NHTSA Complaint #11319778 — 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

WAS DRIVING 65 MPH HEADING SOUTH TO KEY LARGO. THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND KNOCKING. THE CAR BEGAN TO LABOR, I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT QUIT COMPLETELY. THE MOTOR DIED AND WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE BATTERY APPEARED FINE AS RADIO, LIGHTS ETC., WERE STILL WORKING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. I POPPED THE, HOOD, CHECKED MY FLUIDS WHICH ALL SEEMED TO BE FINE. I DID NOTE SOME OIL ON THE GROUND AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE A DRIP FROM ABOVE. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER LOOKING IT OVER, HE TOLD ME TO TOW IT TO THE DEALER. I'M AT JUST OVER 119,000 MILES; HE FELT THIS MAY BE COVERED. UPON INITIAL DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT I HAVE A HOLE IN MY ENGINE BLOCK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROD SHOT OUT OF THE BLOCK. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY ARE WILLING TO PICK UP 60% OF THE REPAIR WHICH WOULD LEAVE ME WITH A REPAIR BILL OVER THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DID AN INVESTIGATION, TODAY, AND DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS MECHANICAL AND NOTED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. MECHANICAL FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE. THE 2012 SANTA FE WITH THE THETA II ENGINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE THETA II RECALL REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I FEEL FOR THE HYUNDAI AND KIA OWNERS WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER THROUGH THESE CONTINUED ENGINE PROBLEMS MAKING THE CAR WORTHLESS.