Summary: unemployed and need a car to replace one with a major issue that Hyundai won't honor the warranty for.

Hi! I'm B.J. (sometimes known as Mayim).

My life has fallen apart over the last 6 months. In May, I lost my dream job due to federal library funding cuts and a seniority-based bump, despite having unique skills.

Before the lay-off, my savings had been chewed up by medical bills ~ two major surgeries a year apart, in June 2023 and June 2024, will do that in the U.S. Upside: my mother died of ovarian cancer ~ I can now say for certain that will not be my cause of death.

Since May, I've applied to over 290 positions in libraries and in other fields, as ongoing funding issues have slowed library hiring further.

In August, I faced another setback when my car's engine died. This issue appears to be quite frequent among Hyundais and Kias from the late 2010s, as both brands used the same engine model during those years. The extent of the problem became clear through a couple personal encounters:

• The tow truck driver who transported my car back to my house after the dealership began charging for storage mentioned that his cousin owns the same model and year—and has experienced the same engine failure.
• When I contacted my auto insurance agent to explore possible assistance, she informed me that I was the third person within two weeks to report this exact engine problem. Unfortunately, the other two cases involved accidents, qualifying them for help, but my car simply broke down without causing an accident, leaving me without insurance support.

The dealership denied the warranty, saying it is Hyundai corporate’s responsibility. Hyundai corporate tells me it's the dealership's decision. I've spent too long arguing and not getting anywhere. It's a known issue ~ there have been court cases over the issue and Hyundai supposedly has an extended warranty to cover the problem [although my car has few enough miles that it fits under the initial standard warranty].

My unemployment benefits are ending, and I need a car to find work and support myself through the winter.

Any amount you can send my way will be extremely helpful!