2001 Hyundai Sonata from North America
Summary:
Research the resale value... That should convince you that you're buying junk!
Faults:
No oil cap when I drove the car off the lot.
Air-bag light on every 50 or so miles. Explained by poorly placed wires under the driver's seat.
Battery died after 2 weeks.
Rear driver's side window motor is dead.
Driver's side window has slipped 8 times!
Engine light after engine light after engine light!
Replaced alternator (dealer price was almost twice as high as a local reputable repair shop)!
Most repairs we needed were not covered by "America's Best Warranty" even during the warranty period.
Transmission is slipping.
A/C went out at 75,000 miles. A/C specialty shop fixed it twice and is baffled!
Check engine light is on again and EVERY mechanic is baffled. Every single repair shop (4 in total) recommended taking the car back to the dealership's service department as they are clueless to the meaning of the engine light.
General Comments:
The service department where I purchased my Sonata has been less than helpful. Less than a week after buying the car, I went back to the dealer as I noticed there was NO OIL CAP! The service MANAGER blamed me for that. Why would I shell out $18,000 over the course of 5 years just to yank an oil cap out at mile number 15???
We have spent countless hours in the "waiting room" as they examined our car and came back with a ridiculously high repair price. Every time we've been in there, we've been made to feel like WE were inconvieniencing THEM! After the 5th or 6th repair I asked for a "loaner car" and they looked at me as if I asked for the moon. "We only have 3", I was told. After a lengthy conversation they magically found a fourth.
We've received surveys in the mail and answered them honestly about how disappointed we were. The SERVICE MANAGER actually called my house and DEMANDED we give her better marks on the survey!!! How's that for service?
I will NEVER buy another Hyundai. I will never shop at my local Hyundai dealership again. I don't get my car repaired at my local dealership anymore. I recommend NONE of my friends provide any business to the local dealership.
I believe "Hyundai" is Korean for "Money Pit".
I had a Dodge that caught on fire while I was driving it... and I still like it better than my Hyundai!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 2nd July, 2006
8th Aug 2007, 01:35
I've had a Sonata of that model year and it was OK besides the check engine light. But you're right on your warranty comments. In the advertising it's portrayed that you are buying a quality car backed up by a comprehensive warranty lasting for many years. But the warranty just covers so few things.
And there's a catch, and it is as follows: the instruction books says that in the event of a check engine light, the car should be stopped and the dealership should be contacted. So that's what I did in the beginning. But there was really nothing wrong with my car, even if the check engine light came on all the time. The dealership charged me $80 every time they did a reset of the light + $40 for towing me, assuming I was no further than 30 miles away. But they never fixed anything.
In the end I just ignored the check engine light, and I drove like that for more than two years, even if the tech said I was voiding my warranty by doing that. But I can't spend $100+ every second week to have them reset the computer. In the end I did a trade-in for a Nissan, even if I lost $13,000 over three years or so on the trade.
6th Aug 2007, 01:05
Oh my goodness, that is so funny, but so honest... sucks too.