At 43K, my 2006 Sonata had a catastrophic engine failure. After rebuilding the engine (a rod shot through the block), within a year we had three more issues related to the repair. Called Hyundai Customer Service to see if they might extend my 60K warranty since it appears the fix wasn't the best their authorized service could offer. Guess what, I was told that they have no authority to do anything. It's all up to the Regional Service and Parts Manager who that don't have a number for. When I spoke to a supervisor at the Hyundai Customer Service hotline, he said he couldn't do anything, either. I asked to speak to his supervisor...and this is what he said: I don't have a supervisor, there's an office manager who does payroll and paperwork and stuff! He suggested I go to the Hyundainews.com website and look up the exec bios to see if there was someone there I could talk to! Apparently noone there really cares about the quality of the product or service!

So, if you are looking to buy a Hyundai, just beware. The customer service hotline is nothing more than an underpaid psychiatrist's office designed to listen to your complaints, but is unequipped to do much more. Don't waste your time, just go straight to your dealership -- but you'll find that unless you are able to squeeze into the lemon law, you are just stuck!

We just paid off this car, and are looking for new. Sadly, we thought it was just a blip in the usual quality of Hyundai, but it looks more like the same old Hyundai that people ran from a few years ago.

Hyundai's warranty is extended if the repair is proven to be a previous related repair issue. But it is up to the dealership. If the dealership denies the work then you can call Hyundai and they will get involved. But up to that point they can only tell you to contact the dealership. It is a little frustrating having to wait for dealerships to decide what to do but their is a chain of command and you have to follow it. Trust me I know the dealership has had my car 3 weeks now. You just need to make friends with your service rep. I am surprised how much the service manager relies on the services reps position on things. If you already **** off that dealer go to a new one start fresh and say you wont go back to the other one due to their lack of customer service and the new dealer will do all they can to gain a new customer. But be patient and friendly.

This post has been edited by v33sonata: Sep 11 2008, 12:03 PM

Your "V4" comes with a 10 Year/100,000 Mile Warranty. you are entitled to

nothing more :thumbsup:

couple things...

1. first off, sorry about the trouble you are having

2. you say that there have been 3 more problems relating to the rebuilt motor.. what were those problems? and were those also fixed under warranty?

3. Unfortunately, it sounds like you got a bad car. It does not mean, however, that the quality of Hyundai vehicles, in general, have not gone up, because they certainly have. Sure, there are a few problems that are known (TSB's, etc) and a few cars will have issues anyway, but by and large, the NF Sonata's (be it the V6 or the I4) are pretty well built cars. You will probably find many more people who love their Sonata than people who hate it. There is a reason they are becoming more popular... If you think that Honda or Toyota dont have their own problems, then you are deluding yourself.

4. I hope you never really expected a Hyundai Customer Service line to have the authority to extend your warranty coverage. They would never be able to do that.. they are there to point you in the right direction or for basic customer complaints or questions. You should definitely try to find the Regional Rep who might be able to help you. (even a dealer will not do that for you, as they dont have that authority).


again, sorry for all the trouble you have had.. it seems pretty clear you wont buy a Hyundai again, so any attempts to sway you will be for naught, so I wont even attempt. Just please know that for myself, this is the first Hyundai i have owned, and from the car I came from (Escort ZX2), the step-up in quality from that to my (used) Sonata was night and day. I love my Sonata and at 46k miles, i have had no issues at all (knock on wood).

Good luck! :thumbsup:

V6 or I4? Did it make any unusual sounds prior to the failure?

A. As mentioned above, your powertrain warranty is 100,000 miles, not 60,000.

B. Your engine is an I-4. The 6 cylinder is a V-6.

C. If you tell us where you live, based on our experience, we might be able to help, maybe, finding one of those better dealership, or maybe even the name and number of the regional Hyundai rep.

Also, where there any circumstances leading up to the problem?

whats a v4???? :whistling:

That's a pretty typical response for a call center.
They probably aren't even hyundai staffers, but simply a call center that has contracted to answer telephones for hyundai's 1-800 line.

So his answer was probably as accurate and honest as you are gonna get.
Go to your dealership and ask to speak to the service manager, then ask to speak to the GM or owner, then work your way up to the regional guy and GET HIS/HER CARD!!!

Due diligence will probably pay off if you approach the regional rep with maturity and respect, state your case and escalate things to the proper authority.

I note the conspicuous lack of question marks in the original post in this thread. I don't think this guy wants help. I think he just wants to gripe.

I'd also expect a poster with so many complaints to also come back here for answers / response / advice / or ANY reaction....

...So maybe we should wait.......... Otherwise it's more of a waste of our time (and good will)?.....

Ditto...

I found it funny a hyundai service center wouldn't know that the powertrain warranty is good for 100,000 mi. So no big surprise he can't do anything about extending your "60,000 mi" powertrain warranty.


If your dealership told you that you have a 60,000 mi powertrain warranty... (are you over?)
I SERIOUSLY suggest you find a new dealership before you decide to never buy a Hyundai again.


This post has been edited by dcjwlee: Sep 12 2008, 01:09 PM

The Powertrain warranty is 10/100 only for the original owner, and 5/60 for subsequent owner(s). These folks may be a second owner, hence "60k warranty".

Right on!

He should have said so, but anyone who drives a V4 probably doesn't know much about engines and who knows what he did or did not do to the V4 :innocent: :innocent:

1) Follow the proper escalation chain at Hyundai and be persistant
2) File a BBB at the applicable BBB
3) File an Attorney General complaint at the applicable AG

(2+3) may help move things along.

All excellent advice, and this new Member & Topic starter

never even read any responses. Why would someone take the time to register

and then write an anti Hyundai "Warning" on a board that loves

their Car. We must have all been fooled by "Sonata Apocalypse".

Or maybe the original poster thought they were "doing us a favor" :whistling: