NHTSA Complaint #10716321 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

I PURCHASED THE 2011 SONATA CERTIFIED USED, PLUS I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED, NO SOUNDS, NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A GAS STATION AND I NOTICED A LITTLE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND 2 DAYS LATER THEY CALLED & TOLD ME THE ENGINE SEIZED, BUT THE OIL WAS ONLY ABOUT HALF A QUART LOW. THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T HONOR THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S LIMITED TO 60K MILES (I'M THE 2ND OWNER & MY CAR HAD 66K MILES). I FILED A CLAIM WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE AND THEY SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR. HIS FINDING WAS IT WAS 2-3 QUARTS LOW, THERE WAS "SLUDGE AND METAL BITS" IN THE OIL AND WE'D NEED A NEW ENGINE. BECAUSE I COULDN'T PRODUCE THE RECEIPT FROM MY LAST OIL CHANGE, THEY CITED OWNER NEGLECT AND DENIED THE CLAIM. I USED ROYAL PURPLE SYNTHETIC OIL (AND HAVE USED THIS SAME OIL FOR THE PAST 15 YRS IN ALL MY VEHICLES). I CHANGED MY OWN OIL IN JULY, APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS PRIOR. NOTE: THERE WAS NEVER ANY OIL LEAKS OR STAINS ON THE DRIVEWAY, NO LOW OIL/ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, IT WAS GOING TO COST AROUND $6000.00. I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT, SO I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET ANOTHER CAR. WHICH SUCKS BECAUSE NOW I AM PAYING 2 CAR NOTES, ON 2 CARS, BUT I AM ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE ONE. I DON'T WANT TO MESS MY CREDIT UP BY LETTING IT GO BACK, SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO HOLD ON TO IT AS LONG AS I CAN, BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO HAVE THE EXTRA $$ TO GET A NEW ENGINE PUT IN.