Worst Vehicle with worst customer service & Hyundai Consumer Affairs never got back
To:
WesternRegionCA@hmausa.com
Sep 7, 2018 at 9:13 PM
Hi Brandon,
Thanks for contacting me. There has been series of issues not only with the car but even with the dealer and I will narrate to the best of my memory can remember.
1) I bought this car on April 12, 2014 and had a per-approved loan from First Tech Credit Union (FTCU) bank. After the deal was finalized with he sales agent and before the paperwork started with the financing person at the Hyundai dealer in Kirkland, I mentioned that I had a pre-approved loan from (FTCU) bank and he simply ignored and said that they don't work with that bank. Since 4/12 was a weekend I confirmed with the bank if it was going to be an issue regarding financing the car at the dealer if I buy it during the weekend or on a bank holiday. Bank official response was that dealer has all the information to do the financing even when the bank was closed. The financing person at the dealer used Whidbey Island bank to prepare the financing. Later I went back to FTCU and explained and the bank official said that they will talk to the manager at Hyundai in Kirkland. A month later I refinanced through FTCU but this could have been avoided at the first place. I didn't had to go through the refinancing hassle if financing was done with FTCU in the first place. The financing representative at the Hyundai, Kirkland dealer asked me to get Xzilon. Customer service at Xzilon is pathetic. Submitting a claim is a pain and their communication is horrible.
2) After purchasing the car on 4/12 I received an email to provide feedback. I provided feedback regarding the break issue. The issue is that when I stop the car to park using the gear at the "P" position the car would still move few inches back and forth until it comes to a complete stop even on a fairly flat surface. I explained the issue on the feedback form and I was asked to get an appointment to check the car brakes at the dealer. During the oil change service I brought the issue to their attention. the problem never got fixed and I still have the same issue even today. I owned several cars in the past and none of the cars had similar issues. I still drive a more than 10 year old Honda, Civic and there is no such issue.
3) This car had several recalls and had to go to the dealer atleast couple of time in a year to get it fixed. What a waste of time. I made an appointment with the Hyundai service I Kirkland for July 31st, 2017 and it took more than 6 hours to fix the recall. When I made the appointment to get the recall item fixed no one at the service desk provided me an estimated time frame to fix the recall. I had no choice but to leave the car at the service center to get it fixed. I asked them for a loaner car and they didn't have one. They gave me a ride home and the driver of the car said they cannot come to pick me up since it was more than 14 miles form my house to the service center. I really didn't expect that kind of a reply. In the past I always received a loaner car or the service center arranged for a rental car. The shuttle car wouldn't give a ride if it was requested after 4pm even if the service center was open until 6pm.
4) Around about 20K miles the under carriage close to the front fender line came off and was brushing against the road while driving. During the regular oil change service I received an estimate from the Hyundai service at Kirkland. The repair was estimated at $400 plus taxes. I got another estimate from Accurate Auto Body Inc. and they fixed it for $208.26 which is half the cost that Hyundai service dealer provided. It's irony that at 20K miles this happened. Again, I have and drive a Honda, Civic i.e more than 10 years old and there is no such issue.
5) Around May 16, 2017 the transmission failed. I was at my daughter's school and I couldn't move the car. It was stuck and I couldn't move the steering wheel. I called my insurance to tow the car to the dealer. It took about a week to fix it. I asked the dealer for a loaner car and they didn't have one. They didn't even arrange or pay for rental car. So I had to spend money to rent a car so I can go to work.
6) August 24th, 2018 I made an appointment for oil change and the regular general inspection. After the service was over I asked if there was any red signals/ issues that needs immediate attention. The service representative said that everything shows green so its all good. I told him that few days back I had to jump start the car and asked if there was any battery issue or its time for a new battery. He pointed at the service report and said if everything shows green so no issue. Next weekend was the labor day weekend and I was not able to start the car so I jump started again. My labor day weekend was a total waste as every time I needed to drive I had to jump start the car. The earliest I could bring the car to the service center was on Tuesday, September 4th. I had to jump start the car again to take it to the dealer to replace the battery. Before I take it to the Hyundai Service at Kirkland I received a quote that a new battery will cost me $180 + taxes. When I was at the dealer I was given the estimate that it will cost $265+taxes as its a different kind of battery. Its called an AGM battery that controls all the electronic modules. My total bill was close to $300 on 9/4/2018. The car is less than 4.5 years old and the battery needed to be replaced which was an unexpected expense. One would expect that for an AGM battery it should last more than 4.5 years. I can understand that regular car battery last about 4.5 years and cost much less. In Costco battery is less than $100 including replacement. And when you take your old battery they give $10 back. Unfortunately, Costco does not carry 2014 Sonata model battery. I had to buy a portable DBpower jump starter kit for $70 as starting the car became so unreliable.
I feel I made a bad choice four years back buying the Hyundai Sonata. There were too many recalls in this four years and several repairs. Battery issue, brake issue, transmission issue to name a few. I had to jump start my car after I came back from 7 days vacation. I'll never recommend my friends and family members to buy any Hyundai models as its not very reliable. Customer service will simply write one sentence "Apologies for any inconvenience". I'm seriously thinking of buying a more reliable make and model by the end of this year. After I sell this car I will provide this review to all my friends and family members and in my social networking group so no one ever thinks of buying this make and model. The car is pretty looking from outside and has all the modern features but ultimately its pain to own this model.
The neighbor who help me jump start the car during the labor day weekend said that he has similar issues and one time his car stopped in a middle of a four lane highway. I was thinking that my car is one bad apple from the lot but now I'm convinced after talking to my neighbor that Hyundai, Sonata is a very unreliable car. Buying this car is a waste of time and money.
I have all the receipts from Hyundai Service center as wells as from Accurate Auto Body, Inc. Let me know if you want them to verify any information. Feel free to reach me via email or phone if you need further information.
I sincerely request Hyundai Motor America to replace my car free of cost as I paid top dollars when I purchased this car. I have wasted lot of time, money and energy on this car.
Hyundai Consumer Affairs never got in touch with me.
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