[Doggie 1]

In defense of Toyota, everyone knows Toyotas just keep going ..

  Even when they're not supposed to.

[Phil №❶]

I tried to minimise the corporate damage in my post Dazz 

I fail to see how that could happen actually. In any car, surely the answer is to put the car in neutral and let the engine destroy itself, apply the brakes and maintain control of the vehichle, why wasn't this done 

[Dazzler]

Yeah good point! That is sort of what Alex Davidson did today at Sandown 

So was the driver's fault then..

[John G]

G'day again

I've been doing some homework and reading Procedures for the Recall of Vehicles and Associated Products with Safety Related Defects by Registered Automotive Workshops which can be downloaded from the website of the Dept of Infrastructure and Transport.

It is the RAW's (presumably the dealer in this case) responsibility to follow the procedures when they are advised or become aware that "a vehicle, part, accessory or service may have a safety related defect, that is, a defect which will or may cause injury to any person."

And then in Part 4 - Safety Investigation - "If a RAW has reason to believe that a safety related defect exists, or may exist, in any of its products or services, it shall immediately commence an investigation to determine whether that safety related defect exists.  The RAW shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the investigation is completed without undue delay.  The investigation shall include deciding whether or not the defect exists in any other items sold by the RAW."

Through this forum we've established that our vehicle is not an isolated case of the EPS failing; the dealer may or may not have commenced an investigation ( I doubt it on the basis that they didn't sit down and conduct detailed questioning of the operating circumstances),;and they were certainly slow ( first incidents in May, second in September) to move to the expensive and hopefully successful resolution of the issue.

As suggested in earlier threads on the forum, I've asked Hyundai for a detailed explanation of the fault, and of the modifications that may make the replacement "revised shaft" safe.  I've also asked whether there has been any incidents where the revised shafts have failed.  Hyundai have acknowledged receipt of our two letters and have assured us of an early reply.

A search of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website lists all Hyundai recalls, but there are no i30 recalls listed.

The crux of the issue is whether it is/was deemed a defect which "will or may cause injury to any person" .  There is no doubt in my mind.

I'll update this thread when Hyundai reply.

Cheers
John

[Surferdude]

While searching for something else I found this on a US website http://hyundaibuyersguide.theautochannel.com/safety.php

Bulletin Number: TSB-11-01-044
HYUNDAI: INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED RELATING TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ON SOME ELANTRA VEHICLES. *PE

[Phil №❶]

I hate to throw a spanner in the works, but, in a conventional power steering (engine driven steering pump) issues regarding safety would fall into specific areas of inspection, namely :-

The drive belt & pulleys
The pump
The plumbing
The steering rack
The steering column & wheel

With regard to the Hyundai you can replace the steering column & its associated equipment, but how do you rule out 100%, a wiring fault, or software issue that might not surface for months.

An example, Mt Erebus plane crash, nothing wrong with the plane, wrong co-ordinates input into autopilot. Result, all dead. 

I believe there is justification, as this is not an isolated case, for a full scale independent inquiry into this issue. 

[Dazzler]

John, We look forward to your update..

Trev, Nice find thanks 

Phil, Thanks for your advice (We will all try and avoid driving near mount Erebus) 

You do have a point .. I think it has been common enough to warrant a safety investigation.

[Keith]

John, We look forward to your update..

Trev, Nice find thanks 

Phil, Thanks for your advice (We will all try and avoid driving near mount Erebus) 

You do have a point .. I think it has been common enough to warranty a safety investigation.

Fiat still dont log these as needing a recall... and it is common, prevalent and much discussed on the Forums. Effect is the sam, usually a steering wheel that needs Olympian strength to turn and can happen at any time.
http://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/266588-resoldering-power-steering-motor-relays.html
http://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/307242-how-replace-electric-steering-column.html

[Phil №❶]

@Ffoxy,

It shouldn't be Fiat's decision, government authorities should enforce a recall.

[Keith]

@Ffoxy,

It shouldn't be Fiat's decision, government authorities should enforce a recall.

Yes, but looking at Reply #33 Dealers have some input, yet they have done nothing...

[Phil №❶]

Dealers have to be dragged kicking & screaming to make an official recall due to the expense involved. That's why it should be independently decided. If you run an eating establishment and it is not clean or sanitary, outside authorities can shut the business down to eliminate public risk. IMO, the odd steering failure represents a public risk. 

[babis_xo]

While searching for something else I found this on a US website http://hyundaibuyersguide.theautochannel.com/safety.php

Bulletin Number: TSB-11-01-044
HYUNDAI: INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED RELATING TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ON SOME ELANTRA VEHICLES. *PE

Good job Trev
TSB-11-01-044

[babis_xo]

^ Suspiciously, it does not mention what is the problem with the cars "affected" with the obsolete EPS firmware

[Lakes]

Just read this, sorry to hear about your bad experience. but with electric's & sensors involved they can fail.
Back in the 60's not many cars used Power Steering or Airconditioning. i remember driving an old Bedford 5 Ton truck loaded up, when you were used to it it was ok ( very heavy steering & you had to turn the wheel a lot more turns just to turn into another steet. was teaching a guy to drive that & he almost went through a house turning into another street. also performance cars like the Falcon GTHO had lower gearing more direct steering like todays modern car, but with no power assistance. they had very heavy steering ok at speeds but very heavy to park. but as i said we were used to it. but today we are all used to very light steering, so its a shock when it stops working.

[John G]

G'day Folks

Hyundai have finally replied.

I asked for a technical explanation of the power steering failure.  Hyundai advise that faulty internal sensors were faulting intermittently and that required the power steering unit to be replaced.  They further advise that "the revised column which was fitted to your vehicle has an updated part number and was revised as a product improvement measure to increase customer satisfaction in the operation of the steering column.  The steering column was not revised due to any similar faults or simialr incidents experienced by other i30s."  So who was dissatisfied I wonder?

And further Hyundai "believes that the concern experienced with your vehicle was an unfortunate isolated incident".

So . . .we had four incidents of power steering failure, two in May and two in August/September.  Hyundai sees that as one incident.  In this forum thread, there are two other incidents (not on the same vehicle) documented, and if you go back to 2010 on this website, there are other incidences (in the UK from memory) recorded.  Our dealer stated (verbally, unfortunately) that ours was not the only i30 for which they had had to replace the steering shaft.  No doubt that staement would now be denied.

The only ray of sunshine is Hyundai's assurance, in response to my question,  that "We do not know of any other vehicles requiring follow up after replacement of the power steering unit.", but they would say that wouldn't they? and of course they didn't say how many replacements they had done.

I'm pondering what to do next.  As I said previously, I'm no Ralph Nader.

Cheers
John

[Phil №❶]

Thanks John G for the feedback, we appreciate it 

To me, I feel that as your original sensors have proven faulty and that a new part has been created to rectify this fault, there is enough evidence to request through other "authorities" a recall and replacement of that part. One steering failure is too many.

Sorry if I sound like a panic merchant, but when I think of my daughter / wife driving their cars (and I'm sure everyone else does too), well I just don't want to get a visit from the unfortunate police, with terrible news. 

[komaterpillar]

 

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the update John.. 

If it was me I would reply saying thank you for the repair but you are very surprised they see this as an isolated incident (for the reasons you have outlined here.. and that you are not alone in having lost confidence in the safety of your beloved Hyundai i30)  with a link to this thread and a couple of others on here that you have found

[Phil №❶]

 

[babis_xo]

...there is enough evidence to request through other "authorities" a recall and replacement of that part. >>>One steering failure is too many<<<

We have an authority here called "Consumer's Advocate" (I suppose you have something similar). It is for free and does a great job 100%; companies don't like to mess with lawyers.

[mitchell]

 
 Had the same steering failure in my i30 several months ago,going around a right -hand bend in busy traffic steering virtually locked up could of been disastrous if wife was behind the wheel.Managed to get it to dealer according to invoice they replaced column & shaft assembly (that took a week).I wish Hyundai had stuck with conventional hydraulic steering at least there were often warning signs something was faulty egg(leaking hose ,noisy pump)Its like a dog that bitten you can you trust it again.

[Phil №❶]

1 by 1 the reports come in. Thanks for sharing mitchell, glad you avoided any harm or damage too. 

[kabukiman]

It's funny you guys should mention recalls and the seriousness of this issue

I don't doubt it at all.  But when I owned my ford the transmission faults put me in danger several times, and Ford completely ignored it.  I'm talking sudden stranding in intersections with trucks approaching, breaking down on a highway peak hour traffic etc (yes it was a brand new car)

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous.  It seems hard to make a company care enough to do something about it other than replace what's broken (eventually) and shut you up.

[Just Rick]

It's funny you guys should mention recalls and the seriousness of this issue

I don't doubt it at all.  But when I owned my ford the transmission faults put me in danger several times, and Ford completely ignored it.  I'm talking sudden stranding in intersections with trucks approaching, breaking down on a highway peak hour traffic etc (yes it was a brand new car)

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous.  It seems hard to make a company care enough to do something about it other than replace what's broken (eventually) and shut you up.

Wouldn't happened to have been an EA Falcon by any chance

[Lakes]

It's funny you guys should mention recalls and the seriousness of this issue

I don't doubt it at all.  But when I owned my ford the transmission faults put me in danger several times, and Ford completely ignored it.  I'm talking sudden stranding in intersections with trucks approaching, breaking down on a highway peak hour traffic etc (yes it was a brand new car)

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous.  It seems hard to make a company care enough to do something about it other than replace what's broken (eventually) and shut you up.

Sorry you had bad experience with a Ford.
I have owned a lot of different makes over the years. had an AU 6cyl Falcon Ute and the auto gear box went @ 220,000k was reasonably cheap to fix as aussie made auto parts cheap, then i got a BA V8 ute another auto & this one the auto went at 130,000k but neather let me down while driving, i took them to Auto trans shops as i knew something was wrong. then i fittede a very large trans cooler as i carrieds loads on them and heat kills auto trans, also they all should be serviced every 25,000k but Ford don't tell you that. its just common knowledge. i never serviced mine so they did not last. one reason why my i30 is a manual i'm not going auto ever again.
this is just a personal preferance .
i had  a EH Holden Ute that i loved & the front suspention colapsed while i was driving, but it has not turned me off Holdens . Also had a Mazda Ute that was only a year old & always went to Mazda dealer for servive the front suspention on that collapsed too ( bolted on like Holden EH ) could have killed me but i kept it under control. over the years i've had a lot of bad experiences but just take them in my stride.

[kabukiman]

It's funny you guys should mention recalls and the seriousness of this issue

I don't doubt it at all.  But when I owned my ford the transmission faults put me in danger several times, and Ford completely ignored it.  I'm talking sudden stranding in intersections with trucks approaching, breaking down on a highway peak hour traffic etc (yes it was a brand new car)

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous.  It seems hard to make a company care enough to do something about it other than replace what's broken (eventually) and shut you up.

Wouldn't happened to have been an EA Falcon by any chance

nah it was a little Fiesta, with the stupid cardboard dual clutch automatic, the same thing they're putting in focuses and transits.

awful boxes, very dangerous, especially because (and they actually admitted this to me) nobody at Ford dealers really knows how to work on them or trouble shoot properly.  Even the transmission specialist I went to were a bit stumped as they usually deal with regular autos/torque converter setups.

[kabukiman]

It's funny you guys should mention recalls and the seriousness of this issue

I don't doubt it at all.  But when I owned my ford the transmission faults put me in danger several times, and Ford completely ignored it.  I'm talking sudden stranding in intersections with trucks approaching, breaking down on a highway peak hour traffic etc (yes it was a brand new car)

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous.  It seems hard to make a company care enough to do something about it other than replace what's broken (eventually) and shut you up.

Sorry you had bad experience with a Ford.
I have owned a lot of different makes over the years. had an AU 6cyl Falcon Ute and the auto gear box went @ 220,000k was reasonably cheap to fix as aussie made auto parts cheap, then i got a BA V8 ute another auto & this one the auto went at 130,000k but neather let me down while driving, i took them to Auto trans shops as i knew something was wrong. then i fittede a very large trans cooler as i carrieds loads on them and heat kills auto trans, also they all should be serviced every 25,000k but Ford don't tell you that. its just common knowledge. i never serviced mine so they did not last. one reason why my i30 is a manual i'm not going auto ever again.
this is just a personal preferance .
i had  a EH Holden Ute that i loved & the front suspention colapsed while i was driving, but it has not turned me off Holdens . Also had a Mazda Ute that was only a year old & always went to Mazda dealer for servive the front suspention on that collapsed too ( bolted on like Holden EH ) could have killed me but i kept it under control. over the years i've had a lot of bad experiences but just take them in my stride.

Understandable.  My old peugeot tried to kill me in a few different ways but I would buy one again

the Ford experience was different, there were so many things wrong with the car, and the way the dealers and company treated me was the deciding factor; I will never own one again.

Sorry to hijack the thread, I was just trying to explain most companies are not all that caring.  I like to hope that Hyundai would be more reasonable than Ford are simply because they are still breaking into the market and trying to build a good reputation.

[John G]

G'day Folks

I have replied to Hyundai.  They say it is an "inconvenience" for us, I've said it's a safety issue.  They say ours is an isolated incident (singular), I 've said the power steering has failed four times over a 3-month period, and twice after the dealer supposedly fixed it, they say they have no other record of power steering failure in i30s, I've said that there are four reported incidents on this forum (two requiring the expensive steering shaft replacement that Hyundai have to pre-approve before it's done).  I've also sent all details (invoices, correspondence, references to this forum) to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport whose responsibility it is to investigate possible safety defects.  I don't anticipate any further correspondence from Hyundai, and I imagine any investigation by the Department will necessarily be lengthy.  Hopefully the failure that we and a few others have experienced is restricted, but it remains, in my opinion, a safety issue.

Cheers
John

[Just Rick]

I'm just glad the failure we had in Cyril happened while the dealer was doing other repairs, so there was absolutely no argument that they had to replace the steering column,mind you they weren't happy about it, for the simple fact we didn't buy Cryil at that particular dealer,there's another seperate issue,how many people have had trouble getting warranty work done at alternate dealerships other than the one you bought your car from,as I move around a fair bit I take my cars to many different dealers,they always put up opposition about doing any repairs and suggest I take it back to the dealer I bought it from

[Phil №❶]

I thought dealers liked warranty work. They're paid by HY aren't they. It sounds like steering replacement would be worth a few bucks too.