NHTSA Complaint #11688145 — 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA

My 2017 Hyundai Sonata SE is experiencing symptoms consistent with connecting rod bearing failure covered under Hyundai’s KSDS extended warranty program. June 22, 2019: KSDS software (Campaign 953) installed, qualifying the vehicle for Hyundai’s 15-year/150,000-mile warranty coverage for bearing failures. August 2022: Campaign 208 engine recall performed. Hyundai’s record shows Aug 15, 2022, while Wright Way Hyundai’s service history shows Aug 13, 2022 (discrepancy unresolved). March 2025 (100,238 miles): Vehicle went into limp mode with tailpipe smoke and loss of power. It was towed to Wright Way Hyundai, which kept it for several days but returned it with “no issue found.” The smoke continued. June 5, 2025 (103,996 miles): Oil change performed. August 27, 2025: Oil light illuminated, dipstick showed no oil. Vehicle now exhibits severe drivability issues consistent with bearing damage. Hyundai has incorrectly tried to reframe this as an oil-consumption issue and directed me to pay $600 for a combustion chamber cleaning. My issue is not oil consumption — it is a bearing-related failure already covered by warranty. Hyundai’s obligations include a no-cost inspection/diagnosis for connecting rod bearing failure, yet I have been denied that process. Despite repeated written requests, Hyundai continues to attempt phone communication instead of email, even addressing me by the wrong name in correspondence, which suggests reliance on standardized or generic responses. I have exclusively maintained the vehicle at Wright Way Hyundai, following Hyundai’s service schedule. I am resorting to filing this complaint because after weeks of email correspondence, Hyundai’s corporate agent refuses to help and the manager insists on only calling by phone — which I will not answer out of concern they will attempt to mischaracterize or dismiss my complaint verbally. This failure poses a safety risk because the vehicle has lost power suddenly and requiring restart.