Automaker says 2022 Elantra N’s ECU suggests engine failed due to abuse—a litany of Internet posts may back that up
- An Ontario man who had the engine on his new Hyundai Elantra N fail is complaining the automaker’s warranty isn’t covering its repair
- The automaker says the ECU in the car – a six-speed manual – shows it was repeatedly over-revved, voiding the warranty
- The Internet reveals a long list of modifications made to (and abuses against) an Elantra N by a user with the same name
Most reasonable human beings accept the fact a car’s warranty is designed to help a driver should there be a catastrophic problem with the thing within the initial honeymoon of ownership. What warranties emphatically do not cover are incidents brought on by treating the vehicle in an abusive manner — a fact Christian Matzoros is finding out the hard way.
After the car loitered at a dealership for some spell whilst being poked and prodded by mechanics, a repair estimate of around $10,000 was presented—a bill Matzoros was asked to cover. Why wasn’t the repair covered by the carmaker under warranty? Hyundai claims the car was used improperly.
Specifically, a spox for Hyundai said “After reviewing the vehicle’s engine data, which was retrieved through the Engine Control Unit (ECU) – a system that monitors and records engine performance for diagnostic purposes – it was determined the engine experienced conditions exceeding its designed operational limits, resulting in significant mechanical failure. These findings point to excessive engine revving, which falls outside the coverage of the vehicle’s warranty due to improper use.”
Whatever the case may be, we have a totally unrelated, general word of advice: just be honest, folks. It tends to work a lot better — especially if you’re trying to sneak a replacement engine past the warranty department.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.