On September 13, 2007 I posted the original link to the Hyundai TSB here and at Edmunds pertaining to the "dreaded" clunk / front shocks issue.

Hyundai has just published TSB # 07-50-007.
Subject:"Front Shock Absorber Replacement-"Hollow" Knocking Noise"

This concerns the annoying "clunk" many owners have mentioned, and covers Azera's with build dates from 12/05/05 - 02/26/07.

You can print a copy in PDF format @:

http://www.hmaservice.com/index.jsp?SSOSES...Q4PXzlbJ7OgE%2F

As a result of those postings, I have no idea how many Azera owners printed and presented a copy resulting in shock replacement with Hyundai dealers. I assume the number is significant.

In my case, ('07 in build date range) I faxed the TSB to my local dealer (attention of Service Manager) and was told they would have to "verify" the problem. A ride-a-long appointment with the dealers guru Azera mechanic resulted with "normal road noise". I insisted they put the car up on the lift to inspect for damage and was told "none determined".

The service manager claimed he had not seen the TSB, nor had the time to read all from Hyundai, Lincoln and Mercury that crossed his desk. He could see I was doing a slow burn and finally offered to "make an exception" and order the parts to make me happy. I diplomatically told him to pound sand.

Now, 9 months later I still have the "clunk" of course but I live with it. One might think though Hyundai US and their dealers should be aware of this nagging problem, along with others (dimming headlights) and step up and address the problems to at least try to keep a small portion of the future business gene-pool intact.

Hyundai Korean boardroom arrogance today is linked to the Genesis product line upgrade. These suits need to get over themselves and try to protect what minimal customer base they had originally. Uninformed multi-brand dealers / service departments lack the training and product knowledge one would expect for 30K plus sedans and SUV's. You sense that immediately when entering the showroom.

The '08 Azera had the shortest lifespan of any vehicle I am aware of. I doubt there will be a 2010 edition. Genesis is on a hyped dealer allocation. The clowns in Korea and Fountain Valley have lost their minds.

Well noted. I have taken my Azera back several times and had the service manager drive the car. He never heard any clunking noise. Either he didn't want to hear it or he didn't care if he heard it. I was in the car on the drive and I heard it.

Most dealers don't want to fix the problem but even with the TBS can it be fixed? Not really. I can live with the clunk but the headlight dimming is a serious matter that needs to be addressed.

Funny thing is when I first got the car I never had a problem with the headlights or maybe never noticed a problem. Now I notice it eveyday. It would be hard for the dealer to see it as the dealers only test drive the car during the day when its light. Yet there is a surge in the power on the car, when the lights are on the air or heat is on or even the radio. This a a power plant flaw in the electricial system. Hard to find but it needs to be looked into before someone gets killed or hurt.

Sorry to hear about your clunking issue. That has to be frustrating.

With that said, I question the likelihood that Hyundai will kill off the Azera. Didn't people also say they doubted there would be a 2008 or a 2009 Azera? The Genesis is not a replacement for the Azera anymore than the Genesis coupe is a replacement for the Tiburon. The Genesis pricing starts where the Azera leaves off. I personally believe that Hyundai will produce the Azera for a few more years before a full redesign. Heck, the Tiburon will be going on it's 9th year in production soon!

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 13 2008, 07:38 AM

The Genesis pricing starts where the Azera leaves off. I personally believe that Hyundai will produce the Azera for a few more years

I guess what I am saying is that some Azera owners would probably upgrade to Genesis. Those that have had these issues stonewalled by the dealer and or the factory may now think otherwise. In many cases, the last person a Hyundai dealer rep. will want to see in the showroom is an Azera owner.

Will Hyundai or Genesis be doomed? Of course not. Is Hyundai proactive? Of course not.

With the dismal sales performance of Azera since the '06 launch it is unlikely the twin towers are aware of the negative issues posted here and elsewhere. What a shame too, for an otherwise great bang vehicle for the buck.

Hyundai is not doomed as a company, but it is doomed to only be successful up to the sonata price range, anything beyond that requires a whole new mindset which so far they have not shown to possess.

This post has been edited by Pelikan: Jun 13 2008, 08:55 AM

The Sante Fa & Veracruz seem to do pretty well. :puzzled:

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 13 2008, 11:03 AM

Both are relatively new this year, so how will they fare over 3-4 years? The Azera was the hotest thing since sliced bread when it came out, but look at it now.
Hyundai's poor initial design and inability to fix the problem is what is going to keep me out of a Genesis.
Toyota sent me a card to get a $50 credit card if I test drive one of theirs. Guess I'll check out the Avalon Limited, although I bypassed it for the Azera before.

I saw a full page ad for the Azera today. It was in the June edition of either Car & Driver or Motor Trend (can't remember which). It was a nice ad, not like the crappy ones in the past. Maybe Hyundai is planning to keep the Azera in the line up.

For the record, I am not in any way attemting to excuse Hyundai for their shortcomings, but no automaker is perfect. After years of VW ownership I think I can handle anything. I've never, before or since, encountered such arrogance and a complete lack of appreciation for customers than at the hands of my local VW dealership, and VW of America.

As for Toyota, they still make some good vehicles, but their rapid growth has hurt them IMO. I wouldn't be suprised to see them in GMs position 10-20 years down the line. It seems every month there is another recall. And owners of various Toyotas are reporting problems from engine oil sludge, to transmission issues, to cracked frames, to broken tailgates, etc. Toyota built a strong and loyal following by building affordable, highly reliable vehicles in 80s and 90s. It is my personal belief that they are riding on their reputation and it will come back to bite them in the a-s-s later. Outside of Lexus, I see very little improvement or innovation in their lineup. In terms of actual build quality and thorough engineering, the Camry peaked in it's 3rd generation. It's also worth noting that recently many owners have taken legal action against Toyota due to the fact that they feel they've been treated improperly, and in many cases were blamed or held financially responsible for known defects in workmanship. http://digg.com/business_finance/Toyota_Qu...5_Million_Autos

On a side note, the Santa Fe has been on sale for 2 years. The Veracruz has been on sale for 14 months. I also forgot to mention the Entourage which has been on sale for 2+ years and has seen increasing sales. I think Hyundai is capable of selling vehicles above the Sonata price-level.


....back on topic. :)

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 13 2008, 07:35 PM

:amen: We've had 3 VWs over the years and all of them were, to put it politely, quirky. Lots of electrical problems.