I have been having issues with my Hyundai Tucson for a years now. Last year I was getting my oil changed at a Valvoline in Issaquah, the tech mentioned to me that my car was completely out of oil and that the past few times my oil had been strangely low. (This was surprising because I was raised by a single mother and was taught to always get my oil changed on time and so, that’s what I have always done!) I was informed that this had been noticed on other Hyundai Tucson’s as well and that I should get it checked out.

I called my mom in Kansas, who also has a Tucson, and to my surprise she was having the same issue! So, on August 4th of 2022 I took my Hyundai in to Kirkland Hyundai. They changed the oil and with the recommendation from Chris, the Service Advisor, I decided to do an oil consumption test. The test consisted of bringing my car in every 1000 miles and having the oil level checked. I took my car in 6 times between August 4th and October 29th, 2022. On August 4th my mileage was 72, 645 and on October 29th the mileage was 77,390. A difference of 4,745 miles. Between those three months and 4,745 miles, 4.15 quarts of oil had to be ADDED to my car. I was told on October 29th, that I was just going to have to be one of those customers who drives around with a few extra quarts of oil in my trunk just in case. I was told that Hyundai had reported the findings to be with in spec. I was also told that if I wanted anything to be done about my car, Hyundai would make me jump through hoops to get something, if anything done. Chris told me he knew this was bogus but he was the middle man and there was nothing he could do. He was just the messenger.

As I mentioned earlier, we completed the oil consumption test and my case was closed on November 10th, 2022. By January, I noticed that my car was stuttering and on January 16th it was having a lot of difficulty going up the hill to my home. When I parked my car, I checked the oil. It was EMPTY! Less than 2 months after an oil change it was completely empty. I called in to Hyundai of Kirkland on January 17th and was told that I could just add oil and to drive it around until they would have time to fit me into their already booked out schedule, which could be weeks. I told Chris I would not be adding oil and driving it around. I was too scared something would happen while driving and I would endanger myself and others while on the road. He then informed me that I could tow the car in at my expenses, but my car would have to be fit in somewhere in their already overbooked schedule. I told him that I would have it towed in and requested a loaner car while my car was at the dealership. My request was denied and I was told that this would also be at my expenses and that Hyundai wouldn’t cover a rental until the care was assessed and a claim was sent in and approved. I was told that this could be weeks. I was then encouraged again to just add oil to my car and continue to check the oil and add oil as needed until a spot became available. I decided waiting, the risk of harming someone else or myself on the road was not worth the out of pocket I would have to pay for a rental. On January 19th I was informed that Hyundai approved an engine replacement, at no cost to me. When I took my car in, Chris told me that the longest he has seen this take is around 100 days. It has now been over 6 months.

There are so many issues that I could write several pages. “Front and Back!” If you are a Friends fan, you will get that reference ;)

In June I started reaching out and requesting answers. I spoke to the service manager and asked what I needed to do to get things expedited as its summer time and I would love to use my car to go exploring, camping, hiking, and my birthday was coming up and my friend, Katie who is also a nurse, was turning 40. We had both been through some pretty devastating things with the pandemic and life and we wanted to celebrate by going on a girls trip and I wanted to take her. I asked what would help get things expedited and if I needed to seek legal advice or go to the media. David informed me that if I did that, it would not help but only prolong the situation. I was informed that they had just completed all the service on cars from 2022 and that they would now start working on my car but a few cars were ahead of mine. So after 5 months of sitting on the lot, they still had not begun to do any work to my car.

On July 24th I was told that my car was completed and that the Service Manager, David Colloway, would be bringing my car to me personally. On Wednesday, July 25th, David let me know he was on his way. Shortly after he left, I received a text from him, “I am going to take the vehicle back because it’s having a weird misfire thing…” He then called me after a few hours and informed me that they checked everything out and he would still be delivering my car to me that day.

When he finally dropped my car off he informed me that they had checked the transmission fluid and they suspected it was contaminated. I asked him if his team drained and replaced the fluid and he said, “No, we just took a paper test and it looked contaminated and it’s possible it is filled with the wrong fluid.”

I questioned if this was normal practice. I said, you have had my car in your possession for 7 months and today you do a paper test and believe it to be possible that the transmission fluid is contaminated and you still give it back to me to drive without fixing the issue or possible issue first? I asked him if he would treat his mom or his sister like this to which he replied, “No.” I requested for him to take my car back and provide me with another loaner. He reluctantly accepted. He told me it could be even more time before Hyundai considers providing the necessary repair or maintenance and that they would need to have a sample taken and tested and sent to Hyundai.

I decided to do some research and I called another Hyundai dealer in the area and explained to them the situation. I was told that this all sounds really fishy and was given a phone number to Hyundai Consumer Affairs and was told to contact Hyundai of Kirkland’s GM. Not once had I been informed or given this number by Hyundai of Kirkland and I had previously requested to speak to the GM but was never contacted by the GM.

I called the number and started a report on the morning of 7/26/23. I also contacted Chris the customer service tech and David requesting to have the GM contact me. Chris did not reply and David replied, “I will let him know when he is back from Portland.” I then requested for David to kindly inform him now as my car has already been out of service to me for 6 months. He did not reply. I sent in an email on their website requesting contact from the GM, I have heard nothing.

That afternoon I was contacted by Amanda, a case manager with Hyundai Consumer Affairs. We reviewed the case and she informed me she would be looking into the case and that each dealer is independently operated and it’s not unheard of the dealerships to not operate under Hyundai standards. Amanda informed me that she was going to do some research and would get back with me by next week. I have all of the 1,000 mile service statements and Multi-Point Inspection Forms dated on 8/4/22, 11/10/22, and the day they attempted to return my car to me on 7 /25/23 stating that the “Transmission/Differential/Transfer Case (Check Fluid Level, Fluid Condition and Fluid Leaks) were marked at “Checked and Ok at this time.”

Jesse, I please help me. I have been without my own car for over 6 months and I have been having issues with it for over a year. I have paid 38K for a car I cannot even use. I do not feel like I am being treated fairly and I do not feel like the dealership is taking responsibility. Please HELP me!

DATE MILES OIL CHANGE OR ADDED MILAGE DIFFERENCE 8/4/22 72645 OIL CHANGE 9/6/22 74569 1.15 QUARTS ADDED 1924 MILES 9/19/23 75437 0.75 QUARTS ADDED 868 MILES 10/7/23 76440 1.25 QUARTS ADDED 1003 MILES 10/29/23 77390 1.0 QUART ADDED 950 MILES 11/10/22 77816 OIL CHANGED 1/16/23 80564 EMPTY

On Friday, April 28 2023, my car simply died, it is a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. I financed this car in December of 2021. I purchased with this car the extended warranty and train coverage (to cover engine and transmission if ever an issue).

My last two visits to the service shop at the dealer ship was in May and June 2022. The jitter was fixed and the A/C issue was fixed. During BOTH visits I inquired on an oil change. The first visit they did not do it as I had requested-they fixed the jitter issue and when I picked up my car (assuming they forgot the oil change) I asked about the oil change and was TOLD that I can do it myself. I shared my husband was a mechanic for 7 years and the service personnel said that was fine to do it our selves. I thought that was funny to hear, usually they don't recommend this. So when I returned with the AC issue I asked again and told again it was ok to do ourselves just keep the receipts of our purchases to prove we had performed the changes and mark the mileage. So we did as advised, oil change was done in July 2022. Again in November of 2022. Then we had a family issue and drove from Las Vegas to Chicago. Did an oil change in February 2023 before leaving Chicago knowing it needed to be done and had to drive back (roughly 2000 miles).

On the 28th of April we had to do some errands and was driving around in the car to do them. NO ISSUES, NO LIGHTS on dash board (except that my tire was low-was reading at 29 while the others were at 34 ish). then my car started to putt - drag (no acceleration when hitting the gas) - smoke came out from the back, and car died out in process of a right turn. Would NOT turn back on again. In our turn we were attempting to enter a driveway for a 7/11 store to get out of the way of traffic but as the car died we were in the street and on curb. We paid cash to a couple of guys ($20 each) to help push the car into the lot ... we (my husband and I) tried but I hurt my should severely trying and could not do it alone (it is a heavy car and us being in our 40's doesn't help).

I called and had it towed to the dealership. Spoke with the service people and he thought it may have been my fuel injectors. I confirmed with him if my warranty would cover my issue? he said I had good warranty coverage and doubt any issues. I had to sign the paper work to look at the car. he told me I had a check engine light and they need to determine why. I told him I did not have a check engine light prior to the situation. I had to sign saying if the damage/issue was not covered I would pay the $190 for the check - I had to sign thinking that my car was covered and wanted it fixed so I could have it back asap.

MONDAY May 1, late in the day, service guy called me and said he had bad news, the engine would need to be replaced. He said the spark plugs were covered in oil and needed to be replaced for $640 (my warranty did cover this as it is part of routine maintenance). I also would have to pay the $190 for the check engine light check because there is oil sludge under the cap.

I was confused by all this and questioned why did the spark plugs have oil on them? I asked how the sludge developed? etc? I was told by being negligent to my car this is what happened. Told if I would look under the oil cap I would have seen the sludge. I refused that I was negligent on my car and said if I had no reason to check the oil cap I would not open it. I had no reason to do so. I asked then was there oil in my car? he said yes but no leaks, just sludge and oil. I refused the service to be done on the spark plugs then he proceeded to tell my I needed to pay the $380 since I had two readings on the check engine light...I said I did not sign off or that much....why was there two readings? He could not tell me and told me I need to talk to the tech who was NOT available. I again said not to change the spark plugs and I would need to speak with my husband. The guy said I could pick up my car that at that time the car was turning on and running since they cleaned the spark plugs.

My husband called and did not receive a return call until Tuesday May 2. My husband asked if there was an issue with the head gasket causing the oil to leak into the spark plugs? the guy told him the tech would need to answer that and he did not know. my husband asked about the two readings from the check engine light, the guy could not clarify. my husband said we would be picking up the car and that is when the guy said it is no longer turning over again. they were running that morning and it shut off again and will not turn over. there was an excessive amount of smoke and car died. it needs a new engine. again the tech who worked on my car was not available. I was told too that the oil and oil filter receipts would not be valid in my case to confirm the car was tended to as it should be...

I went to the dealer ship. Frustrated spoke to the financial manager available (since 2017 we had been customers and this was our 5th car through this Hyundai dealership). i was hoping he would be able to help. unfortunately he was not. i owe still 30K on my 50K loan for this car and cannot simply trade in, if i have a high enough deposit then they could work with me....i don't even have money to fix my engine which we were told is between $7-$9K. I requested to cancel my extended warranty as since the car is not operable and i cannot afford to fix it it will not require other repairs during the duration of the coverage from the warranty. with a struggle i was able to cancel it finally. we had the car towed to my husbands warehouse where it now sits.

My husband performed another oil change on the car, not a lot of sludge came out. there was sludge by the cap though. my husband changed the spark plugs that was recommended to do. The car did turn on for roughly 5 minutes and then choked and died. d]During the time it was on it was choking the entire time. all dashboard lights were on. Car did not want to turn over again. there is apparently a leak somewhere in the engine causing the oil to build up around the spark plugs. When it did die my husband took the plugs out and they are again covered in oil.

I feel they Hyundai service people knew there was an issue with the engine back last year thus telling me to do my own oil changes...this would relieve Hyundai from issues saying i did not care for my car. The mileage is ONLY 49,100 - and it is a 2017 model- I should not have engine issues. if it was an oil issue (thus the sludge) why did my oil or check engine light come on sooner for me to take action before killing the engine. the service guy could not answer these questions and concerns.

Now I am out of a car, it would be near $9K to fix, I still owe $30K on it so cannot simply trade it in, very frustrated with Hyundai and their call/resolution on this matter. Again, we have had multiple cars with them (same dealership) and they can see the current car we are driving is cared for, the cars we traded in were cared for- no engine or any other issues caused by us or neglecting them.

To add when I paid the service department to get my car out (only paid the $190 after some back and forth) I had to sign to release the car to me...I read the papers later. the service personnel put I brought the car in stating I had a check engine light...which is not true. I did not have a check engine light - he told me I had the light on which I said could have came on when the car completely died on me in traffic. paper work also states I rejected the spark plugs and that at this time an engine replacement is what the car needs.

Overly irritated on the situation and don't know where to go from here except borrow my kid's cars and use my husbands when needed. I am grateful that in my situation I do have options...but what about those who have no other car at their disposal? How many others were messed over with similar experience? I intend to pay the car off and determine later replacing it. WILL NOT go through Hyundai again. I feel betrayed.

I have changed my oil on my Hyundai Tucson as recommended every 3,700 miles since I leased and purchase vehicle. I notice at 52,000 miles I was changing my oil after 3,700 mile and notice I was down 1 quart. So, I decided to keep an eye on this. At 68,000 when changing oil, I was down 2 quarts. I went to a Hyundai dealer and told them this not normal. They recommend an induction cleaning and new PCV and perhaps help solve the oil consumption. This did not help at all.

I was told by the dealer that Hyundai USA says every 1,117 mile is equal 1 quart of oil and this meets manufacture specifications. I find this ridiculous! My Tucson is at 78,000 mile and I'm burning oil at 1 quart per 1,000 miles. I ask another Hyundai Dealer for an oil consumption test and was told I need every receipt of oil change and will need my vehicle for 3 or 4 days. They were really trying to discourage me from having this done. Who keeps all the receipt buying oil for your car? I guess my bad. I can see a car burning 1 quart of oil at 100,000 miles - I have told Hyundai USA through a case number this poor quality. What ever happen to 100,000 mile or 10 year warranty on powertrain?

Greendale, Wisconsin