NHTSA Complaint #11255446 — 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA

WE PURCHASED OUR 2015 SONATA LIMITED IN JUNE OF 2018 WITH JUST SHY OF 59K MILES. IN AUGUST OF 2019; AND AT 66K MILES; OUR VEHICLE STARTED PRODUCING A KNOCKING NOISE; WITH A FLASHING "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT; AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SINCE AUGUST OF 2019, OUR SONATA HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES; AND FOR A CONSECUTIVE 30 DAYS. WE WERE TOLD WITH THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOP THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SENSOR; WHICH WAS REPAIRED WITHIN A DAY. WHEN MY HUSBAND RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE THE CAR HOME; HE BARELY MADE IT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE CAR STARTED REPEATING THE SAME ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE SECOND TIME WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE; WE MADE IN NEARLY 20 MILES BACK TOWARD HOME BEFORE THE CAR DIED AGAIN. THE THIRD TIME INTO THE DEALERSHIP; AND THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DURING THIS WHOLE MESS, WE LEARNED THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HYUNDAI'S DEFECTIVE 2.4L THETA II ENGINES. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. THEY ORIGINALLY OFFERED TO BUY IT BACK FOR $4K LESS THAN WE OWE ON IT; AND CONTINUED TO MOVE US FROM ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NEXT. AS OF TODAY, HYUNDAI HAS SUDDENLY CHANGED THEIR MIND AND REFUSE TO BUY THE CAR BACK. HYUNDAI HAS PRODUCED AN UNSAFE & DEFECTIVE VEHICLE; PRONE TO POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRES; ENGINE FAILURE; TRANSMISSION ISSUES; SEATBELTS THAT DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY; AND POWER STEERING ISSUES. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR UNSAFE & DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS STILL IN THE SHOP, BTW); AND NO LONGER TRUST IT TO BE RELIABLE.