u/Nervous-Minimum-3951

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on a stressful situation with my car.

I purchased a pre-owned 2015 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L about 9 months ago, in June 2025, from a certified dealership. It had about 92,000 miles at the time of purchase. Since then, I’ve only driven it about 3,000 miles.

On April 4, 2026, while driving on the highway, the car suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. After stopping, the engine would not restart.

The car was towed to a Hyundai dealership, where they diagnosed the following:

Engine locked up

Crankshaft seized

Misfire codes found

They said I need a full engine replacement, estimated around $10,000.

Where things get complicated:

Hyundai told me this may be related to the Theta II engine issue, which is known for sudden engine failures. However, they denied coverage because Service Campaign 953 was not completed by the previous owner.

I was never informed about this campaign when I bought the car from the dealership. I also checked the NHTSA site using my VIN, and Campaign 953 does not show up for my vehicle.

I also had a third-party vehicle service contract through Excela Protect, but they denied my claim as well. Their exact reason was: “The reason for this denial is due to the engine being covered under a recall with the manufacturer and therefore excluded under the provisions of your policy. Specifically, Section ‘Exclusions’ of your contract states: ‘Any loss or expense that is a direct result of a mechanical or structural defect for which a manufacturer has announced a recall or other announcement for the purpose of correcting a defect, or the repair of any part covered by the Federal Emission Warranty, whether collectible or not.’”

So essentially, Hyundai is saying it is not covered because a service campaign was not completed, while the third-party service contract provider is saying it is not covered because it is a manufacturer defect/recall. I feel stuck in the middle with no coverage from either side.

Additional details:

No check engine light before the failure

CARFAX showed regular maintenance by the previous owner

Bought in good faith with no clear disclosure about this issue

Only driven about 3,000 miles since purchase

I would really appreciate any advice or similar experiences. I am a student who struggled to get a car, and now, in less than 10 months, I’m left with a $10,000 repair on a car I barely drove.

Thank you.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on a stressful situation with my car.

I purchased a pre-owned 2015 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L about 9 months ago, in June 2025, from a certified dealership. It had about 92,000 miles at the time of purchase. Since then, I’ve only driven it about 3,000 miles.

On April 4, 2026, while driving on the highway, the car suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. After stopping, the engine would not restart.

The car was towed to a Hyundai dealership, where they diagnosed the following:

• Engine locked up
• Crankshaft seized
• Misfire codes found

They said I need a full engine replacement, estimated around $10,000.

Where things get complicated:

Hyundai told me this may be related to the Theta II engine issue, which is known for sudden engine failures. However, they denied coverage because Service Campaign 953 was not completed by the previous owner.

I was never informed about this campaign when I bought the car from the dealership. I also checked the NHTSA site using my VIN, and Campaign 953 does not show up for my vehicle.

I also had a third-party vehicle service contract through Excela Protect, but they denied my claim as well. Their exact reason was: “The reason for this denial is due to the engine being covered under a recall with the manufacturer and therefore excluded under the provisions of your policy. Specifically, Section ‘Exclusions’ of your contract states: ‘Any loss or expense that is a direct result of a mechanical or structural defect for which a manufacturer has announced a recall or other announcement for the purpose of correcting a defect, or the repair of any part covered by the Federal Emission Warranty, whether collectible or not.’”

So essentially, Hyundai is saying it is not covered because a service campaign was not completed, while the third-party service contract provider is saying it is not covered because it is a manufacturer defect/recall. I feel stuck in the middle with no coverage from either side.

Additional details:

• No check engine light before the failure
• CARFAX showed regular maintenance by the previous owner
• Bought in good faith with no clear disclosure about this issue
• Only driven about 3,000 miles since purchase

I would really appreciate any advice or similar experiences. I am a student who struggled to get a car, and now, in less than 10 months, I’m left with a $10,000 repair on a car I barely drove.

Thank you.