Most drivers agree there are two fates that might just be the worst on the road. These are getting into a car accident or having a vehicle completely die with no way forward. For one driver, the latter happened. Then, he said, the motor company wouldn’t pick up the bill.
A content creator, who goes by the name @cubantard, posted a video that received more than 191,000 views. In it, he explained why he denounced Hyundai and Kia, posting a video of his vehicle in flames alongside his warning.
‘That Was Your Reminder To Never Buy a Hyundai’
At the very beginning of the video, the man posted a clip of his 2013 Hyundai Sonata 2.0 T Limited on fire. Later, he explained that it was December 2017. He says he was taking his vehicle down a stretch of the freeway toward San Diego when he heard a loud “rev.”
Then, the accelerator lost all of its power.
“Pulled over to the side of the road, and then a few minutes later, my buddy and I saw smoke coming from out under the hood. He opened the hood; flames,” he said.
The content creator explained that Hyundai usually offers customers a 100,000-mile warranty on its drivetrains. But he wasn’t able to make much use of it.
“If something does happen to your drivetrain, like your engine or your transmission, they will nitpick for any little stupid reason to deny your warranty claim. So when you get your car serviced, you gotta save every single receipt. And guess what? If you do the maintenance yourself, you’re disqualified,” he said.
In his caption, he added, “They think this is BS cuz it never happened to them personally. NEVER buy a Hyundai or Kia ! That 100k mile/10-year warranty they offer is a SCAM ! They will nit-pick for any silly little reason to DENY your warranty claim if something does happen.”
What Does Hyundai’s Warranty Cover?
Hyundai Motor America and Kia America have issued recalls that affect the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, alongside other vehicles. The company, it seems, was addressing a mass issue: engine seizing. In a settlement agreement, Hyundai Motor America and Kia America agreed to offer “cash compensation options, extended warranties, free inspection and repair of the covered engines for certain qualifying repairs, and installation of a software update.”
Outside of that, Hyundai also offers a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, as long as car owners meet certain conditions.
Why Didn’t He Get a Warranty Reimbursement?
If Hyundai normally has multiple means for customers to get their cars covered under its warranty for catastrophic failures, then why wasn’t it an option for the content creator?
The answer reveals a grain of truth in his post; Hyundai is particular about vehicle maintenance. The company wants records to prove that a vehicle is properly maintained. That includes replacing recalled parts and maintaining oil changes.
Getting reimbursement without having a record of clean maintenance—via the dealership or otherwise—can be tricky.
In one circumstance, a man recalled how his 2013 Sonata seized while on a trip. The dealership asked him a thorough line of questions about his car maintenance, including a few about years when the vehicle wasn’t “maintained.” The man explained he did his own oil changes but didn’t have receipts from purchasing oil, filters, or other products from years prior.
“They seemed to indicate this shouldn’t be a problem,” he said, while immediately noting that his claim was rejected. “It seems that the settlement allows for rejection of claims based on ‘neglect’ (lack of maintenance) or failure to install the KSDS sensor (a recall item on the vehicle).”
Afterward, he applied for a formal appeal process. He provided credit card statements with proof that he had maintained his vehicle, which allowed him to finally get through the repair process. He was also reimbursed for other expenses related to towing the vehicle.
‘Any Car Can Have Those Issues’
In the comments section, multiple viewers disagreed that Hyundai and Kia were at fault. They said the content creator’s video was old and added that the experience with his Hyundai was singular.
One commenter said, “I’ll bet it was owners negligence. People want cars and don’t maintain them properly, then turn around and blame the manufacturer. Give me a [expletive] break.”
Online, many people also shift the blame for Hyundais bursting into flames toward owners; they say that Hyundai recommends maintenance routines that can largely prevent catastrophic failures.
One person, who claimed to be a car parts manager, said, “I haven’t seen any cars that we have taken to do the 132/162 catch fire. It’s only been a select few Hyundai’s/Kias. Personally what I believe is happening with these cars that are going up into flames is that those cars that haven’t gotten the recall done, using aftermarket oil filters, and aren’t getting their oil changes.”
Viewers, then, told the content creator’s audience to buy Kia and Hyundai cars. They just issued a small warning; like all vehicles, they need to be maintained.
Subplot News reached out to the content creator via TikTok direct message and Hyundai via email for comment. We will update this story if they respond.
@cubantard People are dumb. They think this is BS cuz it never happened to them personally. NEVER buy a Hyundai or Kia ! That 100k mile/10-year warranty they offer is a SCAM ! They will nit-pick for any silly little reason to DENY your warranty claim if something does happen #hyundai #kia #hyundaisonata #caronfire #engineproblems ♬ original sound – Cubantard
