In its first query since it temporarily shut down for 16 days beginning Oct. 1, the United States government is looking into complaints about brake problems on Hyundai Genesis full size luxury cars, the Associated Press reported Monday.
"I was in panic mode as I started pumping the brakes and nothing," told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a statement.
This South Florida driver said her brake pedal touched the floor of her vehicle when she attempted to stop at a red light while driving 30 miles per hour. Her car then began to slide before running into a vehicle in front of her. Minor damage was created.
A tow truck then brought her car to a Hyundai dealership so its brake fluid could be emptied, and restored. The woman's husband was concerned the vehicle wasn't safe to drive so a manager operated the vehicle to see what the problem was but could not find it the Associated Press.
According to Reuters, the Administration is investigating cases for 40,000 vehicles made in 2009.
The administration has gotten 23 complaints from drivers who have had to use more force on their brake pedal just to make their vehicle stop.
There may be light at the end of the tunnel however as drivers have tracked the problem back to a malfunctioning antilock brake computer.
"It is only a matter of time before a crash and possibly crash occur," another driver said. "Brakes are like jet engines. They really need to work all the time." No injuries have been reported.
Hyundai is going to evaluate the situation as its first step toward fixing the problem. Although the company has not issued a recall just yet, one could be declared if investigators find that the issue needs to be looked at by a manufacturer.
