2009 Sonata Limited V6 Door Repainted Options

[necostanzo]

Hello all.//

Frequent lurker 1st time poster...I recently bought a brand new 2009 Sonata Limited V6 in Cocoa. I bought the vehicle brand new with only 14 miles on the ODO. After I got it home and was able to clean & detail, I noticed that the left rear door had been repainted. I immediately called the dealer and they looked in all the records (or so they say) and told me that nothing had been damaged on the vehicle. I called Hyundai USA and filed a complaint. I also took the vehicle to another Hyundai dealership and the body shop and service manager confirmed that in fact the door had been repainted (by using a millimeter paint depth tool and visual confirmation) . They looked on the Hyundai website and did not find any warranty PO's on this vehicle, which indicated that it wasn't damage in shipping since it would have been repaired by the purchasing dealer and reported as a claim to Hyundai and it would have shown on the website. My complaint was upgraded to the regional office and I received a call from someone there and they were going to do some further investigation. My questions here as follows (please chime in if you have 1st hand knowledge or experience with this matter):

#1. Is it possible it was damaged at the factory and repainted there? Are they putting out that kind of crap in Alabama? With a casual glance you wouldn't notice the repaint, but you can see remnants of overspray on the b pillar and if you look closely down the panel you can see a difference in the orange peel and there are a few waves in the surface.

#2. Why is no one able to pinpoint where this vehicle was repainted?

#3. I am getting the feeling that Hyundai is not going to replace the vehicle, but only offer to repaint the door/body. I am a picky person, and there is no amount of painting that would make me feel good about keeping this vehicle...it is not factory paint and will never match the entire car. Does anyone have experience with damaged/repainted vehicles?

#4. Is there anything I can do or say to Hyundai to get them to exchange this vehicle? I did call my State attorney generals office and they said that in our state, the dealer/manufacturer has to disclose any type of damage that exceeds $300 on a new vehicle (which they didn't). In addition, the state representative told me that there is another issue and that is the "presumption of condition", which means that I would have never purchased the vehicle had I known the door had been repainted. It is assumed that when you buy a new vehicle it is in fact "new" and undamaged.

I personally don't want to sue my dealer or have the State attorney general office investigate the matter because it is time consuming and distracting. I just want someone to accept that the vehicle was damaged and repainted somewhere along the way before it was delivered to me and replace it with another one that is similar. Heck, I even offered to throw a little money at it to get the monkey off my back. I expressed my view that I am a 1st time Hyundai buyer and that I usually buy 1-2 vehicles every year and that if I'm not treated fairly on this matter, I will never buy another Hyundai.

I hope for the best, but I'm expecting something less. Please add your suggestions or inputs.

Cheers, Nick

[bakshi6]

I wonder if the car failed QA standards (to the extent they exist?) and was re-painted during production.

Can we see pics?

If they repaint the door, make sure it is done to your complete satisfaction.

Oh, and leave the law suit part for a last resort but don't let them drag their feet either.

[mamamia]

I'm no expert, but my logic tells me the door was damaged AT THE DEALERSHIP, and they did the repair themselves.

What I would expect Hyundai to do is get you a new, painted door from Alabama. It's not too complicated, it's easy for them to do, and it's the right thing to do, ethically and certainly technically.

[Inman Lanier]

I would concur that the damage likely occurred at the dealership. Dealerships have been the downfall of every situation where a customer gets ticked at a particular car company. Remember, the dealer is not Hyundai - it's a shame that the dealer is not being honest with you.

I understand your "pickyness" - I too used to be like you. The good news is that the paints used today are far superior to those used in the past. Fade is much less likely. If you really want to get rid of the car, likely the only way that will happen is if you go through the state to file in court. I agree that would be a major pain.

With regard painting again - the only way you may not notice is if the next time they blended the base color very carefully to adjacent panels (usually if close enough, they use seams as the demarcation). This then means more panels would need new clearcoat on them (and again you may notice a subtle finish difference).

What you may wish to do instead is IF you like the color match and finish currently, get an agreement drafted by Hyundai USA (not the bad dealer), with a guarrantee of your satisfaction with the paint for whatever period of time suits your needs. This may be difficult since the dealer is at fault (not Hyundai) - and Hyundai may choose to loose a customer instead of fighting this one on your behalf. If they don't sign an agreement to your liking, then file with the state. If you prevail, you will likely have to discount your price by a mileage rate - so be conscious of this if you are going to drive in the meantime.

Dealers have been all over the map with regard quality and ethics. It's a shame because that's really not the manufacturer. No matter how hard a manufacturer tries to carefully select, train, and audit their dealers - you get a chincy dealer that tries to cover their but when they screw up, and this is what you get into. I have no reason to be disappointed with Hyundai. I've had 2 Kias - in one case national went to bat with me to get the local dealer to not scam me on a diagnostic analysis (based on a check engine light). I assume it's the same national organization as Hyundai. We'll see.

Please keep us posted.

[MaxxRPM]

Nick, did you buy this car in the St. Louis area? If so, what dealer if you don't mind me asking?

[necostanzo]

Car was bought in Council Blffs, Iowa at Edwards Hyundai. I live in Iowa and work in St. Louis part time at Scott AFB. Did a little online research and this dealer does not get very good marks. Car has about 1500 miles, what is the usual mileage charge? It surely is not more than 20-30 cents?

[Yiran Hu]

Can we see some pictures?

[necostanzo]

Car is at home in Iowa...I will take a few pics and post them this weekend...This is my last post at the Edmund Townhall forum for the Sonata...it appears that there are more people viewing that thread than this one...Here is the link:

httu://townhall-talk.14@...Ah@.f16bb6f/983

Here is my reply:

Thanks for all the replies. I really think that there is more damage than meets the eye. It doesn't appear that it was a small scratch & repaint. If you look at the seam along the front edge of the door, it is deformed and not straight. Whatever hit/damaged the door casued enough force to deform the door edge seam. Is it possible that the door was dropped when it was removed from the vehicle during assembly? If so, would they have fixed it or just replaced it with another door? From what everyone is telling me, the chance of it happening during assembly is very small.

Anyone have direct access to the factory information and can discuss the procedures for what happens when a door is dropped/damage during assembly?

Much Thanks again for all the help, Nick

[MiamiLX]

Please don't Link to Edmunds. They do not allow Edmunds members to link to us.

Besides, your link takes us to a General page with nothing about you or the Sonata

[necostanzo]

Sorry about the edmunds link...not sure why they have more action there...this is the better forum....must be too many happy Hyundai drivers that don't bother to lookup complaints from fellow owners like me or there aren't many mods avail for the sonata. Which is it?

Nick

[MiamiLX]

While I don't know what Edmunds problem is, you have every right to get to the bottom of this. Cars can come damaged.

While you might never find out the reason why this happened, if it is not right, you have the first Year for all adjustments,

and then a skimpy 3 Years or 36,000 mile warranty on the Paint.

[mamamia]

Why put all the time and effort in trying to find out WHAT actually happened and WHERE? It MUST have been at the dealership, or else the dealer would not have accepted that car loaded off the truck......

You bought a new car, and you have the right to get a car with no damage, or a repair that's visibly showing damage to the door.

I'd concentrate in Hyundai regional office to take care of it. Your dealer seems reluctant, so go visit that other dealership that confirmed there was damage done to the door. That other dealership might be more cooperative in communicating with Hyundai's regional rep. Dealers like to help unhappy clients of other dealers. I went thru a similar situation with my dealer who was playing deaf when my engine developed an annoying whining noise. Another dealer was more than happy to solve the problem.

[alex2006sonata]

Pretty much agree with everyone else. Definitely sounds like the damage occurred at the dealership and now they are playing dumb. Normally I would say accept a new door and enjoy the car. However it really smells like the dealership tried to pull a fast one on a consumer and did not disclose the fact the car was damaged. If I were you, I would either demand a NEW car with absolutely no money out of your pocket, or keep your current car, get a new door installed AND demand a monetary settlement equal to the reduced price of the car had you (the consumer) known the car was damaged. If they don't agree to this, then its a pretty straight-forward lawsuit, which the dealership definitely wouldn't like.

[MiamiLX]

It is a myth that all new Cars come perfect. HMA would not be involved in this. anyway It is a retail matter. When you take delivery of a new Car you sign a form. If any adjustments are to be be done, they issue a 'Due Bill', or a 'We Owe You'. If you don't have one they are not obligated to do any additional work, aside from approved Warranty work. My 2006 LX Sonata came pretty beat up, with lots of scratches. It had been through 2 powerful Hurricanes. They sold me a $25,000 Loaded LX for $18,000. The GM said take it or leave it. I burned rubber out of his lot!

[mamamia]

No, Miami, you're WRONG: You KNEW what you're buying, and you got a great deal, Miami. The OP paid a normal price and did NOT know what he's getting into.

You go to a dealership to buy a brand new car and you have ANY reason to suspect they sell you a damaged car? If that's the case than OBVIOUSLY you wouldn't accept the car unless you demand to put the car on the lift and do a thorough inspection of the undercarriage of the car, right? Wait, better, you should bring a certified mechanic with you, pay him hourly, to check the car, inside and out, test the engine, and all other mechanical components.... Maybe the car has been submerged in flood water and you don't know?

This post has been edited by mamamia: Nov 4 2009, 04:21 PM

[MiamiLX]

Well no Mama, you deserve a Car in perfect condition, but that is not always the case, as all Cars are Demo's in this Country, aside from NY, if that's true?

My Dealer didn't set out to give me a great Deal. In fact they were possibly up to no good. Dealers for years have sold Cars that have been slightly damaged

and then repaired. It happens all the time. About my Sonata, just got Blown real good in Miami. But it could have been in an Accident and how would I know?

Perhaps it is a good idea to bring your Associates, and asking to look under the Car doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Of course they will say no,

as NO ONE s allowed past the Yellow line!

[mamamia]

Miami, why argue about a simple fact: Your car was sold to you KNOWING it was damaged, no matter by another car or by a storm. You KNEW you're getting a damaged car, you got a great deal and you walked away "burning rubber" as you described it. It was YOUR CHOICE getting a damaged car, and pay less for it. fair enough.

The OP was NOT told of any damage to his car. He did not expect to buy a damaged car. Yes, cars can be damaged while being transported to the dealership, or while sitting in his lot. That happens. But the dealer's responsibility ---- and I'm not sure, in some states he may need to reveal any past damage to the buyer ---- but AT LEAST do a PERFECT job, replacing the door with a pre-painted door coming from Alabama, unless he can do a PERFECT job himself.

Under no circumstances do I see ANYBODY purchasing a new car, just to find out later that it was damaged....

After all, if the OP was able to notice the repair of his door (even if a couple days later, so what?), so would a potential buyer of this used car in the future, demanding a discount in price....

This is just plain common sense. the OP has the right to be pi$$ed. I'd be too. You'd be too, Miami.