2002 Hyundai Elantra service brakes, hydraulic problems

“MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT, AND ARE THE ONLY OWNERS OF RECORD AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE MANNER. ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 2009, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH APPROACHING A LEFT TURN LIGHT, WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING A CAR THAT STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT, PLACING MY VEHICLE INTO THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY, MY VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR ROADSIDE OBSTACLES. AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP, I MANAGED TO NEGOTIATE THE LEFT TURN, IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF A 5-POINT INTERSECTION AND INTO A SAFER AREA. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN THE TURN, I HEARD METAL GRINDING AGAINST METAL. I PULLED THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY INTO THE FIRST AVAILABLE TURN OFF, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A CHURCH PARKING LOT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN A SERVICEABLE CONDITION AND WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY TORN BETWEEN THE SHOCK MOUNT AND THE BALL…”

“BRAKE ROTORS FEEL AS IF THERE WARPED WHEN VEHICLE SITS FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING. WHEN DRIVEN AFTER THAT TIME PERIOD DESCRIBED ABOVE, WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESS TO STOP VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE GETS A VERY NOTICEABLE PULSATING FEEL IN THE FOOT PETAL. POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. A DEFINITE STOPPING CONTROL HAZARD. *TR”

“SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR (I BOUGHT IT NEW), IT HAS A PROBLEM IN WHICH IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW ABOUT 35 DEGREES FAHR), THE BRAKES ARE VERY TIGHT AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY FOR THE 1ST 2-3 MINUTES. AS THE CAR WARMS, BRAKE FUNCTION RETURNS TO NORMAL. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED MULTIPLE OWNERS OF HYUNDAI'S AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND YOUR OFFICE ISSUED A RECALL OF SATURN SKY AND PONTIAC SOLSTICE VEHICLES IN 2008 FOR AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM (RECALL NUMBER PE08016). PLEASE INVESTIGATE--IT APPEARS TO ME THAT HYUNDAI ELANTRAS SUCH AS MINE SHOULD RECEIVE A SIMILAR RECALL. *TR”

“DRIVING 25 MPH - APPROACHED STOP SIGN - BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, NO PEDAL, PUMPED BRAKES, NO PETAL AND NO STOPPING - NO WARNING, NO BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH - RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN UNABLE TO STOP - NO ONE WAS COMING FORTUNATELY - PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD - HAS VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS ADVISED MY VEHICLE WAS 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REPAIRS WOULD COST $1400.00 TO REPLACE A LEAKING ABS ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE. I QUESTIONED WHY ALL BRAKES FAILED AT ONCE WITHOUT WARNING SINCE THIS IS A DUAL MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD SEGREGATE BRAKING FRONT FROM REAR. I ALSO QUESTIONED WHY SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT WOULD NOT BE COVERED SINCE THIS CAR ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES, IS 3 MONTHS BEYOND THE 5 YEAR APPLIED WARRANTY, AND REPORTEDLY HAS A 10 YEAR, 100,000 WARRANTY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR IN OUR FAMILY. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI 800 LINE FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT. THEY ADVISED ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND GET BACK TO ME WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. *TR”

“I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED ON MARCH 3, 2007, IT PASSED INSPECTION. ON MARCH 23, 2007 LOST THE BRAKES. UPON DEALER'S INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES,THEY FOUND THE PADS CAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE SHOES. ALSO, THE WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING. THE BRAKES AND WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE FINE 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THEM BLOWING APART. NOW I AM OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND AM VERY THANKFUL THIS OCCURRED ON A BACK ROAD AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED. *AK”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 60MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL WITH MINOR DAMAGE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A WRITTEN REPORT WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD TO AWAIT INSPECTION FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE LATCH SYSTEM, THE SEAT BELT COVERED THE LATCH BRACKET.”