I am extremely disappointed with the way Hyundai chooses to DISHONOR its "bumper-to-bumper" warranty...which seems to be useless!
When the check engine light came on in my 2008 Hyundai Sonata, I immediately stopped at my regular service garage. A very reputable and honest company, I would like to add - the mechanic told me to get it to the dealer since it was still covered by the warranty.
Because I had to drive it home (just under 5 miles!!!) I called the Hyundai dealership in Alexandria, VA to make sure it was okay to drive it with the light on, and they said yes. But when I got home I noticed foul-smelling exhaust fumes when I got out of the car.
After speaking with the Corporate Customer Service Rep (who was very polite and patient about explaining the WARRANTY to me) I had the car towed to the Hyundai Dealer in Alexandria, VA - just to be sure that nothing else would be damaged.
It was "diagnosed" with a broken engine sensor which had been short-circuited I asked if it was a covered repair: "NO. It is damage from an outside source, apparently some kind of rodent chewed through the wires."
You can imagine how surprised I was!
The damage was not THEIR fault...but nowhere in the warranty does it state anything other than an act of God, abuse, neglect or improper maintenance as reason to default on the warranty coverage of repairs.
When I called Customer Service at Hyundai America, a rep named Olivia, said animal damage is NOT covered in the warranty as it is an "OUTSIDE SOURCE".
What a bunch of BOGUS CRAP!!! I wonder why they even bother providing the Warranty at all...it is apparently useless.
Now I am stuck having to pay nearly $500 in repairs!!! If I had known the warranty would not be honored I'd have taken it to my regular mechanic who is honest and fair in his dealings with his customers...and has never gouged anyone by charging outrageous fees for repairs!!!(JAPANESE AUTO SERVICE, Annandale Rd., Falls Church, VA)
I considered having the car towed from the dealership to my regular mechanic but the tow charges would have been more than $150. After all the frustration and disgust it seemed a moot point...so the dealer is doing the work, after all.
In the future I will NEVER take my car back to a Hyundai Dealership...I will consider the warranty null and void...since the reality of "BUMPER TO BUMPER coverage is semantics - no basis in reality whatsoever!
Disgusted