 – Honda Ridgeline
2003 – 2006 Acura MDX
2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL
2005 – Acura RL
Mazda: 64,872 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2003 – 2007 Mazda6
2006 – 2007 MazdaSpeed6
2004 – 2008 Mazda RX-8
2004 – 2005 MPV
2004 – B-Series Truck
Mitsubishi: 11,985 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2004 – 2005 Lancer
2006 – 2007 Raider
Nissan: 694,626 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima
2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
2002 – 2004 Nissan Sentra
2001 – 2004 Infiniti I30/I35
2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4
2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45
Subaru: 17,516 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2003 – 2005 Baja
2003 – 2005 Legacy
2003 – 2005 Outback
2003 – 2005 Baja
2004 – 2005 Impreza
Toyota: 877,000 total number of potentially affected vehicles:
2002 – 2005 Lexus SC
2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla
2003 – 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2002 – 2005 Toyota Sequoia
2003 – 2005 Toyota Tundra
No injury or death should be handled without the help of an experienced attorney. If you have been harmed by one of these faulty airbags, call the legal experts Makarem & Associates at 800-610-9646 or email us at [email protected].
