Who is responsible for repairing a car after a recall notice is missed?

MILLCREEK – Maritza Vasquez’s car is in the shop in need of costly repairs. She believes the automaker should cover these repairs.

“The engine is knocking,” she said. “There have been two recalls of the vehicle.”

Her car, a Hyundai 2015 Sonata, was part of a major recall. Owners were told to bring their vehicles in for a “software” update – one that would listen for engine “knock” and “continuously monitor for symptoms that may precede engine failure.”

In fact, Vasquez’s engine failure was attributed to this very knocking problem. She wanted it repaired according to the recall. But Hyundai said “no.”

“They denied it because I never fixed it,” she said.

Hyundai sent such notices to owners, but the previous owner either did not receive them or did not respond.

“I was never notified,” she said.

Hyundai told Vasquez that she would have to pay for the new engine herself.

“Disappointed,” she said of the situation. “I see a lot of effort here that I don’t have.”

Vasquez hired the KSL Investigates team to investigate.

KSL Investigates reached out to Hyundai on her behalf, and a company spokesperson told KSL-TV what the dealer told her.

Your “engine was eligible” for an extended warranty, but it required the “remedial action to be completed to be eligible.” And “because the service campaign update was not performed,” the spokesperson wrote, “the vehicle did not meet the eligibility criteria for extended warranty coverage.”

“It is important for consumers to regularly check for recalls,” said Patrick Olsen, managing editor at CARFAX.

While Olsen said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the Vasquez case, he did provide a CARFAX report for their Sonata that shows the open recall dates back to 2019.

“It’s important to check your car (especially if you purchased a used vehicle) (for recalls) at least twice a year,” Olsen said.

If Vasquez had done that, she would probably be getting her car repaired for free right now. Instead, she’s trying to decide whether she wants to pay for a replacement engine or a completely new car.

“Life isn’t fair,” she said, laughing.

You don’t have to pay for a vehicle history report to find out if your car has an open recall. CARFAX offers a free tool to car owners and buyers, as does the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.