NHTSA Complaint #11690760 — 2017 HYUNDAI TUCSON

NHTSA Complaint – 2017 Hyundai Tucson Oil Consumption, Engine Defect, and Branded Title I am filing this complaint regarding my 2017 Hyundai Tucson, which suffers from abnormal oil consumption and engine problems. In addition, Hyundai Motor Company internally “branded” the title without disclosure, which voided my eligibility for warranty coverage. These issues create both serious safety risks and consumer protection concerns. 1.Oil Consumption and Engine Issues •This Tucson has had oil consumption problems since the first owner, which I only discovered a year after purchasing the vehicle. •The vehicle burns oil excessively between service intervals, often requiring top-offs after just a few hundred miles. •Critically, the low oil pressure warning light provides no early warning. It only activates once oil levels are already dangerously low, leaving no safe margin to protect the engine. •On multiple occasions, I was unaware the engine oil had dropped to unsafe levels until the vehicle was already at risk of engine damage. •The engine makes knocking/tapping noises, hesitates under acceleration, and has rough idling when oil levels drop — all signs of internal engine damage that could lead to sudden failure while driving. 2.Hyundai’s Branded Title Practice •Roughly one year after purchasing from CarMax, I learned that Hyundai had internally branded the title in their own system due to oil consumption reported by the first owner. •This branding was never disclosed to me or to CarMax, and the official state-issued title and Carfax report both showed “clean.” •Hyundai uses this internal branding to void the extended engine warranty that should have applied to my vehicle. •Despite repeated requests, Hyundai has refused to provide documentation of when or why this branding occurred. 3.Warranty and Safety Concerns •Hyundai has issued Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and extended warranties for engine failures caused by piston rings and bearings