NHTSA Complaint #11659741 — 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

Vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Elantra VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure:163,799 Issue: Complete premature engine failure due to a piston rod fracture through the engine block Hyundai’s Response: Dealership (Murdock Hyundai Lindon, 530 Lindon Park Drive, Lindon, Utah 84042) reviewed vehicle maintenance history, noted a single vehicle owner, and regular maintenance history, conducted a review of valvetrain assembly (clean), and diagnosed this engine failure matching previous Elantra catastrophic engine failure cases. Two independent Murdock Hyundai dealership service agents and an independent mechanic reviewed the preliminary findings and believed that my engine failure matched other similar Hyundai recalled engine failures. However, Hyundai Motor America declined to have the dealership perform the necessary tests (i.e. bearing clearing test/cylinder bore test) that would have verified the failure. The dealership also noted previous goodwill assistance for past customers, in similar situations, due to the known manufacturing and safety-related issue. However, in my situation, Hyundai Motor America denied goodwill assistance. This exclusion appears arbitrary and unfair, as the failure in my vehicle aligns with the documented recall defect covered in the Hyundai issued Recall # 21V301000 for 2019 Hyundai Elantras). Furthermore, Hyundai has extended warranties and provided goodwill repairs to other customers with similar failures and similar mileage, yet they refused to provide assistance in my case, citing “time in service and/or mileage of the vehicle.” However, this is not a typical wear-and-tear failure caused by mileage. Additionally, if all Hyundai Elantra consumers were made aware of potential engine issues (at the time of purchase and/or through other means), consumers could address the concern within warranty mileage. I was not afforded the opportunity to address the unknown potential engine issues prior to the engine failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)