Hyundai Engine Replacement Denied - What Can You Do?

You may have bought a new vehicle for one reason - the warranty. You know that all new cars are covered by a decent warranty that the manufacturer guarantees. Some have 2 years while some others offer up to 7 years with limited mileage. But when it comes to coverage, not all manufacturers and dealers are as pleasant for you as they were when you were signing papers to buy the vehicle.

Engine replacement problems highlights

• Level of urgency:High
• DIY inspection:Impossible
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Cost of repair:$3,000 - $6,500
• Can you drive?No
• Commonreasons:Fatal engine failure, timing belt/chain jumping, overheating, poor lubrication
• Ways to fix:Professional engine replacement

Standard powertrain warranty by Hyundai - will it cover engine replacement?

Actually, yes. The standard warranty of all car manufacturers will cover problems with the engine and if the dealer's service station decides that the replacement is the only optimal solution, Hyundai should cover this procedure and pay for it. But unfortunately, it sounds much better than it is in real life.

We've seen some Hyundai owners who requested an engine replacement from their dealers and got denials because of different reasons. You should understand that car manufacturing is a business and companies want to make money. They hate covering warranty issues and replacing your engines.

Here's what you should know about the warranty:

• when Hyundai or any different company creates warranty paragraphs in their agreements, they pay a lot of money to lawyers and make statements that are easy to use in courts;
• the powertrain warranty is standard in all vehicles, in most cases, it's 5 years, but Hyundai offers 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) for the majority of the vehicles;
• reading the terms and conditions of the warranty is very boring and unless you are a lawyer, you will not understand any tricky formulations and words;
• when the situation is obviously the fault of the company, Hyundai dealers will not take risks - they will pay for repair or replacement;
• but when the situation is controversial and such problems are not common for the vehicle you have, they may decline replacement and end the warranty;
• in most cases, Hyundai will not void the warranty but will claim that the problem you have isn't covered by the powertrain warranty.

About 10 years ago was a great time for buyers in America. Whatever you bought came with a wonderful warranty and companies wanted to build a loyal clientele, so they were ready to replace and repair anything. But those times are over now and companies want to make money. That's why more and more denials are being reported, and it's not only about Hyundai.

So, yes, you still have the powertrain warranty in every Hyundai that is under 100,000 miles and under 10 years of age. But it doesn't mean that dealers will do whatever you say. They will try to spend as little money as possible, so, you'll need to get prepared for the little war with the dealership.

What are the legal reasons to deny an engine replacement?

Well, a lot of reasons can help dealers avoid spending a lot of money on your vehicle. We can't even list them all in this article. And we should say that new reasons appear over time and become legal precedents. This is one of the major signs that the Hyundai warranty is not as good as it was before.

But still, some reasons are used more often and you should know about them. First of all, look through the driver's manual. You are obliged to drive your vehicle according to this manual. Doing something wrong? You are likely to pay for the engine replacement from your own pocket if the procedure is needed.

Here are some of the most common reasons to deny warranty coverage for Hyundai:

• Poor maintenance. While your Hyundai is under warranty, you should service and maintain the vehicle strictly following the driver's manual. Oil changes, coolant checks, and filter changes should be completed on time.
• Abusive driving. It's hard to prove abusive driving but if the dealer can do that, it may deny all your warranty claims. They may get a video of you driving the vehicle or something like that. This is also written in the driver's manual.
• Bad fuel. Mechanics may take some fuel for analysis and if they find out that the fuel is bad (low octane, a lot of dirt, water in it, etc.), they will deny engine replacement or any other free services.
• Voided warranty. If you have already voided the warranty, no one is going to present you with a free engine together with free replacement labor. The warranty may be voided due to several reasons described in the manual or in the contracts.
• Error codes and check-engine light. If mechanics find out that the check engine light has been on for some time and you didn't go to the dealer to check it, Hyundai will not pay for the new engine for you.
• No replacement is needed. If mechanics conclude that it's possible to repair the engine without losing its lifespan, they will not replace it even if you ask for this.

Well, a lot of things should be considered if you want your engine to be replaced. But actually, the decision for replacement will be taken by mechanics, not by you. Also, sometimes they will find some factors that will mean that you are in charge of the problems and should pay for the replacement or repair from your own pocket.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to do a lot if the reasons are strong. But sometimes, it may be worth trying.

What can you do if the warranty replacement of the engine is denied?

You need to understand that only few people have succeeded in reassuring Hyundai dealers. In most cases, the decision of the dealership is hard to change. But you may try. At least, you will know you did everything you could.

So, here are some things you may try doing:

• Call customer support - you may find their phone number on the Hyundai USA website. Explain to them everything and ask them to support you in solving the problem.
• Talk to the head manager of the dealership. Sometimes, these guys tend to be more loyal to clients and make different decisions.
• Offer other options. You may offer mechanics and managers to solve the situation under the warranty rules but without replacing the engine - for example, to repair it.
• Ask if you can pay for some parts and work and some of them will be given for free according to the warranty.
• Go to court. If you are ready to pay some money to a lawyer, you may try to make your dealer replace the engine by taking them to the court.

If nothing works, there is nothing else you can do. But a good lawyer should make the company stick to its liabilities. Before going to court, speak to a good lawyer and try to understand your chances. Very often, lawyers will recommend avoiding courts in your situation and you'll be able to spare some time and money.

What are the signs showing the need to replace the Hyundai engine?

Overall, Hyundai engines are very durable and don't let owners down. It means they are not likely to get broken badly within the warranty period. Maybe, the problem with your engine is not that bad.

We know some signs showing the need for engine replacement:

• the block is broken - you can see holes in it;
• the engine is stuck and isn't rotating - wheels are stuck, too;
• engine head is cracked - oil is leaking from all places;
• there are numerous leaks of oil in different places, not only in seals and gaskets;
• there is no compression, so the engine is making strange monotonous noise when you try to start it.

If it's only about a malfunctioning engine, bad start, oil consumption, or loss of power, you may deal with the problems without replacing the engine. In most cases, a thorough repair will be the best solution with much fewer expenses.

Final words

We have to say that companies tend to economize some money. They want to earn, not give their revenues away. And that's why Hyundai is so reserved when it comes to warranty coverage. They aren't glad when you ask them to replace your engine. And in most cases, the replacement is not needed. Unfortunately, things will obviously get worse in the future and you will have to know your rights and read the powertrain warranty agreement or just talk to a lawyer each time a problem occurs.