[Reporter`s view] Consumers to Be Prey Upon?

``Is it reasonable to see my less-than-one-month-old new car with a major safety problem?``

``I don’t even know what the recall is about. But, it doesn’t make sense for a world class automaker to make such a junk car.``

After publishing the article about the recall on new model passenger car `Lavita` due to mechanical problem, the phones were ringing off the hook at the newspaper company.

Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) has decided to repair without charge the already produced 3,000 Lavitas, because the parts that supports the engine is not strong enough which have raised the issues of safety.

Although there are not many cases currently, automobile consumers in Korea had to suffer from the panic of `sudden acceleration`. When one ignites the engine, the car suddenly moves forward without the volition of the driver. Only recently, this kind of accidents frequently took place threatening the lives of drivers. It had become a public issue.

There have been more cases for recall. A month ago, an unidentified automaker recalled some minivan Pegios, and the commercial truck Frontiers due to mechanical problems. The company recalled them due to the weak switch of air-conditioner that if one uses the air-conditioner for more than 5 hours, the cord that connects the air-conditioner unit was in danger of breaking. It was also not long time ago when it was pointed out that Sonatas and Credos, both mid-sized sedans, were being sold without antibiotic filter in their air-conditioners.

This kind of recall phenomenon is not a `chronic illness` of these two companies. It is such a frequent instance in other companies that we can easily find other examples.

Automakers have stressed the words `customers first` all the time. But, under current situation in which the makers have control from selecting models to after-service, there is nothing that a customer can do.

A consumer who had experienced a hard-time due to the breakdown of his brand-new car said, ``for how long? For how long should car-buyers in Korea be manipulated by the automakers?``

This time, the automakers should listen to the dissatisfactory voices of consumers.

daviskim@donga.com