Hyundai Sonata

Within only 2 months of the recall timing, her engine broke. Hyundai will do nothing at all to help her even though they admit to creating a faulty engine. The car is stuck at a Hyundai dealership that did confirm her engine troubles are because of the faulty Hyundai craftsmanship and they have applied to Hyundai for help and we have been turned down. This has now left a full time college student without a car to get to school or work and no funds to replace her car or engine. We will never support or promote Hyundai because they clearly do not support their customers or choose to build loyal customers.

Mind you this started in 2018 and the car was still under warranty at that time. I have even emailed Hyundai headquarters, and they replied they tried to reach me, but that's not true either. Over a month ago the car stalled out. Same dashboard lights and alarm, only this time it would not start. Had it towed to the dealership and they tell me the motor is locked up, and remind me several times the warranty is now out on the car. Mind you I have been trying to get help since 2018 while car was still under warranty. Needless to say I have no answers, no car, not even a rental offered to me. Did I mention Hyundai just issued an engine recall within the last several months? Mine was supposedly not affected, but how ironic my cars motor has locked up on me now..BAD BUSINESS.

I take the car to the dealership to have fixed/replaced. Guess what? The service tech tells me they are not covered. What?? It has a 5 year/60k mile warranty. Nope. Those items are considered accessories. So what! Well, accessories are only covered under the 12 month/1 year warranty. Sure enough, Hyundai has a 12 month/1 year warranty on "accessories". Now, keep in mind, these items were installed at the factory when it rolled off the line and in fact are on EVERY SINGLE HYUNDAI SONATA. Okay. Shame on me for assuming that the 5 year/60k warranty meant "bumper to bumper". However, the car still ran great.

Now, fast forward another year. I get a notice that there is a major engine flaw in these Sonatas. I get a notice that they are extending the engine warranty way past the powertrain warranty. Cool. They identify a major problem and are willing to correct it. However, last month, the volume button on the steering wheel broke. No biggie. I'll take it to the dealership to fix it (under warranty) when I get the oil changed. I've owned this vehicle for three years now and have 26,000 miles on it. All maintenance done on this vehicle has ALL been done at a Hyundai dealership. All records reflect that.

So, the dealership changes the oil but will not replace the button. Why? Not covered. Service tech says it is because of abuse. Really? The button goes up and down. That's it. The car is washed and cleaned at least twice a week. You can eat off the floor of this car. In fact, I get a cold call from the salespeople just about every time I take it in for an oil change that they want to buy the car back or if I'm interested in trading it in. Dealership will fix the button for $350. Ummmm, NO.

So, I reach out to Hyundai Customer Care for assistance. Long story short, they referred me back to my local Hyundai dealership. I'm done. I have reached my limit. Hyundai's drivetrain may go a half million miles but doesn't mean squat if the vehicle falls apart around it. If Hyundai will not fix the simple things "under warranty", I refuse to take a chance on something major happening. I've owned numerous vehicles in my 46 years on this planet and have NEVER, EVER had such a problem with any auto manufacturer/dealership honoring their warranties.

I traded the Sonata in on a Toyota Camry faster than the time it took to buy it. I know for a fact that Toyota will honor their workmanship and warranties. I was very disappointed in what Hyundai did. They tout their long warranties and customer service. But the warranty is only as good as the service backing it. I, nor my family will do business with Hyundai. I cannot in good conscience recommend Hyundai to anybody. Good luck to the next sucker who buys this car.

I could have kept the car and paid out the lease $2100 but was lured into dealership with promise of paying off 2013 lease if we purchased a 2015 Hyundai which we did. So to recap, I was lured into dealership to give back care early, Dealership agrees to pay off lease $2100 which they did, now Hyundai corporate is trying to defraud me out of more money which is not right. We have leased a 2015 and 2018 Sonata after this supposed balance was owed.

Be very wary of Hyundai and they will BAIT you in, promise to pay off lease, and will leave you holding a balance owed that you are unaware for years. They are telling me it is part of the lease agreement when you relinquish a lease early which is fine but that clause becomes NULL and VOID when the dealership agrees to pay off the remaining balance owed on that lease. I feel I was baited and defrauded by Hyundai Corporate. How many others I wonder who they did this to. By anything other than Hyundai unless you want to leave room for you to be defrauded after the fact. We would never have turned in a lease owing $2100 just to be defrauded out of $2700 after the fact. This is not right.