The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving 25-30 MPH on a curvy road, the steering wheel suddenly locked up, and the vehicle failed to drive in the intended direction, drove down the street, into a yard, and the front end of the vehicle crashed into a tree. The brake pedal was depressed prior to the crash, but the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The air bags deployed during the crash. After the vehicle had crashed into the tree, a bystander yelled that the vehicle was on fire. The contact was able to exit the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire started under the hood, near the engine compartment. The vehicle made exploding sounds three times while the 4 ft. tall fire progressed towards the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the entire vehicle burned with the exception of the rear exterior lights and the rear passenger's side tire. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department, and a report was filed. A Police report was filed. There was no property damage. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained chest pains, bruises on the chest cavity, several contusions and bruises, and difficulty breathing. The contact was undergoing breathing therapy. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA ODI 11747731