Mechanic warns of car brand on his do not buy list – model goes into alarming ‘limp mode’

A GROUP of expert mechanics have warned motorists of a car brand that should be on your do not buy list – claiming they are renowned for going into “limp mode”.

Taking to TikTok, a group of auto technicians from Royalty Auto Service — who go by the handle @royaltyautoservice on the platform — have revealed a disturbing truth about a hugely popular marque.

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In the video, which has more than 786,000 views and over 25,000 likes, the expert mechanics reveal why Hyundai should be avoided.

While working on a 2015 Hyundai Tucson with 118,000 miles on the clock, the two mechanics reveal a concerning sound coming from the vehicle’s engine after starting it up – which includes a loud rattling noise.

Upon closer inspection, the mechanic confirms the Tucson is “full of oil” – which explains why the customer was complaining about it going into limp mode.

Limp mode, which deactivates all non-driving essentials, including the radio, air conditioning, and screens, is essentially a car’s way of alerting a driver to a severe problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

It will also reduce a car’s power and speed – essentially so it can limp its way to a safe location.

In a follow-up video, the Royalty Auto Service experts revealed the Hyundai Tucson was not under warranty, with the engine repair request declined due to the car clocking over 100,000 miles.

In a case such as this, replacing the car’s entire engine would be costly.

Research suggests the cost to replace a Tucson engine can be around $5,000 – which is usually not worth the expense.

Little else was added on the fate of the vehicle, which was promptly towed away from the Royalty Auto Service lot.

Gearheads in the TikTok’s comments section weighed in on the mechanics thoughts and feelings on Hyundai’s reliability.

One commented: “No car depreciates more than a Hyundai. This is why.”

Another wrote: “Yet people still buy them and confidently believe their reliability is better than, or just as good as, Japanese cars.”

A third simply said: “I would never buy a Hyundai.”

And a fourth, who claimed to be another mechanic, added: “We see a lot of bad engines.”

Hyundai, one of the best-selling car makers in the US, with models such as the Santa Fe a regular sight across the country, has been known to suffer issues in the past.

Indeed, some models were recalled in 2021 after an engine defect was discovered that resulted in piston oil rings being not properly treated, which led to engine damage.

This was a particular issue for Hyundai models built over the past decade with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine.

However, recalls haven’t quite plagued Hyundai in the way they have other major car brands.

Last year, Ford and Chrysler each suffered a host of callbacks, while Hyundai’s total of 20 undercut the likes of BMW and Mercedes.