NHTSA Complaint #11205169 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN 132 AND 162, THE ENGINE OIL COOLER FAILED ALLOWING HOT MOTOR OIL TO MIX WITH ENGINE COOLANT. THIS IN TURN CAUSED MOST OF THE RUBBER PIPING TO BECOME DISTENDED, CAUSING THEM TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE RADIATOR SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN VACATING THE MOTOR OIL FROM THE SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE CHANGED A FEW MONTHS LATER, DUE TO IT FAILING. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO THE HOT MOTOR OIL MIXING IN THE SYSTEM, CAUSING THE SEALS ON THE WATER PUMP TO FAIL. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS HYUNDAI CORPORATE, AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER AND WATER PUMP IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, AND MY PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS STATED THE SAME. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THESE PARTS FAILED, AND IF I CONTINUED WITHOUT PULLING OVER, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE OR SEIZED.