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Hyundai Santa Fe engine failure - what are my rights?

In May 2011 I bought a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 automatic. I have kept up the maintenance schedule and driven it carefully, with 94,000 miles on the clock. I had the cam belt replaced at 60,000 miles, even though it didn't need it for peace of mind.

However, last week, I was driving along the motorway when the oil pressure light came on and it started sounding very rough. I pulled off at the next junction (about two miles), turned off the engine and called out the RAC. I have just been told by the garage that I need a replacement engine.

Would I have any recourse with Hyundai for this as I cannot afford a replacement car or a new engine and I cannot see any reason why this would happen to such a low mileage and well maintained car. I appreciate it is almost nine years old but I really wasn't expecting this from what is supposed to be a reliable manufacturer.

Asked on 2 April 2015 by Chav71

Answered by Honest John
No, the car is more than 6 years old so you have no rights against anyone except, perhaps, the servicing garage. Oil pressure light and tappety noise reads like either the oil pump failed or the oil strainer became so clogged up that oil could not be pumped around the engine. If that was the reason then the cause was probably siphoning the old oil out at oil changes instead of draining it via the sump plug. I have heard of one case where engine failure was caused by carbon build up, but that does not fit your description.
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