2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Gls Sport Utility 4-door 2.7l on 2040-cars

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Dodge, Hyundai crowdsourced-funding sites deemed successes

What's not to love about crowdsourcing? This idea, after all, has given us Kickstarter as well Local Motors, but automakers are starting to use the social platform to sell more cars (or just drum up a little PR). Both Dodge and Hyundai have used "crowd-funding" recently, and while Automotive News is reporting that neither has racked up big sales with this gimmick, both automakers are pleased with the attention.
For Hyundai, it teamed up with website Motozuma.com to help customers crowdsource money for a down payment, and the automaker matched this amount up to $500. Last year, this helped Hyundai sell an extra 1,600 units, a fraction of its total 2012 sales. That figure is far larger than Dodge fared with the Dodge Dart Registry - it netted only two sales and a small number of individual options. This registry did help University of Southern California fraternity crowdsource $18,000 to buy a Dart for a local Meals on Wheels, however. Despite the low sales figures, Dodge and Hyundai are considering their crowdsourcing programs a success since it helped them connect with younger buyers.

Hyundai recalls 570k Sonatas and Accents in two separate campaigns

Hyundai is announcing two recalls that cover a total of 569,500 vehicles in the US for two of the brand's models. There are no reports of accidents or injuries related to either problem, though. The larger and potentially more serious campaign covers 470,000 units of the 2011-2012 Sonata with production dates between December 11, 2009, and April 12, 2012 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. It's specifically for those with the 2.0- or 2.4-liter direct injected engines. During production of the crankshaft, metal debris might not have been fully removed, and those pieces could block the connecting rod oiling passages. This lack of lubrication can increase wear on the connecting rod bearings, and the issue can lead to a loud knocking noise or possibly even a failure while the car is in motion. Hyundai has a two-step process to fix the issue. First, the company will have the vehicles come in for an inspection, and if necessary will "replace the engine assembly." The company will also extend the warranty on the short block to 10 years/120,000 miles for all owners. Notifications will go out by November 2, and there will be a second letter when the parts become available. The other recall covers 99,500 examples of the 2009-2011 Hyundai Accent with manufacturing dates between March 1, 2009, and February 11, 2011. On these models, the brake light switch may begin to only work intermittently. This can lead to a variety of problems, including the brake lights not coming on, the inability to turn off the cruise control with the pedal, and the shifter not moving out of Park. The fix will be a replacement of the switch, and the campaign will begin on November 2. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Connecting Rod Wear may Result in Engine Stall Report Receipt Date: SEP 10, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V568000 Component(s): ENGINE Potential Number of Units Affected: 470,000 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) HYUNDAI SONATA 2011-2012 Details Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America SUMMARY: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to April 12, 2012 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and equipped with either a 2.0 liter or 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engine. In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft.

Hyundai To Fight $248 Million Judgment Over Fatal Montana Crash

A Montana jury has levied a $248 million ruling against Hyundai in the case of a crash that killed two occupants in July 2011. The automaker plans to appeal the ruling. Cousins Trevor and Tanner Olson were driving a 2005 Hyundai Tiburon when they hit another vehicle head-on. According to lawyers representing their family, the steering knuckle on the car cracked and this allegedly caused it to lose control. Hyundai claimed that fireworks had been let off inside the vehicle, which caused the driver to swerve. The company alleges that evidence that could have proved its innocence was barred from the case. The jury found in favor of the family and awarded them about $8 million in damages after a two-week trial. It claimed that Hyundai had shown "actual malice," according to Reuters. The jurors also slammed Hyundai with a further $240 million in punitive damages. Hyundai told Reuters that it plans to appeal immediately and called the verdict "outrageous." Autoblog has received a copy of the automaker's official statement, detailing its plans to appeal this case. Scroll down to read it. Statement by Hyundai Motor America While a tragic accident, Hyundai firmly believes the jury's verdict in Olson vs. Hyundai is mistaken and award of damages at three times what was sought by the plaintiffs is outrageous and should be overturned as Hyundai is not at fault. Eyewitness testimony established – and experts for both sides agree – that fireworks exploded in the unbelted teenagers' vehicle immediately before the July 2, 2011 accident, which involved the driver losing control, crossing the median and crashing head-on into an oncoming Pontiac at a closing speed of approximately 140 miles per hour – a speed confirmed by experts for both sides. Hyundai believes the jury's view of the evidence was distorted by a series of erroneous rulings by the Court, the most egregious of which prevented the jury from reviewing performance testing conducted by renowned failure analysis experts that would have disproven the plaintiffs' theory of the case – a theory derived by a local resident with no previous automotive experience. Hyundai will seek an immediate appeal. Technical Background The 140 mph closing speed head-on collision crushed the steering knuckles of both vehicles involved, a Hyundai Tiburon and a Pontiac Grand Am.