A MAN’S car has been sitting at a dealership for months after he was denied coverage when his new car’s engine failed – and they blamed him for the problem.
The driver bought an extended warranty for his 2022 Hyundai Elantra N but was still told that the damage couldn’t be helped because he “over-revved” his engine.
College student Christian Matzoros, 20, said he paid extra for an extended warranty when he bought the car two years ago, expecting multiple years of coverage as Hyundai’s plans can last up to 15 years.
In June, Matzoros’ new car gave up as it was driving on the highway – with just 28,583 miles on the odometer.
“It just stopped. I was stepping on the gas pedal and it wasn’t moving,” Matzoros told CTV News.
He took the car to a local Hyundai dealership, which determined the car had been abused because the engine red-lined, or hit its maximum speed, multiple times and caused damage to the vehicle.
Matzoros admitted he took the car racing at a local motorsports park multiple times, but he maintains that didn’t cause the engine to fail.
“The car has been to the track, but that is not when this incident occurred,” the driver said.
“I was driving home when it blew up.”
He defended the red-lining by saying he bought the 2022 model specifically because it was the sport model.
“It is their track model and it is designed for the track and track use. It has a two litre turbo and it’s equipped with a six speed manual transmission,” Matzoros said.
He later added in a TikTok, “You’re telling me you made a track car and you expect it not to be redlined? It’s not really fair.”
A spokesperson for Hyundai Canada told CTV News that the dealership “thoroughly investigated” the issue by reviewing the car’s engine data.
“It was determined the engine experienced conditions exceeding its designed operational limits, resulting in significant mechanical failure,” Hyundai Canada said.
The spokesperson said the vehicle’s warranty doesn’t cover damage due to excessive engine revving because it points to improper use.
“The warranty for Hyundai vehicles covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal usage conditions,” the spokesperson explained.
A Hyundai Canada spokesperson shared the following statement with CTV News:
“Hyundai Canada has conducted a thorough investigation into the matter involving Mr. Matzoros’ Elantra N,” Hyundai Canada told CTV News Toronto.
“After reviewing the vehicle’s engine data, which was retrieved through the Engine Control Unit (ECU) – a system that monitors and records engine performance for diagnostic purposes – it was determined the engine experienced conditions exceeding its designed operational limits, resulting in significant mechanical failure.
“These findings point to excessive engine revving, which falls outside the coverage of the vehicle’s warranty due to improper use.
“The warranty for Hyundai vehicles covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal usage conditions.
“Damage caused by misuse, including exceeding the vehicle’s mechanical limits, is not covered.
“In this instance, the excessive stress caused by significantly exceeding the maximum recommended RPMs on multiple occasions falls outside the warranty parameters.
“We have provided a full explanation to Mr. Matzoros regarding the cause of the issue and the reasons for this decision.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Hyundai Canada for comment.
“Damage caused by misuse, including exceeding the vehicle’s mechanical limits, is not covered.”
Hyundai Canada said the red-lining caused “excessive stress” on the vehicle.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Hyundai Canada for comment.
Matzoros says it’ll cost him $10,000, which is about $7,400 in US dollars, plus tax to repair the engine.
The car has been sitting at the Hyundai dealership for three months.
“My car still sits blown up,” Matzoros told The U.S. Sun.
“I don’t have the funds nor wat to pay but I will fight as much as I can.”
Matzoros told CTV News he was worried the car might also be under recall for a high-pressure fuel pump.
Despite being denied, he still thinks Hyundai should repair his engine.
“I want Hyundai to cover this motor, especially because I did purchase the extended warranty and $10,000 is a lot of money,” Matzoros said.
Matzoros’ worries about the recalled high-pressure fuel pump come as Chevrolet is paying out a $35 million settlement to customers due to the same faulty part.
PLAYSTATION’S PS5 Pro announcements have been exciting and disappointing fans in equal measure.
Last month, PlayStation announced the PS5 Pro, a reveal that was long rumoured and expected by fans.
However, they weren’t expecting the price, which was a huge £700/$700 and is missing a number of important features.
Both the disc drive and vertical stand that came with the original PS5 are sold separately, making the cost even higher.
Despite the high price, and everyone saying it was too expensive for what it offers, people were interested again when the 30th anniversary edition was revealed.
The consoles and accessories from the collection have the iconic grey colouring and brightly coloured logo and PS shapes on the buttons from the original PlayStation’s design.
While the 30th anniversary PS5 Pro bundle cost almost £1k/$1k, people vowed to get their hands on one.
That was until they finally went on sale, when bots and resellers snapped up most of the consoles putting them on online marketplaces for prices up to £10k/$10k.
PlayStation has tried to stop resellers who purchase PS5 Pro bundles, but for many buyers, it’s too little too late.
In the initial console reveal, there were just 12 PS5 Pro-enhanced games announced for launch.
People were disappointed by this poor selection of games, but there are apparently more to come.
Speaking during Tokyo Game Show, senior principal product manager Toshimasa Aoki revealed that there are many more games that will be available at launch.
He estimated that there would be 40 to 50 games available with enhancements by the time the console launches in November.
This list of games includes both first-party and third-party games, but he didn’t name any in particular.
Aoki-san also emphasised that even games that don’t come with specific enhancements, will still be improved by the PS5 Pro.
He claimed that improvements to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are the ones that impressed him the most.
While 12 games were originally confirmed for PS5 Pro launch enhancements, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been delayed until February.
Here are all eleven games currently revealed to have enhancements on the PS5 Pro at launch:
If you want to read more about PlayStation, check out the drama behind the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.
For Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.
The Duggars officially have another family member.
Jason Duggar—the 12th child of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar—married Maddie Grace Oct. 3 in his new wife's home state of Tennessee. The...
WITH Halloween just a few weeks away, many of us have already starting decking our homes for parties – and the little trick-and-treaters.
But if you’re yet to get in the spooktacular spirit – or don’t want to fork out a fortune on all things Halloween – you might want to check out the spooky collection Lidl have just launched.
The popular German discount store, which sent fans into a frenzy with their £2 Yankee Candle deal, has added new bits to the famous Middle Aisle.
So, whether you’re on the lookout for cheap costumes for your kids or some decor that won’t break the bank, there’s something for everyone.
And with prices starting from as little as 99p, it really doesn’t get much better.
One of our favourites is the retailer’s Halloween Glow Assortment, which is sure to make any party lit – quite literally.
Priced at a purse-friendly 99p, shoppers can choose from glow party pack, bat headband or green sword – ideal for both decorations or as a part of your kid’s costume.
Other goodies to look out for include spooky Livarno Home Halloween Character Candle that will set you back just £1.99.
The hand-painted candles come in a range of fitting designs, such as a pumpkin, a ghost or a ghost with a pumpkin, and the burning time is up to eight hours.
Also selling for a mere 99p are the Livarno Home Halloween Window Stickers – a cheap and fun way to add an element of spookiness to your home without any faff.
What’s more, the stickers – featuring a scary pumpkin print – are also removable without leaving residue and reusable.
Shoppers can also get their hands on Haunted House Halloween Accessories for under a quid – a great for a party or simply for adding a spooky vibe to your home.
Flocked pumpkins will help create a spooky feel and will look fabulous for table centrepieces and mantle displays, while the honeycomb pumpkin decorations and ghost garland add an eerie element for just 99p.
Meanwhile, if you don’t mind splurging out a little more, we reckon it’s worth snapping up Haunted House 78cm Halloween Light Up Wand for £4.99.
The perfect accessory for any spooky outfit, this wand will instantly illuminate your Halloween night.
LIDL has published a new list of desired locations for potential new stores. The list includes, amongst many others, the following towns and cities:
To see the full list, click here.
For the little trick-and-treaters, there’s also a huge range of spooky garments to pick from, such as Skeleton Halloween Costume, £4.99, and Grim Reaper Halloween Costume, also under £5.
To make the little monsters extra scary, why don’t you add Haunted House Face Paint to your basked for £1.99?
Lidl super fans can choose between black, white and grey – or red, green and orange, if your kid wants to be a witch this year.
Speaking of painting, the supermarket has also launched Rock Painting Glow in the Dark set – the ultimate Halloween activity for just £1.99.
The box contains rocks, glow in the dark paint plus an easy-to-follow instruction book with all the techniques, tips and steps for glow in the dark rock art – and it’s sure to go down a treat for a party.
MILLIONS of Americans will soon see Supplemental Security Income payments hit their accounts, with amounts up to $943, ahead of the 2025 COLA increase.
SSI, a part of the Social Security Administration, provides monthly benefits to older adults and individuals with disabilities who have limited financial resources.
Typically, payments are made on the first day of each month.
However, when the first falls on a weekend, payments are issued on the preceding Friday.
For those qualifying for the maximum benefit, the payment is $943.
However, the actual amount varies based on several factors, including an individual’s income, living arrangements, and assets.
These variables mean each recipient’s check may differ from others.
The Senior Citizens League predicts a 2.5% Social Security COLA for 2025, down from 2.9%.
The Social Security Administration will officially announce the COLA on October 10, with a 2.5% increase translating to a $48 boost for the average retiree, whose current benefit is $1,920.
Though lower than 2024’s 3.2% rise, it aligns with the historical average of 2.6%.
The COLA is determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) and applies to benefits starting January 2025.
SSI helps approximately eight million Americans, including elderly individuals, disabled adults, and millions of disabled children.
To qualify, recipients must meet strict financial criteria.
Individuals can hold no more than $2,000 in assets, while couples are allowed up to $3,000.
Other eligibility requirements include:
Here's how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
If payments are delayed, Social Security advises beneficiaries to contact their bank first, as delays in processing may be the cause.
Here are the dates that Social Security checks will be paid out in October, aside from the SSI payment on the first of this month:
In the remainder of 2024, there will be some irregularities in the SSI payment schedule, which might confuse recipients.
In November, for example, beneficiaries will receive a double payment due to December 1 falling on a Sunday.
The first January 2025 payment will be issued on December 31, as January 1 is a holiday.
Similar schedule adjustments will occur in February and March 2025 due to holidays.
To report issues with missing or stolen payments, recipients can contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office.
For additional details about SSI eligibility and income thresholds, visit the Social Security website.
As 2025 approaches, Americans can also expect an increase in SSI payments, reflecting annual adjustments aimed at keeping pace with inflation.
