NHTSA Complaint #11396123 — 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA

VEHICLE IN MOTION, LESS THAN 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE, LESS THAN THREE MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE STARTED TO OPERATE SLUGGISHLY WITHOUT WARNING, WITH LACK OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, ACCELERATION SEVERELY DECREASED AND WAS UNABLE TO GO OVER 20 MPH (CAR WAS PLACED IN LIMP/ENGINE PROTECTION MODE). I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME AND WAS ABLE TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE. CONNECTED ON OBD2 SCANNER AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A DTC P1326; INDICATING THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM PLACED THE CAR IN LIMP MODE DUE TO A DETECTED KNOCK/VIBRATION IN THE MOTOR. FURTHER RESEARCH PROVED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 953 (TSB 19-01-002H-1) WAS ALREADY OPENED IN LATE 2018 TO HELP RESOLVE THE P1326 ISSUE AND MANY 2011-2018 SONATAS WERE RECALLED TO GET A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE KSDS; AS AN EARLY PREVENTIVE MEASURE FOR POSSIBLE FAULTY BEARINGS/RODS IN THE MOTOR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO GET THE KSDS SOFTWARE UPDATE AFTER RECEIVING THE P1326 DTC. THE SERVICE TECH SAID MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN AND CHARGED ME $173 TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND CLEAR LIMP MODE. THE HYUNDAI TSB CLEARLY STATES THIS UPDATE IS FREE TO THE CUSTOMER AND APPLIES TO ALL SONATAS FROM 2011-2018; REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL.