Elantra GT 2018 - engine fail (P1326) 9 months after purchase - Hyundai won't cover...
I bought a used 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT with 164,000 km from a non-Hyundai dealership. Nine months later, despite keeping up with my oil changes and having a full inspection done at a garage in March to make sure there was nothing that needed to be replaced and no major hidden issues, I ended up with a major engine problem. I had actually just finished sanding down the rust, applying primer, and repainting it with paint that matched the original finish because I wanted to keep the car for a long time.
On July 24, I went to start my car and the check engine light came on with code P1326. Based on what I found online, I was advised to take the car to a Hyundai dealership because of this specific code. After having the car for four days, the dealership told me that the cylinders were scored.
It took them two and a half weeks to finally tell me that my warranty claim had been denied because the BCT test passed. In other words, the test was successful, while the warranty apparently applies when the BCT fails.
I asked why my cylinders were scored, and I was told that there is some type of coating and that when the weather gets very hot or very cold, it can cause the cylinders to become scored. I live in Quebec, so I find that explanation pretty unacceptable considering the temperatures we normally experience here...
At the same time, I am also pursuing the matter with Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) regarding the dealership that sold me the car, since I don't believe the vehicle lasted for a reasonable amount of time after purchase and there may potentially have been a hidden defect.
I paid $11,000 cash plus taxes for the car in November. The Hyundai dealership says the short block — basically the lower part of the engine — needs to be replaced.
I also tried contacting Hyundai Canada, but they told me that the process has to go through the dealership. The dealership says the repair will cost around $9,000.
My regular mechanic does not want to give me a quote yet because he wants to make sure there is no possibility of resolving the issue through another Hyundai dealership first. Meanwhile, I have no vehicle, and it has already been almost a month.
Another mechanic at a Hyundai dealership told me that there are no work orders/campaigns related to this issue for my specific model and model year.
Does anyone have any advice, or has anyone been through a similar situation? I have been waiting for a very long time and I really just want to get this resolved. I specifically bought a newer vehicle because I wanted to avoid exactly this kind of problem — having the engine fail on me.