‘Now I Have a 20 Grand Bill:’ California Carmax Customer Buys 2018 Hyundai Tucson. Then the Engine ‘Explodes’ on the Highway

"It felt like a scam."

Photo by: @blancacrowe & @itsnisharaii

Chad Swiatecki

By: Chad Swiatecki

Jul 17, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

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“All of a sudden, all hell breaks loose.”

That’s how a California driver described the day her 2018 Hyundai Tucson’s engine exploded at highway speed. She says it kicked off a months-long ordeal involving warranty denials, a $20,000 repair bill, and an extended fight with Hyundai and CarMax’s third-party warranty provider.

In a series of TikToks, creator Blanca Crowe (@blancacrowe) recounts the increasing frustration and concerns she’s faced in dealing with a series of problems with the Hyundai Tucson she’s owned for just over two years.

What Happened

According to her videos, in 2023, Blanca bought a used 2018 Hyundai Tucson from CarMax with 58,000 miles on the odometer.

She says she opted for a Fidelity Insurance extended warranty and kept detailed records of regular oil changes.

But just two years into ownership, Blanca says the engine failed without warning during a highway drive. She recalls the moment when the dashboard lights flashed, the engine made a “heinous” noise, and the vehicle had to be towed more than 100 miles to a Hyundai dealer in Carlsbad, California.

What followed was a five-month wait for repairs, during which Blanca was responsible for a rental car the entire time, she says.

The delay, she says, was due in part to repeated inspections ordered by Fidelity, which ultimately led to the denial of the warranty claim. The company cited a lack of maintenance, despite her documentation.

“I did all the right things,” she says. “And I was still left with a $20,000 bill for a car that’s not even worth that much.”

The Warranty Tug-of-War

When Fidelity denied coverage, Blanca says she turned to Hyundai Corporate and filed a goodwill repair request.

The automaker initially declined, citing her status as the second owner and the vehicle’s age, she says, despite it being under the 60,000-mile powertrain limit.

Frustrated, she used ChatGPT to help draft an appeal.

After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations, Hyundai agreed to cover 70% of the repair costs. Fidelity, under mounting pressure from the customer, agreed to pay the remaining 30%.

“It felt like a scam,” she says. “They knew Hyundai would pay something, so they just waited me out.”

The experience highlights a common disconnect between consumer expectations and the realities of used-car warranties, especially when multiple parties are involved.

The ‘Fix’ Falls Apart

Despite the engine replacement, her problems reportedly didn’t end there.

Blanca claims she picked up the car only to find it with new issues: rattles on cold starts, a heavy front-end feel, and a loud startup clatter. Not long after, the air conditioning purportedly failed during a long-distance drive, and a check engine light came on.

Hyundai kept the car for another month, eventually replacing the high-pressure fuel pump and A/C compressor. But even after that, the cold-start noise persisted.

“They told me it was a brand-new engine and everything should be great,” she says. “It’s been the absolute opposite.”

As of her latest update, she’s still trying to get the vehicle properly diagnosed.

Blanca’s experience echoes broader issues linked to Hyundai and Kia vehicles equipped with Theta II engines.

Models built between 2011 and 2019 have been the subject of multiple recalls and class-action lawsuits due to engine failures, excessive oil consumption, and fire risks.

In 2023, Hyundai and Kia agreed to a $200 million settlement to resolve claims related to engine fires in vehicles using the Theta II platform.

Now, even after a new engine and months of repairs, Blanca plans to sell the Tucson as soon as it's running.

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“I’m literally traumatized by this whole experience,” she says. “I never want to drive this car again.”

Motor1 reached out to Blanca via email, and to Fidelity Warranty Services via phone. We’ll update this post if either responds.