NHTSA Complaint #10851307 — 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

OUR 2012 ELANTRA BEGAN MAKING KNOCKING SOUNDS DURING COLD STARTS. THE NOISE WAS FAINTER WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM BUT NEVER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY. THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLDER. WHEN I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE TIMING BELT BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE 2012 HAD A TIMING CHAIN AND NOT A BELT. WHEN THE NOISE BECAME TOO LOUD, I FINALLY TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK OF THE ENGINE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE CONNECTING ROD BEARING AND A NEW ENGINE WAS NECESSARY. I AM AWARE THAT THE 2011-2013 SONATA WAS RECALLED IN 2015 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THOUGHT THAT THE ELANTRA WAS EXEMPT.