NHTSA Complaint #10643468 — 2007 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ

ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2014, MY SON WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN OUR 2007 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A REPAIR SHOP NEAR HIS WORK. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TIMING BELT, THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,650.00, BECAUSE A SCREW HAD BROKEN OFF WHICH REQUIRED ADDITIONAL REPAIR IN ADDITION TO THE TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE CAR AT A VERY REDUCED PRICE ($1600.00), WHICH WE ACCEPTED. MY SON USED THE FUNDS AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW CAR. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER, I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM HYUNDAI CONCERNING OUR RECENTLY SOLD VERACRUZ (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V-415). THE LETTER INCLUDED A SECTION EXPLAINING REIMBURSEMENT CONSIDERATION FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS. THE RECALL INVOLVES ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND DAMAGING IT ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE CHARGING CENTER. WE HAVE REPLACED OUR ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES AND HAD A MAJOR ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN JUST TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO EXPLAIN OUR SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE WE HAD SOLD THE VEHICLE, WE WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR (OBVIOUSLY) OR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT I HAVE PAID OVER $2,000.00 OVER THE YEARS FOR REPAIRS QUITE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, I BELIEVE THE TIMING BELT ISSUE WHICH LED TO THE FINAL $1650.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THIS RECALL PROBLEM. MAYBE NOT. UNDOUBTEDLY, THE CONSTANT ENGINE PROBLEMS MADE ME FEEL LIKE I HAD PURCHASED A LEMON. NOW I KNOW WHY. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS AND CAN PROVIDE THEM UPON REQUEST. THE VEHICLE VIN # IS [XXX]. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR