I purchased a 2002 Elantra GLS in May. The car was purchased for my wife who drives the car to her various worksites. We asked the salesman to show us a car or cars that were dependable, comfortable cars. We went with the Elantra, I guess gecause that's all they would finance us for.
We were happy with the initial purchase. Then we drove it home.
We noticed a pretty heavy vibration, shimmy. I called the dealer, and had to schedule a time to take the brand new car to the shop. After several failed tries to rid the car of the vibration, I took the first step to makinging a claim under the Florida Lemon Law.
We received a letter from the dealer, and Hyundai, acknowledging that they had one more chance to fix the problem. I made an appointment, and left the car for a few days. While driving the car home I noticed the vibration was still there, just in a different speed range. I then went to the next step in the Lemon Law Process and filed for arbitration.
Before going any further, I have to add that while being in and out of the shop several times before I filed Lemon Law, the car was also in for repairs to transmission speed sensors and a defective rearview mirror that rattled to the point of driving a person insane. All of the service calls and repairs were made during the first eight months of ownership. Something like thireen service calls.
We drove the car for a few more months, with the vibration, until I felt that it was unsafe to drive. At this point I took the car to a brake shop, because I felt that the problem must be a problem with the brakes, rotors or tires. Keeping in mind that the dealership was to have had all of these things looked at when they attempted repairs. The brake shop turned the rotors, and repaired a caliper. The problem waned for a few weeks, during which time, I had the arbitration hearing. The vibration never went away completely and is still there today.
The results of the arbitration, of course favored Hyundai. I received nothing. During the arbitration the Hyundai Representative, accused my wife of and I of using the car for a business. This was not true, but just mentioning that, must have influenced the decision by the arbitrator. The Hyundai rep was less than cordial to my wife and me, I believe because he was the Master Mechanic brought in to do the final repair attempt. Hyundai also had the upper hand in the whole thing due to the fact that I had to present copies of all of my invoices and service sheets, but Hyundai did not have to present me with copies of the paperwork showing that they actually had the repair work done at all. One example would be that, the car was sent out for road force balancing of the tires, but I was never given a copy of the results for my records. I just seem to think that fair is fair, but not with Hyundai. To top it all off, one of the last steps to completing the arbitration is a walk around of the vehicle with the arbitrator, the Hyundai Rep and myself. The rep looked at the car, asked about hte parkinglot bruises on the car and then we went back into the conference room. A few days later, I received the letter of denial from the BBB.in the write up explaining his decision, the arbitrator stated that he took into accout the fact that we have a trailer hitch on the car. Again, another lie. We have never had a trailer hitch on this car. Never had, never will. It's a four cylinder, little car. Who would hook a trailer to one of these things?
Now, I believe my wife and I have been, and continue to be completely ignored by Hyundai. Except when they want me to bring the car in for Hyundai sponsored repairs, like the two major safety recalls, both concerning the fuel system. That means at least fifteen repairs effected on this car in two years. And I don't want to seem like I'm paranoid about this car, but I feel that the Recall dealing with the brake lines possibly being cut by a crossmember, is due to the vibration problems in these cars. What really bothers me is that when that Recall was done, I went straight home and slid under the car. What I found really concerns me. What did I find? Nothing. I saw no new clips, no areas cleaned as specified in the TSB. Did it get done? Maybe, maybe not, but you can be sure that If that cars goes up in flames, somebody will respond to me then, unless I am in the car. Then I guess it will be, problem solved for Hyundai. Consumer Removed!!!
I just recently had new tires put on the car, not cheapies either. I had the tires spin balanced, and request the lugs be torqed to the specs in Hyundai's new TSB, instructing the mechanic in how to balance a tire. Really, how big of a problem do we have here, when headquarters has to tell a certified mechanic how to change a tire??? Just to be sure, I went home, got out the torqe wrench and attempted to check the torqe of the lug nuts. Before touching anything I noticed a lug nut looked a little crooked. Sure enough, it was stripped. Back to the shop. A few hours later, I was back on the road. The shop had to buy the lug and nut directly from Hyundai. I guess it must be some special Hyundai size. Long story short, I now have another broken lug on the same wheel.
This car has been a source of great frustration and at times great anger. It has been a dissapointment from the very first day. Hyundai and the dealer should be embarrassed by the treatment I and my wife have been subject to. I think Hyundai should give me back what I paid for the car, because this problem existed when the car was bought brand new. During the arbitration, I was willing to settle for Hyundai paying for the brake repairs, as that repair did help to reduce the vibration. And I stated this during the arbitration hearing. But after being shafted by the Hyundai rep and the arbitrator, I will settle for nothing less than a full buy back. I also am willing to sign on to any class action or any kind of law suit against these people. I really didn't like having my character questioned.
I am willing to deliver any copies of repair orders, lemon law documents etc to any lawyer who thinks I might be in the right.
Timothy
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
0 comments