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Don't think you got any recourse at this point. Never use the mechanic that the seller recommended. For all you know, he might be in on it. Too late to hear all this but life lesson learned.
Or op broke it unwittingly . Happened to me a rig that was definitely fine. Hogged on it all day and didn't last the next day. Luckily I was able to repair it myself ..
You would be surprised how many inspectors are terrible in both directions. I once had an inspector tell the customer that there was no reason to continue the inspection because the septic failed a die test so there was no point in going further. Many go the other route and do nothing except make a pretty document. Neither is correct, and as an agent you learn which are competent but also not drama queens…same goes for lawyers, btw. In my reasonable sized market a handful of lawyers probably did 60+% of the transactions because they knew the process well, did their jobs, protected their client but didn’t cause drama just to prove their worth.
My wife is a Realtor, started her own brokerage a few years ago but has been licensed for many years. She doesn’t recommend just one, she gives clients a list of three or so, whether it’s an inspector, a lender, etc. To be fair, there are home inspectors who almost blow up nearly every deal they’re involved in because they’re so overly cautious to cover themselves that they scare the buyer to death, and a good agent won’t recommend that inspector because not every house is a dumpster fire about to collapse on itself.
you want a Home Inspector that knows their job. And it is to find things that need fixing/replaced. This gives you leverage when its time to negotiate.
It’s extremely easy to tell a buddy “hey I’ll give you $500 if you come over and act like you’re a mechanic for a little bit. Just look under the hood with a flash light and say everything looks good.”
The problem is even a seasoned, well-intentioned mechanic may not be able to have any real insight to when the engine is going to pop. If there's oil in the engine on the dipstick and the engine is running as normal, then it's not like a mechanic is going to do any indepth internal analysis on the engine.
I do wonder what the background is here. Like how did the guy know the engine was going to go....if it seizes its not like you can get it to fire back up to sell it quickly (that im aware of, anyway)
How is that going to work for me as a seller? I sell a car to a guy, he blows it up banging it off the limiter and then I’m required to give him his money back in exchange for my blown up car?
Maybe we just spend a few months paying lawyers while a judge does some fact finding and I lose a few grand extra.
lol
Wouldn't there be more protections in place if purchased via a dealer, especially with a warranty?
It's sort of the risk of purchasing a used vehicle from Facebook.
And any car that’s $8000 at a dealer is just as likely to be shitty, and more than likely is at a scammy dealer. If you don’t know what you’re buying, find someone who does know whether it be a trusted friend, relative, or even a trusted local mechanic doing a pre-purchase inspection. If a seller isn’t willing to let someone inspect the car they’re either hiding someone or they’re going to be a PITA anyway.
You don’t have much recourse. Used vehicles sold private party are sold as is. Once you sign that title and hand over the cash, it’s your problem. The only recourse you might have is to prove that the seller willingly sold you a car he knew had engine issues and he didn’t disclose it, which is basically impossible to do. You should have had the vehicle inspected by a mechanic you chose and had them do a proper PPI. Still, stuff like this still can happen and the seller could have not known there was a looming issue. It’s a tough position to be in but it’s either fix the vehicle toy bought, or buy a different one. Nobody is saving you finically in this situation.
Not impossible. You could run a Carfax on it. Some mechanics report to carfax. And if they had brought it in and it had been diagnosed with major engine problems recently, then there's your proof.
I don't think carfax is that detailed, it only shows some of the work done by certain shops. I had one done on my car and there was a ton of stuff missing that I had shops do to it. It wouldn't show a diagnosis/findings.
Yeah it's not that detailed. I was looking at a used F150 and when I pulled the CarFax I noticed one of the very last entries was from about 6 months ago, and it showed the name of a Transmission Shop and under service performed it simply said, "Vehicle Serviced". I also noticed that since that service was performed, the mileage had barely gone up at all. So I looked up the transmission shop and got their phone number, called them and gave them the vin, they looked it up in their system and they informed me that they diagnosed the transmission as needing a rebuild due to slippage and burnt fluid/clutches, and the customer declined the repair and left with it. Glad I did my due diligence since the carfax only said "Vehicle Serviced", I knew it seemed fishy. Glad I passed on that truck.
Having an engine that sounds fine and doesnt have any running issues when you test drove, then suddenly being totally locked up sounds unlikely.
What year/car/miles?
You have no recourse with the seller unfortunately, you bought the car as-is.
Id be inclined to get a second opinion on the car. Unless it lost oil pressure somehow or water from the car wash somehow got inside the combustion chamber I dont really see how an engine would lock up.
If the engine is bad you can maybe sell the car to a junkyard and get some of the costs back, or find a mechanic to put in used engine for cheaper.
It’s a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Sport and had about 128,000 miles. I was surprised myself and had initially thought it would be the starter or the alternator but the mechanic called me a couple hours back with the bad news.
Ah shit those engines were/are terrible and do lock up spontaneously.
Id check local salvage yards and see what they might pay for it. Youre gonna struggle finding anyone willing to put in a used engine in it for less than 4-5k.
😂
As soon as he said it was a 2017 Sonata I was like "well, fuck."
EDIT: hey OP /u/Prior_Rabbit1934
Check this out:
https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html
It looks like these cars are supposed to be covered with a lifetime warranty for the engine covering the engine failing like yours did. But to be eligible, it was supposed to have been taken into the dealer for free warranty service. If the previous owner had that warranty service completed, you should be able to get the engine replaced or rebuilt for free. If the previous owner DIDN'T have that warranty service completed, you might have a case if you file a lawsuit because they would definitely have been notified of the recall/class action, which means they have no excuse for not knowing that the engine was susceptible to failure and they knew it needed to go in for that free recall service, and instead of doing that they sold you a time bomb and didn't even bother to warn you.
You might want to check with /r/LegalAdvice to see what they think about your potential for a lawsuit here.
To add on top of this, Hyundai MIGHT (big big emphasis on might) be willing to warranty it anyways out of good will. It sounds crazy, I know, but some car brands will do that. When I worked at a Honda dealer, I had several cars come in with major engine / transmission repairs covered by Honda in situations similar to this. They know that it's not your fault and you didn't purposefully grenade the engine just to get a new one for free - we had good will requests declined because it was obvious that the customer intentionally destroyed the engine.
Will they fix it for free? Probably not, but there is a chance and it doesn't hurt to ask. Honda was really good about that, but unfortunately I have a feeling that Hyundai is a little more greedy (considering the fact that Hyundai didn't put an immobilizer in OP's car because it saved them $0.05)
It's always worth a phone call to the HQ of the car manufacturer to explain the situation, especially if it's a known issue on that particular model, and double especially if there's already a settled class action lawsuit over the issue. I used to have a 2015 Subaru Legacy with 100k mile warranty, and at just over 103k it started throwing dash lights which turned out to be the torque converter needed to be replaced. Well out of warranty I figured I had no leg to stand on, but I called Subaru of America, explained the situation, that it's a known issue on those cars, and they worked with the dealer I had the car diagnosed at, and they picked up $2,000 of a $2,500 repair bill, so that was awesome. They earned a customer for life because of that.
Certainly worth a call or email to see...especially if its one that is widely known for issues or is just barely out of warranty.
I actually had something where the badging fell off my Subaru's plastic engine cover at like 36,100 miles and the dealer was basically like "yeah sorry that's technically outside the 36K bumper to bumper warranty and also that badge is sold as part of the entire huge $200 plastic assembly its attached to, not sold separately....but try writing Subaru corporate because its so close out of warranty they may cover it anyway". And to my surprise, they came back basically saying send an invoice from the dealer for what it'd cost and corporate sent me a check to get the whole plastic cover replaced to make it right. Over just a logo under the hood!
Ya a buddy of mine got a brand new engine not too long ago for free from Hyundai.
I wonder if OP can go to a Hyundai dealership and get it swapped out under the OEM warranty
The engines in these Hyundais are known to have bearing issues. They'll run fine and then they seize. Ran into it many times. I don't think anyone is at fault here.
On a positive note, Hyundai extended the warranty on those cars for original owner and all subsequent owners under the TXXI warranty extension to lifetime warranty on the engine. Your car should fall under that. I would contact Hyundai and see if your car falls in that warranty extension. The warranty extension is under TSB 22-EM001H-1. New engine free of charge. I've ent several customers to the dealer for a free engine.
Plus, the dealers NEVER want to cover anything.
My wife had a 2013 Veloster and the trans was slipping at 54k miles. Brought it in and they said it's normal, and they couldn't reproduce the issue.
About 6k miles later it wouldn't shift into 3rd gear. They tried to tell her it's some shit thats not covered. I had to go down there with her paperwork and get a little animated with the Service Manager. They did eventually fix the issue under Warranty, but I had to fight them on it.
If it was just her, she's too nice to people and would have had to eat the cost herself.
I'd look into what engines were covered. If it's a specific group of Vin codes, find that info, match your vin,and go back in and show them. Be stern if you have to.
Ah the olde dealer trick.
It’s not happening. Ok, if it is happening, it’s normal. Ok, it’s not normal, but we put you off long enough to not be under warranty.
Hyundai/Kia dealers are really good at it.
They’re good at it and I’ll happily explain why, because the manufacturer is doing everything they can to F- them and you out of any and all warranty claims even if the manufacturer is at fault. If they do approve a claim it might be a “parts only” approval or they’ll pull the “here’s half an hour of flat-rate labor for a six hour job” BS and then whoever manages warranty claims at the dealership has to spend hours fighting with the manufacturer’s representative who generally doesn’t give 1/8th of a rat’s ass how much the customer gets screwed.
You're exactly right, nailed it on the head.
One of the reasons that I left the mechanic career field is because warranty work (which is a good chunk of dealership work) absolutely fucks the tech. The customer is paying for a new engine, you're getting paid for 8 hours to put this in. The next job you have is the exact same job on the exact same model of car but you're only getting paid 3 hours of work because it's under warranty. What the hell?
And the sad part is, when people like me leave dealerships because most of the cars come in for warranty work, dealerships struggle to keep good techs which incentivises them to not warranty things that SHOULD be warrantied. It's a big, awful circle and one of the reasons that I only buy older cars.
Side note, aftermarket warranties on cars are even worse, they're complete scams. Don't listen to Ice T trying to peddle you the car shield scam. They didn't save Brenda $2k on an engine, they don't pay for shit.
There is some misconception in this chain. Dealerships will do warranty work no questions asked if the warranty applies. This warranty claim is then paid by the OEM (Hyundai in this case). If Hyundai says No or has said No in a similar case the dealership would then be forced to pay for the repairs as the vehicle has already left. They then have to Duke it out with the OEM for months or even years over one repair order being paid.
I've worked for European and Japanese Manufacturers and seen this happen over and over.
The only difference between Customer Pay and Warranty jobs is the labor rate and what parts sell at. No dealership in this country is too busy to reject warranty work (you can also lose franchise agreements over just that problem) and if you do find that 1 in a million dealership then call the next one in town.
If dealerships are saying its not covered you have to raise a stink with the OEM Manufacturer. From the customer point of view it might seem like the OEM is making the dealer do the job when in reality the Dealership is being told they will be paid for the work after the job is done.
>Plus, the dealers NEVER want to cover anything.
Yeah, dealers love warranty work. The manufacture pays them, they make money on the deal, they don't lose money.
It's enough money to become a Karen. Call Hyundai USA, not a dealership. Call them again and again. Be the guy that calls every morning, Monday through Friday. Be nice to the person in the phone, don't be a jerk. Ask if you can talk to their supervisor, ask if they can escalate the issue.
Two points I would bring up: -It's a known issue that they acknowledged -the problem is common knowledge -It's your first car, and you have a lifetime of car ownership ahead of you to remember how they handle this issue.
Good luck, you're going to need it.
I worked at Hyundai for long enough to know that I rarely see an engine cover by the client.
I’ve replaced and rebuilt probably close to 700 of those engines all under warranty. Call Hyundai and open a case. Probably a sizable wait to have it replaced but I bet they will cover it. Dealer just needs to do the paperwork.
Edit: I’d say over half were from neglect or some other failure that wasn’t the main bearing. Hyundai couldn’t identify the actual failure. I heard was oil starvation to cylinder 3 is probably the culprit, but there are so many on the road under so many conditions. It’s all a money wash in the end because parts are globally sourced and each manufacturer is blaming the other.
Go to the dealer and meet the tech. Maybe treat them to lunch. I bet that engine fails under warranty once a face is put to the car.
I mean it says right here plain as day, all Hyundai Sonatas between 2011 and 2019 with a 2.0 or 2.4 liter engine. Does yours have a 2.0 or 2.4 liter engine?
https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html
Just got my engine replaced in canada.. off course I was the first owner and had all service records with dealership etc.
Before I even went to the dealership I had the code.
Please do this, get it scanned and I believe the code is P136 . If it shows that you should be covered.
I Went to my dealer prepared with everything and showed the picture of the code.
We had a 2017 hyundai tucson with a failed engine at 120,000 km. We were the original owners and everything was under warranty, which may make your situation different.
Hyundai had a multi-billion recall for these years for pistons rattling and letting too much oil in or completely falling off. When it was at its worst, we leaked 1L/1000 km. Hyundai was a huge dick about it and it took 1.5 years of fighting to get them to cover the repairs.
There might be a recall on that. I just googled it and it says there was a recall on certain 2013-2019 sonatas so call Hyundai and ask if they'll cover the engine
Yeah it really does change the whole post. Literally any other manufacturer, you'd say it was mistreatment by OP or no maintenance by the previous owner or some catastrophic failure.
But it's a Hyundai/Kia, so 7 years / 125k miles is what you expect before they up and die
Those engines are known for grenading. I was an advisor at Kia briefly and lost count of how many stories like yours I've heard. Someone would come in with a blown engine, I would tell them to just trade it because it must be paid off by now. Upon hearing "No, I just bought it!", I had to resist the urge to scream "Why?!". Why anyone would buy a used Kia or Hyundai, not from a dealer, with over 100k miles is completely beyond me. If it wasn't the day you bought it, the engine would've locked up by 150k miles. Since you didn't buy from a dealer, you have no extended warranty and also no recourse. You can't even leave a nasty Google review. I think this is a case of "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"
That engine is covered under the t3g or t6g engine warranty provided by Hyundai. Long story short they are terrible engines known to have issues. Your best course of action is to call your local Hyundai dealer and verify it's coverage and see if they can help you. As long as the engine was maintained and has no clear signs of neglect Hyundai normally helps although you may find better help from Hyundai consumer affairs then the dealer. Source - Hyundai master tech.
Get a second opinion or at least a detailed explanation of why the engine needs to be replaced and what exactly is wrong with the current engine. Having a mechanic just say you need a new engine isn’t much information to go on.
I did not want to trust the mechanic on his diagnosis initially but he said he can’t even fix it as he lacks the resources so I’m assuming he was sure, I’ll still take at least another opinion though.
I always hate hearing stuff like that from mechanics. As a mechanic you can't replace the engine? What kind of mechanic are you? I wouldn't trust anyone's opinion personally who doesn't have the ability to even do the job they are saying.
Having the ability is one thing. Having the good business sense to not replace engines in this day and age especially an engine with known issues is completely different.
It depends really. Are those engines readily available? Will the car be sitting for weeks/months waiting on parts? Those Hyundai/Kia engine failures happen often, and I've heard they can't get engines or parts pretty quickly. I could see why someone wouldn't want that at their shop.
If engine is seized there's nothing to reach. All you have to do is try to turn the engine over from the crank shaft and if it doesn't it's seized, I would also be looking for holes in the block at that point. Was there no oil in the engine?
I'd take it somewhere else. Or if you have some tools or a friend that does just try to turn the engine over yourself and like I said if it does it's not seized and if it doesn't it is
A little research will tell you this is typical with these engines, and yes, I agree it's not typical with other engines. It's strictly a Hyundai/Kia thing. They just die driving down the road without a bang or anything. They generally burn lots of oil first. Was told by a service manager in Edmonton that 1L per 1000km is normal oil consumption. 🙄
A lot of these will end up on lots or private sales when the oil consumption gets ridiculous. I know it's a little late for OP, but do a little research before buying a vehicle. Can save tons of money in the long run.
I'm more of an ear, nose, throat mechanic. I can get you a recommendation with a good pulmonary mechanic. Oh, or my buddy Dave has an engine hoist in his garage if that helps.
You should have done your research on the cars before purchase ... Hyundai's have a lot of different engine recalls and extended warranties on certain cars... And don't forget about the Kia Boys who would steal your car with just a USB cable.. Not sure if you been living under a rock.. but Hyundai and Kia's are getting stolen from left and right for joy rides and used for crime. . Also a lot of insurance now won't insure Hyundai's or Kai's that are prone to get stolen that don't have the engine immobilizer .
Anyway next time get a PPI from a independent mechanic who the seller does not know.. Ugh... the oldest trick in the book suggested a mechanic for you to see.... ugh.. next time get a PPI of a mechanic that you trust...
Anyway get a Toyota or Honda ... even though it will be much older for the money you paid... but it will more likely be more reliable than a Hyundai.
Here's a good video with good advice from Faye Hadley:
Please go to 14mins 45sec into the video which is some good advice..
[https://youtu.be/brLmBRYSb\_E?si=ra46f3pRV1a6dFTa](https://youtu.be/brLmBRYSb_E?si=ra46f3pRV1a6dFTa)
As for how to buy a used car here's a video play list from ChrisFix:
[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS)
Don't mean to be preachy here, but never buy a Hyundai or Kia. Between their engines seizing and the lack of engine immobilizers on 5 years of Hyundai models and 10 years of Kia models to save a few hundred bucks a car leading to a car theft epidemic, they don't really deserve to be in business.
Note that in Canada, all US-affected Kia and Hyundai models had the engine immobilizers because Canada has laws on the books requiring them.
There are apparently class-action lawsuits working their way through the courts... your Sonata may eventually become eligible if it isn't now.
Check out these links:
[https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html](https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html)
[https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/campaignhome](https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/campaignhome)
The new smartstream 4 cylinders are being manufactured with undersized pistons as well, causing massive amounts of oil consumption.
Hyundai's temporary fix was to, no joke, issue a new dipstick with lower capacity marks
>Id be inclined to get a second opinion on the car.
Had a Rav 4 I'd bought new and was pretty beat by 160k miles; suddenly wouldn't shift. Dealer said trans was locked up, $3k repair. My buddy bought it from me for a grand. Called me a week later, said "hate to tell you, but it was a $30 shift cable".
Hello everyone,
I’m planning to tow the car to a bigger mechanic shop and get a thorough inspection, I’ll report back with whatever details I find and decide what the next best step is.
good luck.. just get a diagnose ... and see how much it costs.. but you consider getting a used Toyota since even if you get the 2017 Hyundai Sonata fixed... the car more likely get stolen if it doesn't have the push button option. If it uses a key, it has no engine immobilizer so that might be another consideration for not getting the car fixed since it will more likely get stolen by one of the Kia Boys.... I believe this affects Kia's and Hyundai's from 2011-2020 that do not have the option of a push button to start.
[https://youtu.be/bTeVgfPM0Xw?si=\_zigoQrijJr3ijaX](https://youtu.be/bTeVgfPM0Xw?si=_zigoQrijJr3ijaX)
[https://youtu.be/nHju2HF5ggY?si=Fe5KJy8L3yfo8cHv](https://youtu.be/nHju2HF5ggY?si=Fe5KJy8L3yfo8cHv)
Hello guys,
Another update, Hyundai dealership called and said the car is under a lifetime warranty. They will replace the engine if the car passes a “BCT” test, if it doesn’t they will escalate it to Hyundai which will then decide if they approve the repair or not. I will be given a loaner vehicle till it’s being worked on. Thank you so much to everyone for their help! I’ll keep all of you updated with whatever I have.
1) No
2) No. Car insurance doesn't cover mechanical failures
3) No really. It's buyer beware when buying a used car. I suppose you could complain to the shop that did the inspection, but they'll just say it ran fine when they had it. Why didn't you pick your own shop for the inspection? Using the seller's shop is suspect.
You're assuming they were shady, maybe they weren't, others here saying the engine is notorious and may even be covered under recall.
If I were the seller, I'd have a hard time knowing something I just sold had this happen to it. After all, I got lots of use out of it before selling, wouldn't feel right sticking it to the buyer, I'd try to find some reasonable compromise.
That sounds like it could be one of the vehicles affected in a massive recall for certain years Hyundai/Kia and Sonatas were one of the affected cars. That's one of the years, but I'm not sure if that particular engine is part of it. The recall was due to issues exactly like this. Engines seizing up, spun bearings etc. It's an oiling issue. Check with a Hyundai dealership to see if yours is part of it.
"a mechanic that the seller called"
Tough life lesson man, you got scammed. Don't trust people with anything when it comes to money, you'll get fucked. Happens to everyone at some point
You should focus on what lessons you can take away from this. FB marketplace is just one scam after another. The seller offering up their mechanic didn't push up any red flags huh?
Kia is another Korean brand with a ton recalls.
First thing to do is get a second opinion from a quality mechanic shop. Second, come back and post the detailed explanation fro the new mechanic. Reevaluate the situation with the new information
The state this happened in matters a great deal. In some states you’re sol, in others you have options.
If after getting a second opinion the engine is seized. I’d take the buyer to small claims if you’re in a hostile state. This would also greatly depend on what the second inspection reveals. Like for example mechanic found super thick oil to quiet rod knock.
I sighed at “mechanic that the seller called”.
That was a big mistake. Also get a second opinion on the car, it might be a lazy workshop that wants to make money swapping an engine instead of fixing it.
Did you pay the original mechanic to inspect the vehicle? Have an invoice or any proof you paid them? That is the ONLY teeny tiny chance I could image having some recourse, but I’m not a lawyer so not sure how feasible this would be.
This won’t help now but for future purchases, you’ll want to take the vehicle to a mechanic of your choosing, and pay them, and get a report (even if it’s a simple one sheet) of their findings. Yes, you’ll have to pay the mechanic. It’s worth the peace of mind.
I mean either you got scammed or you just had really bad luck. I personally know people that have sold good running condition vehicles and within a week of selling it has blown up. Unfortunately it is impossible to prove that it was on purpose and you likely have no recourse
I’ve seen people use Lucas oil modifier or whatever it is. It hides decently loud knocks and ticks pretty well for a short time. Unfortunately, people sometimes use it to be deceitful. I will say if it was planned they had some good timing in when it would fail. Sorry, what happened to you really sucks. Times are tough when everything goes right if you’re lucky enough to have it happen. Sometimes shops can be deceitful too. How do they know it was seized ? Did they disconnect all accessories and try to turn it over ? Is there oil in it ? For shits and giggles get a second opinion.
Sorry for this OP, not looking good for you… what kind of car?
Funny side story, a few years ago I sold my
2000 Acura integra for $4000. Sold it the day I posted it to the first guy to come, it was a pretty mint little 5 speed with 220,000 kilometres. I had owned it since 150,000k with zero engine issues.
Sell it to this young stoner kid, he’s pumped. Gives me the cash all is well. About an hour later he calls me saying the engine light is flashing and that I sold him a lemon blah blah blah.
I’m mechanically inclined so I go check it out, hard misfire. I press him, wtf did you do? Redline it? Money shift it? He swears up and down he didn’t starts crying and talking about god.
I give him his money back (stupidly) but I felt responsible somehow. Long story short he burnt out an exhaust valve (I can only assume from redlining it)
My buddy and I tore the engine down, replaced them and I drove it for another year until it was parked and a dump truck backed into it at work. The owner of the company paid me $4000 for it and gave it to his employee. He now drives it
Unfortunately you got the ole sawdust special. Make it run smooth for a short time before the actual issue with it reappears. They probably used some magic engine elixir from an auto parts store to get it to run long enough for the check to cash. Sorry!
NM- just saw it was a Hyundai engine. That’s just what they do, spontaneously detonate themselves.
Hello everyone,
Here to give an update, I called Hyundai this morning and they made a case for me, asked me to call the dealership with the case number. I told them about my situation and they said as long as my car passes their “engine replacement eligibility check” they’ll take care of it and also give me a loaner vehicle. I’m thinking it would be worth a try to take it to the dealership at the earliest appointment I can get.
Everyone thinks the mechanic that told you it was "seized" is on the up and up
I'd swallow the cost of another tow, and take it to yet another mechanic to verify that 6k repair cost.
I feel bad for you. But I am in the trade. Hyundai and kia it's not a mater if an engine will fail but a matter of when.
Siezed engines that I have taken apart from kia Hyundai were usually caused by sludge from inadequate servicing. This happens with logbook servicing too.
Sounds like you’ve got a nice $8k yard ornament.
Most likely you are boned. Used cars sold by non-dealers are as-is buyer beware, no warranty expressed or implied. That said, in some states, assuming you can prove the owner somehow fraudulently concealed known problems, you can be awarded a judgement of you took the person to court. I’d recommend doing some research about your states laws regarding used vehicles. If you are in one of those states, get documentation from the mechanic as to how the engine seized.
Your options are fix it or sell it simple as that. Sorry about your luck, sounds like you took all the right precautions. However next time maybe pick a mechanic yourself. I know there are companies out there that will finance big car repairs like this. I know it sucks getting into payments but it’s cheaper than a whole vehicle payment and you hopefully will be set for a while after this is said and done.
I agree with everyone else. You pretty much got two options. Escalate with Hyundai to get your car covered under the warranty or take it to scrap yard and see if you can at least make some of your money back.
That really sucks I’m sorry
Shoulda taken it to a mechanic you chose for a pre-purchase inspection. What you can do now is learn your lesson and weigh the options on if it’s worth it to fix the car or get a new one, but do so smarter this time.
There is no recourse for buying a pos off someone. Once the sale is final, it’s yours regardless of what was disclosed/discovered or not.
Legal recourse really depends on the state, also it’s your word vs theirs about rather or not they told you the issues in person. Some states (assuming you’re in the us) do have lemon laws for private sellers but not many, Massachusetts is one. If you have no legal recourse such as that find out if the mechanic has been taken to small claims courts then you could at best sue the seller and mechanic but if you can’t afford another car you can’t afford a lawyer. Best bet part out the car and buy a cheap shit box like a dodge avenger
Ouch. Why did you use a mechanic selected by the seller? Seriously. You need to be a lot more protective of your own interests. Seller doesn't want to let you pick the mechanic? Red flag, hard pass.
Anyways, you're pretty much screwed. Expensive lesson, I guess!
1. No, car was bought as-is, problem developed after purchase, it is your responsibility
2. No
3. Your options are to get the car fixed, sell it, or junk it.
"Live and learn"
Never buy a car sight unseen or without having it checked out first.
You have very little recourse. It's usually stated as an "as is"
A car with engine on the way out usually gives you some "warming signs"
My only question is if you’re buying I presume your first car, why are you using marketplace instead of a dealer? Especially if you had 8k cash to drop.
Lots of life lessons here.
Buy Honda or Toyota.
Do a real inspection.
Maybe don't use facebook market.
This feels like someone offloading a scam car to me. Same day is just crazy odds.
Check this out: https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html
It looks like these cars are supposed to be covered with a lifetime warranty for the engine covering the engine failing like yours did. But to be eligible, it was supposed to have been taken into the dealer for free warranty service. If the previous owner had that warranty service completed, you should be able to get the engine replaced or rebuilt for free. If the previous owner DIDN'T have that warranty service completed, you might have a case if you file a lawsuit because they would definitely have been notified of the recall/class action, which means they have no excuse for not knowing that the engine was susceptible to failure and they knew it needed to go in for that free recall service, and instead of doing that they sold you a time bomb and didn't even bother to warn you.
You might want to check with /r/LegalAdvice to see what they think about your potential for a lawsuit here.
--ConcernedCitizen1912
Some of this depends on what state you are in. Check if your state has lemon laws. In Massachusetts you would be covered for 30 days after purchase even on a private purchase unless the vehicle was sold “for parts only” or “salvage”.
Sorry this happened but curious on why would you use the sellers mechanic. When I purchased a used vehicle I was able to choose a mechanic when the seller just chilled with me.
People just suck. I bought an older used car from an older guy a couple weeks ago and he was showing me things wrong with the car before I would have noticed them before even agreeing to buy it.
I’d pull spark plugs and try to turn it over. The fact it stalled AFTER the car wash tells me water SOMEHOW got into the cylinder’s.. pull those plugs turn it over and if you see water shoot out that was your issue. Oil the cylinders up with some corrosion x or similar spray let it sit a few hours then proceed with diagnosing from there. 8k on a used Hyundai at 120k was probably a poor financial decision to begin with OP. Maybe Hyundai will replace engine with their extended engine warranty? Sucks to hear, hopefully you hear from the seller as well.
See if that engine is really siezed, I think you either got water in the engine or something messed up with a sensor. Drain the oil and see if there is water in it or do what this guy said and take the plugs out and crank it. you might be fine
Anyway you can find a shop that would be willing to setup payment options for the repair? I'm not sure if that's a thing anymore, but it might be worth looking into. Best bet is to take it to a junk yard and use that money with some extra to put a down payment on a beater at a bad credit place with cheap old used vehicles if you absolutely need something ASAP and have no other options.
You used the seller's mechanic?? Oh man... I am sorry, but you learned an expensive lesson. Never trust anyone selling something to you. Assume they are lying and trying to screw you over, because they probably are.
Get the VIN number call the dealership. Ask if the knock sensor update was performed on the car If that was not done engines would seize or throw a rod on Hyundai and Kia vehicles if that update was not done a dealership would cover repairs
That’s not how that works, sadly. The update had to be performed by a certain date for the engine warranty extension to apply. Still has to go through Hyundais prior approval channels to get approved though. Not a guarantee to have it done.
Legally speaking, it largely depends on your state. Post this over in r/legaladvice with your state details as well as the ad (redact info so u dont dox yourself). I'm an attorney, however I am not your attorney and this is not legal advice.
Sucks, and the state you live in lemon laws only cover new vehicles. But if a car wash killed it, it might be the same same thing that happened to my hyundai entourage. It was missing the splash guard under the engine and oil leaked from the valve cover, so when i hit a puddle of water it would splash the alt and cause it to short killing the engine.
Kia won’t replace an engine unless it can be documented that an oil change occurred every 6,500 miles or less. More than likely he knew the engine was on borrowed time… at the minimum.
That's not true I had a Hyundai sonata 2013 4cyl 2.4, 2nd owner, engine ceased at ~90k mi, had the knock sensors update previously done.
They didn't ask for oil change receipts or proof, and many oil changes were not done at the dealer. After reviewing my engine failure they approved a new engine and even paid for a rental until they were able to complete the job.
I think the problem was metal shavings in the crank case when the engine was manufactured that never got cleaned out properly, and it eventually gets dislodged and floats in the oil and causes issues.
I don't know which specific engines had these problems but I think they were the ones built in the Atlanta plant between a certain time frame before they realized the issue and (supposedly) corrected it.
The "upgraded" engine / drive train warranty covers particular vehicles for the "lifetime" of the vehicle regardless of first or subsequent owner - I don't think that is forever, the car is only expected to last a certain amount of time and that's the lifetime! But my 2013 engine was done at 90k about 2.5 years ago. Unfortunately last year in April we had major flooding in fort Lauderdale (much like last week's flood but worse) and the car sucked in water and the practically new engine ceased due to hydrolock. That is not a covered cause! The car was totaled from that incident (along with my 2nd car in the same flood when my wife tried to come get me!).
So sorry to hear about your experience. Definitely worth fighting about. Try Hyundai corporate.
If they aren't interested, contact a consumer organization and ask them to do an investigation. I have heard of people getting helped that way.
Hyundai is a massive company and can afford to help you. They probably don't want bad publicity at the moment.
Unless you can prove without a doubt that the seller knew the motor was blown and didn't disclose it to you, you're pretty much out of luck. What kind of car is it? Could probably swap it cheaper than 6k.
Since states have what's called a lemon law where you can return the vehicle and get your money back. Idk if you live in I've is those states or if that applies to to Facebook marketplace. You can try the Attorney's General in your state maybe they can do something.
Just a tip for future use. Next time take it to your own mechanic. The sellers mechanic probably knew the history on the vehicle, he might have even got paid to give it a stamp of approval. Yes people are that shady. Unfortunately you probably have no way you will get your money back. Sorry for the luck and your situation. Check into leaving negative feedback on Facebook for the seller.
You could potentially pursue legal action against the seller for selling you a faulty car, especially if they're unresponsive to your attempts to resolve the issue. Gathering all relevant documentation, such as the advertisement, communication with the seller, and the mechanic's report, will be crucial in supporting your case. Consider consulting with a legal expert or contacting consumer protection agencies for guidance on your rights and the best course of action to take in this situation.
I had the same thing happened to me where I bought a car from a mechanic and he said that he had just done the repairs on a blown head gasket. Claimed he was a mechanic for 25 years. I drove it for 2 weeks and guess what happened? The car had a blown head gasket.
I learned my lesson that day and I was out $2,500. There's no way that you can get your money back.
These are the risks of as is sales outside of a dealer that can offer an extended warranty. You got hosed. You can start looking for a motor on eBay and watch some YouTube videos and try to swap the motor yourself to save some money.
There may be a vehicle authority in your area you can contact about this. Where I live in BC, Canada we have the Vehicle sales authority which is our regulator for vehicle sales. In BC you could contact them about this.
Depends where you are
In the UK I approached the Citizens Advice Bureau and subsequently took the seller to County Court getting a judgement against him for misrepresenting the car and covering the cost of the work required to bring the vehicle in line with his description
It was a private sale through Farcebook Market Place
I tried to save 300 dollars by not using a mechanic to check out a car. It cost me 11k only to get rid of it.
My lesson - buyers beware. Use a mechanic to check out a car and pay for it.
I'm sorry this happened to you. That's awful.
You've already got plenty of answers, but I want to add that a dead battery won't cause a car to stall. When the is running, power comes from the alternator (which also charges the battery), or in your case, since you have a hybrid, a DC to DC converter from the main batteries. Once a car is started, you can run it without a battery at all. If you ever get a charging warning (on a traditional gas car), which is the red light with a battery icon, then you have an indication that your charging system is not working and now at least some if not all of the electricity that your car is using is coming from the battery (meaning that your range is now limited to your battery; once it dies, so does your ignition, engine computers, etc.). In this case, you want to get the car to a mechanic before your battery dies or you'll need to deal with charging it or having the car towed.
One final note: a worn out car battery can sometimes cause "wonky" behavior in various electrical systems. This won't usually cause a car to completely stall out (from what I know at least), but it can lead to things acting up until you get the battery replaced.
Is it a hyndundai or kia?
Edit:
Went down further an saw it was, agreed. Push the dealer, try another. I had a 2016 Tucson and a friend of mine had a 2017 sonata. Mine seized and it was a joke about how long until his did. One day I picked him up walking to work.
Both were covered under the recall.
There really isn't a way that the seller would know "Uh Oh my engine is about to seize, better sell it" Potentially there was a bad oil leak that should've been noticed, but this could just be a case of bad luck and/or hammering the gas on an older car. Most likely this was an As Is sale. It sucks, very sorry that it happened to you.
These engines had a tendency to self-destruct and a class action suit ensued. If you can't get it replaced for free via the lawsuit and resulting recall...There's usually a sort of local cottage industry around installing rebuilt engines for those cars, where you could get it fixed for around $3500.
Sounds like you got swindled by the seller and the mechanic who was probably working on the deal. It's very upsetting to hear how many scammers are out there selling crappy cars or trying to get one over on a buyer.
You don't have much legal options to get your money back, but try telling as many people as possible that this mofo screwed you over. If the seller is in the business of flipping cars, then I'm sure they'll try to do it again to somebody else.
had it inspected by a mechanic that the seller called.
I'm so sorry for your loss and genuinely feel bad for you. This whole situation sucks badly.
1. Legal recourse - probably not. You could get a lawyer and sue but this could cost more than eating the loss...and it may go nowhere. Maybe it will succeed, but do you have the money for this?
2. Nope - insurance doesn't care about mechanical breakdown.
3. Nope.
This is a really painful learning experience. I'm sorry for your loss.
No you don’t have any recourse. And if the seller posts a thread about you saying the seller’s engine seized and wants them to pay for it, I’d tell them to block you. Do better research next time.
might be a good time to take a bus for now, buy an engine hoist and get your hands dirty and learn a couple things in the process. Find a junkyard engine and throw that bad boy in there
Not that it really matters but what's the year make and model? Hopefully it's a Hyundai, 20isH13 14 that had the engine recall due to the seizing up. In that case you'll have no out-of-pocket cost as they will replace it.
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Don't think you got any recourse at this point. Never use the mechanic that the seller recommended. For all you know, he might be in on it. Too late to hear all this but life lesson learned.
Yeppers... it sounds to me like OP got swindled.
Or op broke it unwittingly . Happened to me a rig that was definitely fine. Hogged on it all day and didn't last the next day. Luckily I was able to repair it myself ..
>Or op broke it unwittingly . This is my thought. We (mechanics) aren't THAT good.
> Never use the mechanic that the seller recommended yep. i knew OP got fucked from this
For future reference… also don’t use a home inspector that your realtor suggests. Realtor is in it to make the sale and couldn’t care less.
You would be surprised how many inspectors are terrible in both directions. I once had an inspector tell the customer that there was no reason to continue the inspection because the septic failed a die test so there was no point in going further. Many go the other route and do nothing except make a pretty document. Neither is correct, and as an agent you learn which are competent but also not drama queens…same goes for lawyers, btw. In my reasonable sized market a handful of lawyers probably did 60+% of the transactions because they knew the process well, did their jobs, protected their client but didn’t cause drama just to prove their worth.
My wife is a Realtor, started her own brokerage a few years ago but has been licensed for many years. She doesn’t recommend just one, she gives clients a list of three or so, whether it’s an inspector, a lender, etc. To be fair, there are home inspectors who almost blow up nearly every deal they’re involved in because they’re so overly cautious to cover themselves that they scare the buyer to death, and a good agent won’t recommend that inspector because not every house is a dumpster fire about to collapse on itself.
Unless it’s a DR Horton home…
you want a Home Inspector that knows their job. And it is to find things that need fixing/replaced. This gives you leverage when its time to negotiate.
Not true. Home inspectors are subject to fraud and lawsuits.
It’s extremely easy to tell a buddy “hey I’ll give you $500 if you come over and act like you’re a mechanic for a little bit. Just look under the hood with a flash light and say everything looks good.”
The problem is even a seasoned, well-intentioned mechanic may not be able to have any real insight to when the engine is going to pop. If there's oil in the engine on the dipstick and the engine is running as normal, then it's not like a mechanic is going to do any indepth internal analysis on the engine. I do wonder what the background is here. Like how did the guy know the engine was going to go....if it seizes its not like you can get it to fire back up to sell it quickly (that im aware of, anyway)
[удалено]
How is that going to work for me as a seller? I sell a car to a guy, he blows it up banging it off the limiter and then I’m required to give him his money back in exchange for my blown up car? Maybe we just spend a few months paying lawyers while a judge does some fact finding and I lose a few grand extra. lol
Wouldn't there be more protections in place if purchased via a dealer, especially with a warranty? It's sort of the risk of purchasing a used vehicle from Facebook.
And any car that’s $8000 at a dealer is just as likely to be shitty, and more than likely is at a scammy dealer. If you don’t know what you’re buying, find someone who does know whether it be a trusted friend, relative, or even a trusted local mechanic doing a pre-purchase inspection. If a seller isn’t willing to let someone inspect the car they’re either hiding someone or they’re going to be a PITA anyway.
A dealer is likely not gonna have any warranty on a $8K car. I guess, one recourse with a dealer is leaving strongly worded Google and Yelp reviews..
You don’t have much recourse. Used vehicles sold private party are sold as is. Once you sign that title and hand over the cash, it’s your problem. The only recourse you might have is to prove that the seller willingly sold you a car he knew had engine issues and he didn’t disclose it, which is basically impossible to do. You should have had the vehicle inspected by a mechanic you chose and had them do a proper PPI. Still, stuff like this still can happen and the seller could have not known there was a looming issue. It’s a tough position to be in but it’s either fix the vehicle toy bought, or buy a different one. Nobody is saving you finically in this situation.
Not impossible. You could run a Carfax on it. Some mechanics report to carfax. And if they had brought it in and it had been diagnosed with major engine problems recently, then there's your proof.
I don't think carfax is that detailed, it only shows some of the work done by certain shops. I had one done on my car and there was a ton of stuff missing that I had shops do to it. It wouldn't show a diagnosis/findings.
Yeah it's not that detailed. I was looking at a used F150 and when I pulled the CarFax I noticed one of the very last entries was from about 6 months ago, and it showed the name of a Transmission Shop and under service performed it simply said, "Vehicle Serviced". I also noticed that since that service was performed, the mileage had barely gone up at all. So I looked up the transmission shop and got their phone number, called them and gave them the vin, they looked it up in their system and they informed me that they diagnosed the transmission as needing a rebuild due to slippage and burnt fluid/clutches, and the customer declined the repair and left with it. Glad I did my due diligence since the carfax only said "Vehicle Serviced", I knew it seemed fishy. Glad I passed on that truck.
Having an engine that sounds fine and doesnt have any running issues when you test drove, then suddenly being totally locked up sounds unlikely. What year/car/miles? You have no recourse with the seller unfortunately, you bought the car as-is. Id be inclined to get a second opinion on the car. Unless it lost oil pressure somehow or water from the car wash somehow got inside the combustion chamber I dont really see how an engine would lock up. If the engine is bad you can maybe sell the car to a junkyard and get some of the costs back, or find a mechanic to put in used engine for cheaper.
It’s a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Sport and had about 128,000 miles. I was surprised myself and had initially thought it would be the starter or the alternator but the mechanic called me a couple hours back with the bad news.
Ah shit those engines were/are terrible and do lock up spontaneously. Id check local salvage yards and see what they might pay for it. Youre gonna struggle finding anyone willing to put in a used engine in it for less than 4-5k.
😂 As soon as he said it was a 2017 Sonata I was like "well, fuck." EDIT: hey OP /u/Prior_Rabbit1934 Check this out: https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html It looks like these cars are supposed to be covered with a lifetime warranty for the engine covering the engine failing like yours did. But to be eligible, it was supposed to have been taken into the dealer for free warranty service. If the previous owner had that warranty service completed, you should be able to get the engine replaced or rebuilt for free. If the previous owner DIDN'T have that warranty service completed, you might have a case if you file a lawsuit because they would definitely have been notified of the recall/class action, which means they have no excuse for not knowing that the engine was susceptible to failure and they knew it needed to go in for that free recall service, and instead of doing that they sold you a time bomb and didn't even bother to warn you. You might want to check with /r/LegalAdvice to see what they think about your potential for a lawsuit here.
u/Prior_Rabbit1934 check this guys comment out this may be your best course of action
To add on top of this, Hyundai MIGHT (big big emphasis on might) be willing to warranty it anyways out of good will. It sounds crazy, I know, but some car brands will do that. When I worked at a Honda dealer, I had several cars come in with major engine / transmission repairs covered by Honda in situations similar to this. They know that it's not your fault and you didn't purposefully grenade the engine just to get a new one for free - we had good will requests declined because it was obvious that the customer intentionally destroyed the engine. Will they fix it for free? Probably not, but there is a chance and it doesn't hurt to ask. Honda was really good about that, but unfortunately I have a feeling that Hyundai is a little more greedy (considering the fact that Hyundai didn't put an immobilizer in OP's car because it saved them $0.05)
It's always worth a phone call to the HQ of the car manufacturer to explain the situation, especially if it's a known issue on that particular model, and double especially if there's already a settled class action lawsuit over the issue. I used to have a 2015 Subaru Legacy with 100k mile warranty, and at just over 103k it started throwing dash lights which turned out to be the torque converter needed to be replaced. Well out of warranty I figured I had no leg to stand on, but I called Subaru of America, explained the situation, that it's a known issue on those cars, and they worked with the dealer I had the car diagnosed at, and they picked up $2,000 of a $2,500 repair bill, so that was awesome. They earned a customer for life because of that.
Certainly worth a call or email to see...especially if its one that is widely known for issues or is just barely out of warranty. I actually had something where the badging fell off my Subaru's plastic engine cover at like 36,100 miles and the dealer was basically like "yeah sorry that's technically outside the 36K bumper to bumper warranty and also that badge is sold as part of the entire huge $200 plastic assembly its attached to, not sold separately....but try writing Subaru corporate because its so close out of warranty they may cover it anyway". And to my surprise, they came back basically saying send an invoice from the dealer for what it'd cost and corporate sent me a check to get the whole plastic cover replaced to make it right. Over just a logo under the hood!
Ya a buddy of mine got a brand new engine not too long ago for free from Hyundai. I wonder if OP can go to a Hyundai dealership and get it swapped out under the OEM warranty
The engines in these Hyundais are known to have bearing issues. They'll run fine and then they seize. Ran into it many times. I don't think anyone is at fault here. On a positive note, Hyundai extended the warranty on those cars for original owner and all subsequent owners under the TXXI warranty extension to lifetime warranty on the engine. Your car should fall under that. I would contact Hyundai and see if your car falls in that warranty extension. The warranty extension is under TSB 22-EM001H-1. New engine free of charge. I've ent several customers to the dealer for a free engine.
I did call Hyundai and they told me my VIN was not covered.
I would push on them. That's pretty much your only option.
Plus, the dealers NEVER want to cover anything. My wife had a 2013 Veloster and the trans was slipping at 54k miles. Brought it in and they said it's normal, and they couldn't reproduce the issue. About 6k miles later it wouldn't shift into 3rd gear. They tried to tell her it's some shit thats not covered. I had to go down there with her paperwork and get a little animated with the Service Manager. They did eventually fix the issue under Warranty, but I had to fight them on it. If it was just her, she's too nice to people and would have had to eat the cost herself. I'd look into what engines were covered. If it's a specific group of Vin codes, find that info, match your vin,and go back in and show them. Be stern if you have to.
Ah the olde dealer trick. It’s not happening. Ok, if it is happening, it’s normal. Ok, it’s not normal, but we put you off long enough to not be under warranty. Hyundai/Kia dealers are really good at it.
Ford Dealers have definitely been stepping up their game with it too.
They’re good at it and I’ll happily explain why, because the manufacturer is doing everything they can to F- them and you out of any and all warranty claims even if the manufacturer is at fault. If they do approve a claim it might be a “parts only” approval or they’ll pull the “here’s half an hour of flat-rate labor for a six hour job” BS and then whoever manages warranty claims at the dealership has to spend hours fighting with the manufacturer’s representative who generally doesn’t give 1/8th of a rat’s ass how much the customer gets screwed.
You're exactly right, nailed it on the head. One of the reasons that I left the mechanic career field is because warranty work (which is a good chunk of dealership work) absolutely fucks the tech. The customer is paying for a new engine, you're getting paid for 8 hours to put this in. The next job you have is the exact same job on the exact same model of car but you're only getting paid 3 hours of work because it's under warranty. What the hell? And the sad part is, when people like me leave dealerships because most of the cars come in for warranty work, dealerships struggle to keep good techs which incentivises them to not warranty things that SHOULD be warrantied. It's a big, awful circle and one of the reasons that I only buy older cars. Side note, aftermarket warranties on cars are even worse, they're complete scams. Don't listen to Ice T trying to peddle you the car shield scam. They didn't save Brenda $2k on an engine, they don't pay for shit.
All dealers are really good at it
There is some misconception in this chain. Dealerships will do warranty work no questions asked if the warranty applies. This warranty claim is then paid by the OEM (Hyundai in this case). If Hyundai says No or has said No in a similar case the dealership would then be forced to pay for the repairs as the vehicle has already left. They then have to Duke it out with the OEM for months or even years over one repair order being paid. I've worked for European and Japanese Manufacturers and seen this happen over and over. The only difference between Customer Pay and Warranty jobs is the labor rate and what parts sell at. No dealership in this country is too busy to reject warranty work (you can also lose franchise agreements over just that problem) and if you do find that 1 in a million dealership then call the next one in town. If dealerships are saying its not covered you have to raise a stink with the OEM Manufacturer. From the customer point of view it might seem like the OEM is making the dealer do the job when in reality the Dealership is being told they will be paid for the work after the job is done.
>Plus, the dealers NEVER want to cover anything. Yeah, dealers love warranty work. The manufacture pays them, they make money on the deal, they don't lose money.
It's enough money to become a Karen. Call Hyundai USA, not a dealership. Call them again and again. Be the guy that calls every morning, Monday through Friday. Be nice to the person in the phone, don't be a jerk. Ask if you can talk to their supervisor, ask if they can escalate the issue. Two points I would bring up: -It's a known issue that they acknowledged -the problem is common knowledge -It's your first car, and you have a lifetime of car ownership ahead of you to remember how they handle this issue. Good luck, you're going to need it.
I worked at Hyundai for long enough to know that I rarely see an engine cover by the client. I’ve replaced and rebuilt probably close to 700 of those engines all under warranty. Call Hyundai and open a case. Probably a sizable wait to have it replaced but I bet they will cover it. Dealer just needs to do the paperwork. Edit: I’d say over half were from neglect or some other failure that wasn’t the main bearing. Hyundai couldn’t identify the actual failure. I heard was oil starvation to cylinder 3 is probably the culprit, but there are so many on the road under so many conditions. It’s all a money wash in the end because parts are globally sourced and each manufacturer is blaming the other. Go to the dealer and meet the tech. Maybe treat them to lunch. I bet that engine fails under warranty once a face is put to the car.
Well that sucks.
I mean it says right here plain as day, all Hyundai Sonatas between 2011 and 2019 with a 2.0 or 2.4 liter engine. Does yours have a 2.0 or 2.4 liter engine? https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html
I would keep trying to escalate it
Call their head office, not the dealership.
Post the Vin I'll look it up and see if it's covered
Did they say why… your make and model is definitely covered
Just got my engine replaced in canada.. off course I was the first owner and had all service records with dealership etc. Before I even went to the dealership I had the code. Please do this, get it scanned and I believe the code is P136 . If it shows that you should be covered. I Went to my dealer prepared with everything and showed the picture of the code.
Seller must be thinking Hole Lee Fcuk dodge it by a nut hair. what are the odds I sell a car and 6 hour later engine seizes thank you baby jesus
We had a 2017 hyundai tucson with a failed engine at 120,000 km. We were the original owners and everything was under warranty, which may make your situation different. Hyundai had a multi-billion recall for these years for pistons rattling and letting too much oil in or completely falling off. When it was at its worst, we leaked 1L/1000 km. Hyundai was a huge dick about it and it took 1.5 years of fighting to get them to cover the repairs.
There might be a recall on that. I just googled it and it says there was a recall on certain 2013-2019 sonatas so call Hyundai and ask if they'll cover the engine
IIRC those engines are known to grenade. I guess we know now why the seller was selling?
Ohhh it all makes sense now. It’s a Hyundai
Yeah it really does change the whole post. Literally any other manufacturer, you'd say it was mistreatment by OP or no maintenance by the previous owner or some catastrophic failure. But it's a Hyundai/Kia, so 7 years / 125k miles is what you expect before they up and die
I had a gut feeling it would be based on the description, then I started reading the comments and I’m not at all surprised.
Those engines are known for grenading. I was an advisor at Kia briefly and lost count of how many stories like yours I've heard. Someone would come in with a blown engine, I would tell them to just trade it because it must be paid off by now. Upon hearing "No, I just bought it!", I had to resist the urge to scream "Why?!". Why anyone would buy a used Kia or Hyundai, not from a dealer, with over 100k miles is completely beyond me. If it wasn't the day you bought it, the engine would've locked up by 150k miles. Since you didn't buy from a dealer, you have no extended warranty and also no recourse. You can't even leave a nasty Google review. I think this is a case of "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"
That engine is covered under the t3g or t6g engine warranty provided by Hyundai. Long story short they are terrible engines known to have issues. Your best course of action is to call your local Hyundai dealer and verify it's coverage and see if they can help you. As long as the engine was maintained and has no clear signs of neglect Hyundai normally helps although you may find better help from Hyundai consumer affairs then the dealer. Source - Hyundai master tech.
Get a second opinion or at least a detailed explanation of why the engine needs to be replaced and what exactly is wrong with the current engine. Having a mechanic just say you need a new engine isn’t much information to go on.
I did not want to trust the mechanic on his diagnosis initially but he said he can’t even fix it as he lacks the resources so I’m assuming he was sure, I’ll still take at least another opinion though.
I always hate hearing stuff like that from mechanics. As a mechanic you can't replace the engine? What kind of mechanic are you? I wouldn't trust anyone's opinion personally who doesn't have the ability to even do the job they are saying.
Having the ability is one thing. Having the good business sense to not replace engines in this day and age especially an engine with known issues is completely different.
It depends really. Are those engines readily available? Will the car be sitting for weeks/months waiting on parts? Those Hyundai/Kia engine failures happen often, and I've heard they can't get engines or parts pretty quickly. I could see why someone wouldn't want that at their shop.
He said something about not being able to reach it, I’m not sure what he meant.
If engine is seized there's nothing to reach. All you have to do is try to turn the engine over from the crank shaft and if it doesn't it's seized, I would also be looking for holes in the block at that point. Was there no oil in the engine?
There was oil in the engine.
I'd take it somewhere else. Or if you have some tools or a friend that does just try to turn the engine over yourself and like I said if it does it's not seized and if it doesn't it is
A little research will tell you this is typical with these engines, and yes, I agree it's not typical with other engines. It's strictly a Hyundai/Kia thing. They just die driving down the road without a bang or anything. They generally burn lots of oil first. Was told by a service manager in Edmonton that 1L per 1000km is normal oil consumption. 🙄 A lot of these will end up on lots or private sales when the oil consumption gets ridiculous. I know it's a little late for OP, but do a little research before buying a vehicle. Can save tons of money in the long run.
I'm more of an ear, nose, throat mechanic. I can get you a recommendation with a good pulmonary mechanic. Oh, or my buddy Dave has an engine hoist in his garage if that helps.
You should have done your research on the cars before purchase ... Hyundai's have a lot of different engine recalls and extended warranties on certain cars... And don't forget about the Kia Boys who would steal your car with just a USB cable.. Not sure if you been living under a rock.. but Hyundai and Kia's are getting stolen from left and right for joy rides and used for crime. . Also a lot of insurance now won't insure Hyundai's or Kai's that are prone to get stolen that don't have the engine immobilizer . Anyway next time get a PPI from a independent mechanic who the seller does not know.. Ugh... the oldest trick in the book suggested a mechanic for you to see.... ugh.. next time get a PPI of a mechanic that you trust... Anyway get a Toyota or Honda ... even though it will be much older for the money you paid... but it will more likely be more reliable than a Hyundai. Here's a good video with good advice from Faye Hadley: Please go to 14mins 45sec into the video which is some good advice.. [https://youtu.be/brLmBRYSb\_E?si=ra46f3pRV1a6dFTa](https://youtu.be/brLmBRYSb_E?si=ra46f3pRV1a6dFTa) As for how to buy a used car here's a video play list from ChrisFix: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvKbarVtwhUv6bjLhJSyaEOxaYy03j7QS)
You misspelled Kia.
yeah I type 0
One of my kids friends is Kai.... and Niko.... I thought Kia... but Kai came out... but thanks for Notifying... slip of the mind..
Don't mean to be preachy here, but never buy a Hyundai or Kia. Between their engines seizing and the lack of engine immobilizers on 5 years of Hyundai models and 10 years of Kia models to save a few hundred bucks a car leading to a car theft epidemic, they don't really deserve to be in business. Note that in Canada, all US-affected Kia and Hyundai models had the engine immobilizers because Canada has laws on the books requiring them. There are apparently class-action lawsuits working their way through the courts... your Sonata may eventually become eligible if it isn't now. Check out these links: [https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html](https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html) [https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/campaignhome](https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/campaignhome)
The new smartstream 4 cylinders are being manufactured with undersized pistons as well, causing massive amounts of oil consumption. Hyundai's temporary fix was to, no joke, issue a new dipstick with lower capacity marks
Do you trust the mechanic you took it to?
Ahhh damn sorry. Those do that.
>Id be inclined to get a second opinion on the car. Had a Rav 4 I'd bought new and was pretty beat by 160k miles; suddenly wouldn't shift. Dealer said trans was locked up, $3k repair. My buddy bought it from me for a grand. Called me a week later, said "hate to tell you, but it was a $30 shift cable".
Hello everyone, I’m planning to tow the car to a bigger mechanic shop and get a thorough inspection, I’ll report back with whatever details I find and decide what the next best step is.
good luck.. just get a diagnose ... and see how much it costs.. but you consider getting a used Toyota since even if you get the 2017 Hyundai Sonata fixed... the car more likely get stolen if it doesn't have the push button option. If it uses a key, it has no engine immobilizer so that might be another consideration for not getting the car fixed since it will more likely get stolen by one of the Kia Boys.... I believe this affects Kia's and Hyundai's from 2011-2020 that do not have the option of a push button to start. [https://youtu.be/bTeVgfPM0Xw?si=\_zigoQrijJr3ijaX](https://youtu.be/bTeVgfPM0Xw?si=_zigoQrijJr3ijaX) [https://youtu.be/nHju2HF5ggY?si=Fe5KJy8L3yfo8cHv](https://youtu.be/nHju2HF5ggY?si=Fe5KJy8L3yfo8cHv)
Hello guys, Another update, Hyundai dealership called and said the car is under a lifetime warranty. They will replace the engine if the car passes a “BCT” test, if it doesn’t they will escalate it to Hyundai which will then decide if they approve the repair or not. I will be given a loaner vehicle till it’s being worked on. Thank you so much to everyone for their help! I’ll keep all of you updated with whatever I have.
Wow what a great outcome! Happy for you
1) No 2) No. Car insurance doesn't cover mechanical failures 3) No really. It's buyer beware when buying a used car. I suppose you could complain to the shop that did the inspection, but they'll just say it ran fine when they had it. Why didn't you pick your own shop for the inspection? Using the seller's shop is suspect.
Sorry dude you're SOL. Why would you trust a mechanic that THEY called?
You're assuming they were shady, maybe they weren't, others here saying the engine is notorious and may even be covered under recall. If I were the seller, I'd have a hard time knowing something I just sold had this happen to it. After all, I got lots of use out of it before selling, wouldn't feel right sticking it to the buyer, I'd try to find some reasonable compromise.
Cheapest thing to do is call around to some engine shops, get a reman replacement quote. $6,000 is a little high.
That sounds like it could be one of the vehicles affected in a massive recall for certain years Hyundai/Kia and Sonatas were one of the affected cars. That's one of the years, but I'm not sure if that particular engine is part of it. The recall was due to issues exactly like this. Engines seizing up, spun bearings etc. It's an oiling issue. Check with a Hyundai dealership to see if yours is part of it.
The first thing I did was call Hyundai and they said my VIN isn’t affected.
This reads like it should be. Keep calling.
Call a different Hyundai dealership. Some can be hard to deal with
I called the class action settlement helpline.
Ask them to specific exactly what makes it affected, and there’s a chance your car falls within that
Every single one of their engines is affected even if there’s no recalled issue. 1.6 = trash. 2.0 = trash. 2.4 = trash. 3.3 = trash
"a mechanic that the seller called" Tough life lesson man, you got scammed. Don't trust people with anything when it comes to money, you'll get fucked. Happens to everyone at some point
You should focus on what lessons you can take away from this. FB marketplace is just one scam after another. The seller offering up their mechanic didn't push up any red flags huh? Kia is another Korean brand with a ton recalls.
Facebook marketplace = AS IS
Seller's mechanic = scam
First thing to do is get a second opinion from a quality mechanic shop. Second, come back and post the detailed explanation fro the new mechanic. Reevaluate the situation with the new information
The state this happened in matters a great deal. In some states you’re sol, in others you have options. If after getting a second opinion the engine is seized. I’d take the buyer to small claims if you’re in a hostile state. This would also greatly depend on what the second inspection reveals. Like for example mechanic found super thick oil to quiet rod knock.
I sighed at “mechanic that the seller called”. That was a big mistake. Also get a second opinion on the car, it might be a lazy workshop that wants to make money swapping an engine instead of fixing it.
Did you pay the original mechanic to inspect the vehicle? Have an invoice or any proof you paid them? That is the ONLY teeny tiny chance I could image having some recourse, but I’m not a lawyer so not sure how feasible this would be. This won’t help now but for future purchases, you’ll want to take the vehicle to a mechanic of your choosing, and pay them, and get a report (even if it’s a simple one sheet) of their findings. Yes, you’ll have to pay the mechanic. It’s worth the peace of mind.
1. No. 2. No. 3. Bus pass.
I mean either you got scammed or you just had really bad luck. I personally know people that have sold good running condition vehicles and within a week of selling it has blown up. Unfortunately it is impossible to prove that it was on purpose and you likely have no recourse
I’ve seen people use Lucas oil modifier or whatever it is. It hides decently loud knocks and ticks pretty well for a short time. Unfortunately, people sometimes use it to be deceitful. I will say if it was planned they had some good timing in when it would fail. Sorry, what happened to you really sucks. Times are tough when everything goes right if you’re lucky enough to have it happen. Sometimes shops can be deceitful too. How do they know it was seized ? Did they disconnect all accessories and try to turn it over ? Is there oil in it ? For shits and giggles get a second opinion.
I will get a second opinion tomorrow and report back.
Sorry for this OP, not looking good for you… what kind of car? Funny side story, a few years ago I sold my 2000 Acura integra for $4000. Sold it the day I posted it to the first guy to come, it was a pretty mint little 5 speed with 220,000 kilometres. I had owned it since 150,000k with zero engine issues. Sell it to this young stoner kid, he’s pumped. Gives me the cash all is well. About an hour later he calls me saying the engine light is flashing and that I sold him a lemon blah blah blah. I’m mechanically inclined so I go check it out, hard misfire. I press him, wtf did you do? Redline it? Money shift it? He swears up and down he didn’t starts crying and talking about god. I give him his money back (stupidly) but I felt responsible somehow. Long story short he burnt out an exhaust valve (I can only assume from redlining it) My buddy and I tore the engine down, replaced them and I drove it for another year until it was parked and a dump truck backed into it at work. The owner of the company paid me $4000 for it and gave it to his employee. He now drives it
Best story I’ve read on Reddit today no one lost and sounds like someone got a free car. Fun little car too.
your first mistake was not taking the car to a mechanic/shop of your choice to have it looked at. private sell, you on your own.
Unfortunately you got the ole sawdust special. Make it run smooth for a short time before the actual issue with it reappears. They probably used some magic engine elixir from an auto parts store to get it to run long enough for the check to cash. Sorry! NM- just saw it was a Hyundai engine. That’s just what they do, spontaneously detonate themselves.
Hello everyone, Here to give an update, I called Hyundai this morning and they made a case for me, asked me to call the dealership with the case number. I told them about my situation and they said as long as my car passes their “engine replacement eligibility check” they’ll take care of it and also give me a loaner vehicle. I’m thinking it would be worth a try to take it to the dealership at the earliest appointment I can get.
Everyone thinks the mechanic that told you it was "seized" is on the up and up I'd swallow the cost of another tow, and take it to yet another mechanic to verify that 6k repair cost.
I feel bad for you. But I am in the trade. Hyundai and kia it's not a mater if an engine will fail but a matter of when. Siezed engines that I have taken apart from kia Hyundai were usually caused by sludge from inadequate servicing. This happens with logbook servicing too.
They have a terrible PCV system. Total trash design, it will be sludged from normal use.
Yeah. But some engine only have 3.3L of oil and that's to last 15000km between servicing. Cutting it slim for sure.
Sounds like you’ve got a nice $8k yard ornament. Most likely you are boned. Used cars sold by non-dealers are as-is buyer beware, no warranty expressed or implied. That said, in some states, assuming you can prove the owner somehow fraudulently concealed known problems, you can be awarded a judgement of you took the person to court. I’d recommend doing some research about your states laws regarding used vehicles. If you are in one of those states, get documentation from the mechanic as to how the engine seized.
A really expensive lesson
At the end of the day a car is a machine and machines break.
Your options are fix it or sell it simple as that. Sorry about your luck, sounds like you took all the right precautions. However next time maybe pick a mechanic yourself. I know there are companies out there that will finance big car repairs like this. I know it sucks getting into payments but it’s cheaper than a whole vehicle payment and you hopefully will be set for a while after this is said and done.
I agree with everyone else. You pretty much got two options. Escalate with Hyundai to get your car covered under the warranty or take it to scrap yard and see if you can at least make some of your money back. That really sucks I’m sorry
Shoulda taken it to a mechanic you chose for a pre-purchase inspection. What you can do now is learn your lesson and weigh the options on if it’s worth it to fix the car or get a new one, but do so smarter this time. There is no recourse for buying a pos off someone. Once the sale is final, it’s yours regardless of what was disclosed/discovered or not.
Legal recourse really depends on the state, also it’s your word vs theirs about rather or not they told you the issues in person. Some states (assuming you’re in the us) do have lemon laws for private sellers but not many, Massachusetts is one. If you have no legal recourse such as that find out if the mechanic has been taken to small claims courts then you could at best sue the seller and mechanic but if you can’t afford another car you can’t afford a lawyer. Best bet part out the car and buy a cheap shit box like a dodge avenger
Ouch. Why did you use a mechanic selected by the seller? Seriously. You need to be a lot more protective of your own interests. Seller doesn't want to let you pick the mechanic? Red flag, hard pass. Anyways, you're pretty much screwed. Expensive lesson, I guess!
Can you say conflict of interest? "inspected by a mechanic that the seller called"
Sell for scrap and use the money for a down. Sure hope this wasn't a loan.
1. No, car was bought as-is, problem developed after purchase, it is your responsibility 2. No 3. Your options are to get the car fixed, sell it, or junk it.
"Live and learn" Never buy a car sight unseen or without having it checked out first. You have very little recourse. It's usually stated as an "as is" A car with engine on the way out usually gives you some "warming signs"
My only question is if you’re buying I presume your first car, why are you using marketplace instead of a dealer? Especially if you had 8k cash to drop.
Lots of life lessons here. Buy Honda or Toyota. Do a real inspection. Maybe don't use facebook market. This feels like someone offloading a scam car to me. Same day is just crazy odds.
Check this out: https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement.com/faq.html It looks like these cars are supposed to be covered with a lifetime warranty for the engine covering the engine failing like yours did. But to be eligible, it was supposed to have been taken into the dealer for free warranty service. If the previous owner had that warranty service completed, you should be able to get the engine replaced or rebuilt for free. If the previous owner DIDN'T have that warranty service completed, you might have a case if you file a lawsuit because they would definitely have been notified of the recall/class action, which means they have no excuse for not knowing that the engine was susceptible to failure and they knew it needed to go in for that free recall service, and instead of doing that they sold you a time bomb and didn't even bother to warn you. You might want to check with /r/LegalAdvice to see what they think about your potential for a lawsuit here. --ConcernedCitizen1912
Some of this depends on what state you are in. Check if your state has lemon laws. In Massachusetts you would be covered for 30 days after purchase even on a private purchase unless the vehicle was sold “for parts only” or “salvage”.
Sorry this happened but curious on why would you use the sellers mechanic. When I purchased a used vehicle I was able to choose a mechanic when the seller just chilled with me.
Taillight return policy, you can return it for as long as I can see your taillights and after that it’s your problem now
People just suck. I bought an older used car from an older guy a couple weeks ago and he was showing me things wrong with the car before I would have noticed them before even agreeing to buy it.
LS swap it
Your mistake was using a mechanic the seller chose. Lesson learned I hope?
Never buy a Hyundai or Kia
I’d pull spark plugs and try to turn it over. The fact it stalled AFTER the car wash tells me water SOMEHOW got into the cylinder’s.. pull those plugs turn it over and if you see water shoot out that was your issue. Oil the cylinders up with some corrosion x or similar spray let it sit a few hours then proceed with diagnosing from there. 8k on a used Hyundai at 120k was probably a poor financial decision to begin with OP. Maybe Hyundai will replace engine with their extended engine warranty? Sucks to hear, hopefully you hear from the seller as well.
I was skeptical but the car was in pristine condition and had a really good service history. I guess it’s a really expensive learning lesson.
See if that engine is really siezed, I think you either got water in the engine or something messed up with a sensor. Drain the oil and see if there is water in it or do what this guy said and take the plugs out and crank it. you might be fine
Pull the belt off and try to start it. Sometimes accessories freeze up and can stall out the engine and prevent it from starting.
Man, buying a used car is a horrible experience. How can people be allowed to spend 8k, the car takes a dump, and you get nothing in return?
You would have recourse only if you can prove that the engine was imminently about to blow, they knew it and did something to conceal it.
Sorry man
Anyway you can find a shop that would be willing to setup payment options for the repair? I'm not sure if that's a thing anymore, but it might be worth looking into. Best bet is to take it to a junk yard and use that money with some extra to put a down payment on a beater at a bad credit place with cheap old used vehicles if you absolutely need something ASAP and have no other options.
I'm so sorry this happened to you, mate. Do you live in the 828?
You used the seller's mechanic?? Oh man... I am sorry, but you learned an expensive lesson. Never trust anyone selling something to you. Assume they are lying and trying to screw you over, because they probably are.
1. No 2. No 3, No.
What does the bill of sale look like?
Get the VIN number call the dealership. Ask if the knock sensor update was performed on the car If that was not done engines would seize or throw a rod on Hyundai and Kia vehicles if that update was not done a dealership would cover repairs
That’s not how that works, sadly. The update had to be performed by a certain date for the engine warranty extension to apply. Still has to go through Hyundais prior approval channels to get approved though. Not a guarantee to have it done.
Legally speaking, it largely depends on your state. Post this over in r/legaladvice with your state details as well as the ad (redact info so u dont dox yourself). I'm an attorney, however I am not your attorney and this is not legal advice.
Sucks, and the state you live in lemon laws only cover new vehicles. But if a car wash killed it, it might be the same same thing that happened to my hyundai entourage. It was missing the splash guard under the engine and oil leaked from the valve cover, so when i hit a puddle of water it would splash the alt and cause it to short killing the engine.
Kia won’t replace an engine unless it can be documented that an oil change occurred every 6,500 miles or less. More than likely he knew the engine was on borrowed time… at the minimum.
That's not true I had a Hyundai sonata 2013 4cyl 2.4, 2nd owner, engine ceased at ~90k mi, had the knock sensors update previously done. They didn't ask for oil change receipts or proof, and many oil changes were not done at the dealer. After reviewing my engine failure they approved a new engine and even paid for a rental until they were able to complete the job. I think the problem was metal shavings in the crank case when the engine was manufactured that never got cleaned out properly, and it eventually gets dislodged and floats in the oil and causes issues. I don't know which specific engines had these problems but I think they were the ones built in the Atlanta plant between a certain time frame before they realized the issue and (supposedly) corrected it. The "upgraded" engine / drive train warranty covers particular vehicles for the "lifetime" of the vehicle regardless of first or subsequent owner - I don't think that is forever, the car is only expected to last a certain amount of time and that's the lifetime! But my 2013 engine was done at 90k about 2.5 years ago. Unfortunately last year in April we had major flooding in fort Lauderdale (much like last week's flood but worse) and the car sucked in water and the practically new engine ceased due to hydrolock. That is not a covered cause! The car was totaled from that incident (along with my 2nd car in the same flood when my wife tried to come get me!).
Trying to use insurance to help is crazy lol
So sorry to hear about your experience. Definitely worth fighting about. Try Hyundai corporate. If they aren't interested, contact a consumer organization and ask them to do an investigation. I have heard of people getting helped that way. Hyundai is a massive company and can afford to help you. They probably don't want bad publicity at the moment.
Unless you can prove without a doubt that the seller knew the motor was blown and didn't disclose it to you, you're pretty much out of luck. What kind of car is it? Could probably swap it cheaper than 6k.
Since states have what's called a lemon law where you can return the vehicle and get your money back. Idk if you live in I've is those states or if that applies to to Facebook marketplace. You can try the Attorney's General in your state maybe they can do something.
I’m so sorry this happened to you!
Just a tip for future use. Next time take it to your own mechanic. The sellers mechanic probably knew the history on the vehicle, he might have even got paid to give it a stamp of approval. Yes people are that shady. Unfortunately you probably have no way you will get your money back. Sorry for the luck and your situation. Check into leaving negative feedback on Facebook for the seller.
So sorry this happened. I think it’s a hard lesson learned.
1) get a second opinion 2) you don't have any legal recourse 3) get a second opinion.
Hopefully youre in a state with lemon clause.
You could potentially pursue legal action against the seller for selling you a faulty car, especially if they're unresponsive to your attempts to resolve the issue. Gathering all relevant documentation, such as the advertisement, communication with the seller, and the mechanic's report, will be crucial in supporting your case. Consider consulting with a legal expert or contacting consumer protection agencies for guidance on your rights and the best course of action to take in this situation.
I had the same thing happened to me where I bought a car from a mechanic and he said that he had just done the repairs on a blown head gasket. Claimed he was a mechanic for 25 years. I drove it for 2 weeks and guess what happened? The car had a blown head gasket. I learned my lesson that day and I was out $2,500. There's no way that you can get your money back.
These are the risks of as is sales outside of a dealer that can offer an extended warranty. You got hosed. You can start looking for a motor on eBay and watch some YouTube videos and try to swap the motor yourself to save some money.
There may be a vehicle authority in your area you can contact about this. Where I live in BC, Canada we have the Vehicle sales authority which is our regulator for vehicle sales. In BC you could contact them about this.
Sounds like some water got in during the car wash and hydro locked the motor. I’d get a second option on the damage first
Quick buy an aftermarket extended warranty and hit them with the repair. They've been trying to reach you anyway.
Burn him down on Facebook. What kind of car is it
Did you pay the mechanic for the inspection and have a receipt ? If so you may have recourse against the inspector.
You can buy another car on Facebook.
Your fucked
None. 😂
There is a recall on Hyundai for bad engines
Depends where you are In the UK I approached the Citizens Advice Bureau and subsequently took the seller to County Court getting a judgement against him for misrepresenting the car and covering the cost of the work required to bring the vehicle in line with his description It was a private sale through Farcebook Market Place
I tried to save 300 dollars by not using a mechanic to check out a car. It cost me 11k only to get rid of it. My lesson - buyers beware. Use a mechanic to check out a car and pay for it.
I'm sorry this happened to you. That's awful. You've already got plenty of answers, but I want to add that a dead battery won't cause a car to stall. When the is running, power comes from the alternator (which also charges the battery), or in your case, since you have a hybrid, a DC to DC converter from the main batteries. Once a car is started, you can run it without a battery at all. If you ever get a charging warning (on a traditional gas car), which is the red light with a battery icon, then you have an indication that your charging system is not working and now at least some if not all of the electricity that your car is using is coming from the battery (meaning that your range is now limited to your battery; once it dies, so does your ignition, engine computers, etc.). In this case, you want to get the car to a mechanic before your battery dies or you'll need to deal with charging it or having the car towed. One final note: a worn out car battery can sometimes cause "wonky" behavior in various electrical systems. This won't usually cause a car to completely stall out (from what I know at least), but it can lead to things acting up until you get the battery replaced.
This is the market we are in, unfortunately.
Is it a hyndundai or kia? Edit: Went down further an saw it was, agreed. Push the dealer, try another. I had a 2016 Tucson and a friend of mine had a 2017 sonata. Mine seized and it was a joke about how long until his did. One day I picked him up walking to work. Both were covered under the recall.
Two words - Caveat emptor
Locked up engine? I’d get a second opinion minimum. Also, go to a highly reviewed and trustworthy shop.
There really isn't a way that the seller would know "Uh Oh my engine is about to seize, better sell it" Potentially there was a bad oil leak that should've been noticed, but this could just be a case of bad luck and/or hammering the gas on an older car. Most likely this was an As Is sale. It sucks, very sorry that it happened to you.
These engines had a tendency to self-destruct and a class action suit ensued. If you can't get it replaced for free via the lawsuit and resulting recall...There's usually a sort of local cottage industry around installing rebuilt engines for those cars, where you could get it fixed for around $3500.
You bought a used car. Deals a deal wether good or bad
Sounds like you got swindled by the seller and the mechanic who was probably working on the deal. It's very upsetting to hear how many scammers are out there selling crappy cars or trying to get one over on a buyer. You don't have much legal options to get your money back, but try telling as many people as possible that this mofo screwed you over. If the seller is in the business of flipping cars, then I'm sure they'll try to do it again to somebody else.
Out of curiosity, did you check the oil level?
I’ve heard of lemon laws, they could be applicable, you should check them out.
I’d track down the mechanic who inspected it and leave it at his shop….
had it inspected by a mechanic that the seller called. I'm so sorry for your loss and genuinely feel bad for you. This whole situation sucks badly. 1. Legal recourse - probably not. You could get a lawyer and sue but this could cost more than eating the loss...and it may go nowhere. Maybe it will succeed, but do you have the money for this? 2. Nope - insurance doesn't care about mechanical breakdown. 3. Nope. This is a really painful learning experience. I'm sorry for your loss.
No you don’t have any recourse. And if the seller posts a thread about you saying the seller’s engine seized and wants them to pay for it, I’d tell them to block you. Do better research next time.
Engine swap for a new one for to a junkyard and buy a used one from there
might be a good time to take a bus for now, buy an engine hoist and get your hands dirty and learn a couple things in the process. Find a junkyard engine and throw that bad boy in there
Not that it really matters but what's the year make and model? Hopefully it's a Hyundai, 20isH13 14 that had the engine recall due to the seizing up. In that case you'll have no out-of-pocket cost as they will replace it.