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Hyundai

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Hyundai • Brakes • Stalling • Transmission • "Just Everything" • Airbags • Engine Failure • Fires • Sludge Problems --- News • Lawsuit Says Hyundai Airbags Fail to Deploy • Feds Step Up Rusting Hyundai Investigation • Feds Study Hyundai Airbag Failures • Feds Investigate Suspension Failure in Hyundai Santa Fe • Rusting Hyundai Sonatas Prompt Federal Probe • NHTSA Probes Hyundai Air Bag Failure • Hyundai to Tap U.S. Sport Sedan Market • Hyundai Drops Back Into Minivan Market • Hyundai Drops Out of Minivan Market • Airbag Problems Plague New Hyundais • Hyundai Offers $85 Million to Settle Horsepower Suit • Hyundai Aces J.D. Powers Survey • Horsepower Overstated

Hyundai got a lot of good press when it extended its drivetrain warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles. But those who owns these troublesome little rattletraps have many tales of woe about the warranty, not to mention the transmission, the engine and just about everything else. On top of that, the company now admits that it overstated the horsepower on more than a million Hyundai and Kia models.

More recently, Hyundai and Kia raised eyebrows when they finished unexpectedly high in the J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey. The Powers Survey is highly regarded but perhaps "initial" quality isn't the problem? Check the complaints listed to the right and judge for yourself.

Here are a few recent arrivals:

Clara of cincinnati, OH November 20, 2009

I have had my 2009 Sonata for 5 months it was a brand new car. I have had it towed 4 times and I have made 5 payments. The last time it was towed it needed a part in the tansmission replaced. Brad new car. I have asked several times for the car to be replaced or my money back. But they don't care they got what they wanted the money now leave the customer to deal with the many problems. This is why they have a 10 year warrenty. I hate the car.

Tim of Litchfield Park, AZ November 20, 2009

With high hopes, I purchased a 2010 Hyundai Coupe from Germain Hyundai in Avondale Arizona. Within a week, the troubles started. First the radio kept failing. First visit, could not duplicate. Second visit, could not duplicate. Third visit, GM takes a ride and the thing fails three times in 2 miles. He blames it on my phone which was paired to the Bluetooth. I ask him how that could make the radio fail...deer in the headlights look. They keep the car and update the firmware. Get the car back...still does not work. Again, blames it on my phone. I tell them, why is it doing it with the phone not powered up or not even IN THE CAR! Back to the dealer...4th time, new radio (which I asked for the second time.) seems to work ok.

Bigger issue and this effects MOST Genesis Coupes. The hood does not fit properly on the car and bounces while driving. I have had to pull over numerous times to make sure the hood is secure...it is that bad. The car has been to the dealership 7 times and Hyundai has sent two corporate folks to look at it. They say it is fine...when everyone else sees the problem...and knows it will take a HUGE fix..so they want to ignore it. It is a safety issue...if it does not fit right, it may not latch right. I was told it would NOT come open but I asked to get that in writing...they refused. Hyundai has ignored my pleas to fix this hood in the name of safety. They have no desire to fix the car. I have no been forced to pursue a Lemon Law claim against them in addition to filing a safety claim with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I will not put my family in this car.

Thomas of Bear Creek Township , PA November 17, 2009

In Jan. 2008 I had to brake hard to avoid hitting an animal in the middle of the road. I heard something in the right front end of car snap and I lost control and went off the road. I reported this to my dealer and they said I just had an accident and that was all. I have just received a recall notice from Hyundai telling me to bring my car in ASAP as the front end subframe had not been treated for salt corrosion and that this could cause an accident. I think they are a little bit late. Also; I have had to recently replace a power steering power hose that was corroded and rotted out, as the mechanic showed me and I believe this was also due to the non treatment for salt corrosion in the salt belt states. I own a 2003 Hyundai Elantra, and recall affects 2001 to 2003 models and maybe more as I have a friend who received recall for her 2004 Hyundai Sonata for the same issue. TY!

Judy of Mesquite, TX November 15, 2009

My 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe broke down while I was on vacation, July 3, 2009. I was stranded on the freeway out of state with my granddaughter and it was a holiday weekend. When I contacted the closest Hyundai dealership, they said that they would be closed before I could get the car there and that they would not be able to look at it until the following week. Based on my circumstances, I contacted another shop that would take the car that day (although it was closing time, they agreed to wait until the tow truck arrived). As it turned out, the tension pulley that the timing belt is attached to had broke causing the timing belt to break.

Resulting damage was so severe that the entire motor had to be replaced. After the repairs, totaling over 3000 were done, I wrote a 3 page letter to the Consumer Affairs department at Hyundai. They contacted me and basically said there was nothing that could be done. Their excuse was that I did not use "genuine Hyundai parts" when I had the regular 60,000-mile maintenance work done. In the letter I wrote to them, I did not ask for anything but just stated that I thought they should do something. They did not so much as apologize. Perhaps they were afraid that I would take that as an admission of guilt. The attitude of the person I spoke with, ticked me off so bad, that I then called and asked for a supervisor. The supervisor assured me that she would look into the situation and call me back. I faxed her additional paperwork that she requested. I never heard back from her. After waiting over 2 weeks, I called again and was told that the records reflected that she had left me a message telling me that Hyundai refused to do anything. I never received any such message.

I purchased a Hyundai after a lot of research and because the warranty was one of the best available. The warranty is worthless if they refuse to honor it. The car had about 91,000 miles on at the time this all took place and was still under their "supposedly" 100,000-mile warranty. Totally worthless obviously. If anyone is thinking Hyundai, I encourage him or her to think again. A great warranty is not worth the paper that it is written on, if the manufacture refuses to stand behind it.

Virginia of MEnifee, CA November 12, 2009

I have a 2007 ELantra that the airbag light came on, the car has never been in any type of collision, the dealship ran test cost of 96 and the findings were incunculsive,I had a box of sorts in my backseat that thy implied maybe the culprit as the light went off only to reappear 48 hours later, now they say that it MAY be the sensor and that can be replaced for a cost of 657 plus labor and tax because the warrantly is only 60K miles, how can a warrently be determined by miles on a safety feature, this is not the first time I had a problem within the first 500 miles after purchasing the car, I do not remember what they told me then but considering this is my second Elantra and now third incident in whcih the airbag light has come on and no collission to me it seems there maybe a problem with the desigh/location all the cords/sensor are under the driver's seat, even if I spent the 's the paperwork I have is not clear if this would resolve the issue or not since when I left they thought it was taken care of - I have 70K miles on my car they calim this problem is under their 60K Limied Warranty Plan so its my problem so to speak

anamaria of fillmore, CA November 11, 2009

i own a 2005 hyundai accent that has had multiple issues with the engine light going on and a transmission temperature sensor problem. i have had it to 2 mechanics and to the dealer in ventura ca twice. the car had 17,000 mi on it the 1st two times around and now has 36,000 mi on it.

i simply wanted to know how "safe" the car would be to drive andi if i was covered under warranty. after missing 2 days of work and having to call Hyundai Coporate office in Utah--i was VERY DISPLEASED at the lack of help that was offered. also the time and money spent on this issue.

2 days of work missed and the uncertainty that i would make it to the dealer in Ventura--35 mi away--safely and my time and frustration---still dont know if the work on the car will be under warranty.just wanted America to know what great (sarcastic) vehicle service and care the consumer is getting these days when economc times are bad. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPASSION EXISTS!

Margie of Southfield, MA November 10, 2009

In my family we have owned three Hyundai's, an elantra, a santa fe and a tuson. On all three of them we have had problems with the back brakes. The brakes are sticking on and wearing out the brake pads and rotors. When the cars are being manufactored they are not greasing the calipers. When the brake pedel is pressed the caliper squeese the brake pads to the rotors cause the brakes to stop the car. I have paid for two of these vehicles to be fixed but I refuse to pay for the third. Hyundai is stating that at 7,000 miles the car is supposed to be serviced to have the calipers greased. I feel this is a manufactoring defect and the consumer should not be held responsible to pay for the repair.

Mary of Omaha, NE November 9, 2009

Hyundai lease is a rip off. NEVER have I turned in a car that they demanded a 300 fee to return a car, and talk about extra charges. They wanted to charge me to replace tires, when I was under on my mileage. I tried to talk to the finance company who refused to return my calls, then they just turned over the debt to collections, instead of giving me one minute of their day to talk to me. When I turned in the car, they took my contract so I had no proof that there was not a 300 fee, and they refused to send me a copy of the document with my signature. Long story short, DONT EVER LEASE A HYUNDAI. They are not a customer service company, and I would NEVER recommend them to any of my friends. I hope they go out of business due to their shady practices and dishonest reputation. I will LMAO!!!

marcia of plymouth, MA November 5, 2009

Basically my dad passed away at 86 years of age. We are the ones who swayed him into a hyundai in the early 90's because we owned them. He passed away and left the car to me (his daughter) which put it into my son's name (his grandson). The elentra is a 2002 and has 27,000 miles on it. It has been serviced every oil change when needed. My son just replaced all 4 tires which is ok with us, but surely not nearly near the expectincy, however is experiencing problems with what we think to be the transmission. He had it serviced and cost 300.00 and now the mechanic feels the entire transmission needs to come out and checked. He told us this should be under warranty, however, first being told that we would be as the rules of immediate family changed in 2003 then told NO it is not covered as it is in my sons name. He IS immediate family and this car only has 28,000 miles on it????? I am awaiting an answer from John on this matte and have since heard many complaints from consumers and now the websites. I would appreciate some answers. This car is parked in my driveway at all times being my dad's daughter. thank you. If I do not hear back within the next week I will be contacting my dad's attorney. This letter was sent to John over two weeks ago.

Chris of Kincheloe, MI October 29, 2009

A month ago, the rear of the car was making 'scary' metal noise. I took it to the dealership a day after and hoping to have it look at it right away during my lunch time from work. The guy from the dealership told me that the appointment were all booked and to return two days later with an open appointment. I told him what happen of my car and he said there is nothing he can do 'at that minute.". I asked if they have a car that i can drive so that I can leave my suv there for them to take a look and he said there is no spared one i can use. It was 2 days before my road trip. And the santa fe is the only car I have to commute. So, I took it to toronto anyway even with those loud noise making in the rear end.

From the inspection of an auto repair shop in toronto, the man showed me the brake pad on the rear right was rubbing metal on metal. He was scared and surprised that the dealership man did not even take a look after I described the problem to him and to stop me from leaving the dealership. Anyway, the auto shop changed the rear brake pads for me on both sides and now the noises are gone.

I called to the customer affair today and the Terri told me there is nothing they can do because the brakes are "wear and tear" which does not cover after 1 year.

I used to think American Cars are a lot worst than Korean or Japanese cars. Along with the advertisement of "best warranty," I thought I made a very good choice of purchasing this new 2008 santa fe until this happen to me. I understand the brake pads are wear and tear items, however, does it even make sense to you that the brake pads could go down "metal on metal" after 1 year/ 23K mile of use? I had my dodge neon for 5 years before I purchased this santa fe, I'd never needed to change the brake pads for that vehicle.

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