NHTSA Complaint #10097952 — 2000 HYUNDAI ACCENT

WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING, THE VEHICLE DIED. WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD, ANTIFREEZE HAD SPRAYED EVERYWHERE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AS REQUESTED BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY. IT TOOK WEEKS FOR THE WARRANTY REP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A CRACK IN THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. THE SHOP FIRST TOLD US THAT WE CAUSED THE CRACK BY BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION - WHICH NEVER TOOK PLACE. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WANTED A TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE (WHICH WE ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY FOR) AND DECIDED TO DENY OUR CLAIM. THEY STATED THAT WE ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT ONCE THE THERMOSTAT (A WARRANTY COVERED ITEM) FAILED. WE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING OF THE THERMOSTAT PROBLEM AND NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED WITHIN NORMAL RANGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE DIED. WE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT AND THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE WARRANTY COMPANY STATED THAT SINCE THE REP TURNED IT ON AND IT WENT TO THE TOP THAT IT WORKED FINE...WRONG B/C IT DIDN'T WORK AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY COMPANY PAID FOR THE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT (WHICH WAS ONLY CAUSED BY THE THERMOSTAT GOING BAD). WHY WOULD THEY PAY FOR THE SECONDARY DAMAGE WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM - THE THERMOSTAT AND TEMP GAUGE. IN THE END, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON OUR OWN - BUT WITH THE WARRANTY COMPANY'S RADIATOR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT I BOUGHT A WARRANTY FOR PURPOSES LIKE THIS AND YET WAS NOT TREATED FAIRLY NOR GIVEN A PROPER EXPLANATION.*AK