2010 Hyundai Veracruz

RE: NHTSA Recall Number 20V-705. The engine value cover gasket leaks oil onto the alternator. My engine has been smoking for six months (January 2021-present). This problem was not repaired correctly under a previous recall in 2014. In 2016 the problem persisted and my car shut off unexpectedly, causing me to stop in the high speed lane of the Massachusetts Turnpike, nearly resulting in a major accident and fatality. The value gasket and alternator was replaced the day after the incident but the problem has emerged again. I have received two notices from Hyundai in last few months under recall 197 stating that a "remedy is being prepared" following the NHTSA recall order of November 2020, but to date no remedy has been noticed. Hyundai customer service suggests that I pay for the repair myself at the dealer and seek reimbursement from Hyundai America myself but I lack funds to do so. As stated, the engine is smoking, the check engine light is on, and I fear for my family's safety. This vehicle is needed for transportation to work and to purchase essentials. Hyundai's response to this issue has not been timely. By this complaint, I am respectfully requesting the NHTSA to order Hyundai to directly reimburse my local dealer for this critical repair so as to remedy this dangerous situation. [XXX] cell - [XXX]; [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ON 4/23/21, I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN), BUT IT DID NOT START AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO JUMP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DIED AS SOON AS JUMPER PACK WAS TAKEN OFF. LATER THAT DAY, MY BABY BECAME VERY ILL AND WE HAD TO GO TO URGENT CARE. MY HUSBAND ONLY HAS A WORK VAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE SEATS TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS, SO HE PUT THE CAR ON A CHARGER FOR A BIT AND THE CAR STARTED. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN EXIT. WE JUMPED THE CAR WITH A JUMPER PACK AND MADE IT TO THE URGENT CARE. ON THE WAY HOME, WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP THE CAR WITH THE JUMPER PACK TO GET IT STARTED, BUT THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. WE THEN TRIED TO STAY OFF THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT LOSING POWER AND WE HAD TO JUMP IT EVERY TIME WE HAD TO STOP, WHICH LEFT US BLOCKING TRAFFIC MULTIPLE TIMES. WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP THE CAR AND GET IT INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH A JUMP AFTER THAT. WE HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT FROM 4/23/21 UNTIL 4/25/21, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO USE HIS WORK VAN AND A CAR TRAILER TO TOW THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. HE LOOKED AT THE CAR WHEN HE DROPPED IT OFF AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS COVERED IN OIL, WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO OUT SUDDENLY. THERE IS A CURRENT HYUNDAI RECALL ON THE CAR OVER THE ISSUE, BUT THERE IS NO FIX. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET AND HOPEFULLY GET REIMBURSED LATER. THIS IS A LARGE UNEXPECTED EXPENSE WHEN WE ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH EMPLOYMENT ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED OVER THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHILE LOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 197 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V705000 PER NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE

SAFETY RECALL 121 OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO - BUT IT IS RELATED TO MORE RECENT HYUNDAI RECALL #197. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH AN OIL LEAK ON ALTERNATOR, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE OCCURRED ON MY HYUNDAI VERACRUZ. I HAD TO HAVE THE ISSUES CORRECTED AND PARTS REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. SO I FILED A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WITH HYUNDAI BACK IN JANUARY, 2021 -- CASE #17645814. THIS CLAIM HAS BEEN DELAYED EXCESSIVELY AND MY FOLLOW-UP ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN IGNORED!

FOR THE 2ND TIME AFTER PER HYUNDAI A PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ISSUE WAS REPAIRED, MY ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE PREVIOUS RECALL IS NUMBER: 14V415000. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED LEAVING ME STRANDED AND UPON INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD, THE ALTERNATOR WHICH WAS REPLACE ONLY 3 YEARS AGO WHEN THIS LAST HAPPENED AND PER HYUNDAI AGAIN 2 YEARS BEFORE THAT FOR THE RECALL, WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN OIL AS IF THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY IT WAS. (3 ALTERNATORS COVERED IN OIL FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD). THIS ISSUE CAME OUT OF NO WHERE AND AGAIN LEFT ME STRANDED. IT THE RECALL WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED I BELIEVE THE GASKET/SEAL THAT WAS REPLACED IS FAULTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

OUR HYUNDAI VERACRUZ GOT ALL OF SUDDEN STOPPED WHILE ON THE ROAD. IT DID NOT MOVE AND ALL THE TRAFFIC GOT BACKED UP LUCKILY THERE WAS NO HEAVY VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR TOO MANY CARS. FEW NICE PEOPLE REALLY HELPED US TO SOME HOW MOVE THE CAR AND AT LEAST GET OUT OF BUSY ROAD SO THAT TRAFFIC CAN GET THROUGH. THEN THE CAR GOT TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI SERVICE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS HAVING THE PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE CHANGED. WE DID SOME ONLINE SEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THE IN 2015 HYUNDAI DID HAD A RECALL FOR THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND IF REQUIRED THEY WOULD ALSO CHANGE THE ALTERNATOR. I AM NOT SURE IF OUR DEALER CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AT THE TIME WHEN RECALLED ITEM WAS GETTING FIXED AND EVEN IF DEALER HAVE CHANGED - ITS BASED ON MY LIMITED AUTO KNOWLEDGE THAT ALTERNATOR LAST AT LEAST 50,000 TO 80,000 MILES. HENCE WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO THE NOTICE OF NHTSA. THE MAIN REASON IS THE CONCERN FOR SAFETY AS WHEN THIS HAPPEN BOTH THE KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WHICH SCARED US THE MOST. WE HOPE THE AUTHORITY LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND PROVIDES SOME UPDATES TO US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AS WE HAVE NOT GOT PROPER REPLY WHILE CONTACT HYUNDAI MOTORS USA CORPORATE OFFICE.