On September 12, 2006 I bought a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe because of the Incredible Warranty Hyundai offered. Prior to this, over the last 15 years I always bought AMERICAN, either Plymouth, Chrysler or Ford. I have Owned or Leased 8 Vehicles in the last 15 years. On average, I have put 50,000 miles on each of these vehicles; being in sales. I NEVER ONCE HAD ENGINE TROUBLES with any of these vehicles, none of which offered HYUNDAI'S INCREDIBLE WARRANTY. I have always Maintained my Vehicles the same way, Average Oil Changes approximately every 5,000 miles
On July 25, '09 I was driving the Santa Fe and the Engine Light came on. Within seconds the Hyundai stalled out. I immediately brought it in to RICK CASE Hyundai Plantation, FL. Jim G. had a MULTI POINT INSPECTION done and did some computer thing and then it ran fine, but the Engine Light was still on. He said he could not perform some update and to bring it back next week. I brought it back, he had some ECM UPDATE ? And the engine light went out, and it ran fine.
PRIOR TO THIS; in February of 2009, I was in Del Ray Beach, FL at Delray Hyundai and had a MULTI POINT INSPECTION performed along with the electric seat fixed. They found a half-dozen things that needed to be done. BUT, NEVER MENTIONED ANY THING ABOUT ENGINE OIL, OR THAT AN OIL CHANGE WAS REQUIRED.
Going forward to October 10th of 2009, Once again the engine light came on, I brought it back to RICK CASE Hyundai Plantation, FL. Jim G., after some time he came back and said that a Sensor had Oil build-up on it and that he could not fix it under warranty. It was a Saturday afternoon, I had a lot of things to do; he said it would cost around $100.00, so I gave him the go ahead, BUT, INQUIRED What this meant and How it could happen? He mentioned that POSSIBLY, whoever was doing my Oil Changes, Maybe wasn't really doing them.
I was having them done at Front End Performance in Davie, FL., where I had all my front end alignments done( keep in mind, I do spend a lot of time on the Road, so Front End Alignments, tire expenses are very important to me). Now, Front End Performance, has a good reputation and I have No Reason to believe, was ripping me off on something like an Oil Change, their Only Flaw, is that they are not computerized, just old-fashioned filing cabinets.
So, back to Jim G., and RICK CASE HYUNDAI in Plantation, FL Oct.,2009. I asked him what I should do? He suggested an Engine Oil Flush. I asked him if he could do it? He said "no". That was a bit confusing that a Hyundai Service dept. could not do what he suggested, but, once again it was a Saturday afternoon, and I has stuff to do. So he Changed the sensor, the light went out, it ran fine. Jim G. did add that there were Other Sensors that would probably need changing down the road, that were not as easy to get to; that they would probably have to be replaced at some point.
So, I made mental note, that at some point, I guessed, that the engine light would be coming back on, and I would have to have these "Other Sensors" changed out. Also, at that point, while driving down the road, a few blocks, I saw a Pennzoil JF Xpress Lube and went in and had an Engine Flush and Oil Change done, based upon Jim G.'s suggestion. This was just minutes after I left RICK CASE HYUNDAI, PLANTATION. The Santa Fe ran fine, until December 12th, two months later.
On December 12, 2009 I was driving up the Florida Turnpike, and the Engine just quit. After several tries, I got it started, but, was unable to actually give it gas, without it stalling out again. I called Hyundai Roadside Assistance they came by and towed it to the nearest Hyundai Dealer who happened to be Coconut Creek Hyundai. It was late afternoon, so they called me on Monday, after looking at the vehicle, and asked me to try and find my Oil Change Receipts. So, after 4 hours, I was able to find records of 4 Oil Changes within the period from Sept.'08 through Oct.'09, but, prior to that, God only knows at this point. I have looked to no avail.
In summation Chronologically: Sept., 2008 Oil Change FRONT END PERFORMANCE; Feb.,2009 MULTI POINT INSPECTION Delray Hyundai; April, 2009 Oil Change FRONT END PERFORMANCE; June, 2009 Oil Change Front End Performance; July & Aug., 2009 Engine Light RICK CASE Plantation Hyundai; Oct.,2009 Engine Light RICK CASE Plantation Hyundai Sensor Replaced(at which time Oil Flush Request was Refused by Jim G. Mgr., and he told me other sensors would have to be replaced in the future); Dec.12, 2009 Engine Shut-off on the Highway and vehicle was towed to Coconut Creek Hyundai.
December 14th, 2009 I produced, what records I could find, along with 2 Oil Change Receipts I found in the Glove Box While the car was sitting there in Service Bay of Coconut Creek Hyundai. I gave the above records to Coconut Creek Hyundai, and was told the Regional Rep would review my info and make a Decision. I have found out that the Regional Rep never actually personally reviewed the records, but was given some of the info over the phone and made a decision that the engine would not be Warranteed by Hyundai. I retold the facts as stated above, and spoke with Mike S. of Coconut Creek Hyundai and he replied that, yes , he acknowledged the Multi-Point Inspections done by Both Delray Hyundai and Jim G. of Rick Case Hyundai, and that he was not responsible for their Negligence.
I told him, "look, these are my only recourse when having a problem with my Hyundai Santa Fe, I bring it to a Hyundai Dealership, in my mind, that is like bringing my vehicle to Hyundai themselves, you guys are their representation, the only representation that I would know to go to as Hyundai themselves." He informed me that each Dealership, though Representing Hyundai are Owned and Operated Independently, if one or both of them were negligent, it was not his problem, because now I am dealing with Coconut Creek Hyundai-- needless to say, extreme frustration came on me.
So now, I am sort of caught between a rock and a hard place. To try and find further Oil Change Records....My opinion, unmechanical as it is, says this should have been either picked up during Multi-Point Inspections, or at worst, back in July when the engine light came on, at extreme worst in October Jim G. of Rick Case Hyundai should not have Refused an Oild Flush and Change and the Trouble could have been either stopped then, or at least minimized, rather than, Dec.12 th a complete shut-down of the engine, I mean what was he doing. Seriously? Simply to tell me other sensors would have to be replaced down the road, was a Complete Failure on his part as a diagnosis.
So moving forward from Dec.14-15, They have Quoted me $4,500.00 to Replace the Engine with a used engine. This would be Out-a-pocket monies, that I am really not convinced, to say the least, is my responsibility. So, since then, I asked their Sales Dept., if they would take it as a trade, but the best they have offered me is $9,000.00 as a trade.
I did an Intelliprice Trade-In Appraisal, prior to the engine sludge issue, and the Very Least I should get, now I said, once again the Very Least I should get is $ 13,635.00, and could get as high as $ 16,690.00. This is one of those stories, that I can help but sense, that if I could get a hold of Mr. Hyundai himself (right?), he would either Warrantee the Engine, or Give me Full Book Trade on a New Hyundai, Along with all of the Other Year-End Specials and Incentives. Now, supposedly the engine is shot, and Hyundai will not warranty it