Hallman, Dave Hyundai

Review: Tires on a 2014 Elantra are sub par. Purchased the vehicle July 28, 2014. On June 2, 2015 car had its first state inspection; 6451 mileage. At that time my mechanic (I have a 12 year history w/this garage) said "contact your dealer; the tires are subpar for the minimal miles you have on the car". I called the dealership the following week and was given a run around. I then forgot about it (I am 68 years old). On 10/19/15 I had an oil change at the place I routinely get my oil changed; I also had a tire rotation. I was told the same thing at this garage: contact the dealer, your tires are way worn for the minimal miles on the car (10111). I did. I followed up with a trip to the Dealership (Chris F[redacted]) where I was told it was my fault the tires were worn because I did not do my first tire rotation until 10/19/15. They blamed me. I accepted this because there 2 of them and I felt bullied. Yesterday, 11/3/15 I went to another dealership looking to trade this vehicle in for a 4w drive vehicle because of our bad winters; I was told the exact same thing by the man who put a price on my vehicle: "contact the dealer because your tires should never be that worn with your minimal mileage" (10333).

I have 2 friends (60+ women who also purchased same vehicle from Hallman's); they, too, have had tire issues (i.e. tires, all 4, losing air perpetually).

I feel the dealership was extremely discourteous to me in placing blame for subpar tires on my shoulders.

The dealership gentleman yesterday laughed when I told him they blamed me; he said he'd be written up if he ever told a customer that.Desired Settlement: I want to purchase 4 new tires at a place of my choosing.

I want to NOT have any further interactions w/this dealership/their service department because I feel disrespected as a customer; do NOT trust them since their attempt to blame me for substandard tires.

These cars are reputedly known for faulty tires. They need to make it right and quit shifting "blame" from themselves.

Business

Response:

December 2, 2015Revdex.comServing Western Pennsylvania[redacted]RE: ID [redacted],We subsequently met with [redacted] and in the interest of customer relations, as a gesture of good will, we replaced her tires with 4 new ones. [redacted] also now understands that regular tire rotation will insure even wear and longer tread life. She has told me on several occasions that she is completely satisfied and will continue to do business with Dave Hallman Hyundai in the future.Regards,David M[redacted]General Manager

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I previously sent you a mail of resolve also; I am satisfied w/the resolve on this issue.

Review: I bought a brand new car in June of 2006 and at 23.6k miles in September 2010 the dealer told me I had defective clutch components during an oil change. They replaced them under warranty but I wasn't aware of the nuances of the repair when they happened so I thought everything was fine.

The clutch has has a one year 12,000 mile warranty, but they replaced it at 23.6k miles 4 years later for free because they knew it was defective. I wish I that I had understood that repair then because I would have insisted the flywheel be resurfaced or changed also. However we went in for an oil change and came out with a new clutch so it all happened fast we didn't have much understanding or input. It had always been hard to shift the car but it was brand new and it just didn't occur to me it was wrong. Our other car is an old beetle and I thought the 40 year difference between the cars was what I was feeling.

During the first week of January 2016 I had my timing belts changed for the 60k maintenance mark. When I got my car back the clutch was slipping badly. I brought it back after the holidays worried I need a new clutch. I told them I thought I had this done before. The dealership said they never did any clutch work on my car. They said they once did work on the clutch pedal (floor pedal) but that is not the actual clutch and that their records go back to 2010 so I was mistaken. That they could diagnose my new problem for $300.00.

The tech added that, the problems I was describing did sound like a bad clutch, and if it had to be repaired it would be $1,200.00. I asked him why $300 to diagnose and he said it was like “doing half the work already” and if I wanted the repair done that would be absorbed into the cost of the repair because there would be less labor as it was already taken apart. I told him to diagnose it for sure and then I'd make a decision about repairs later, but that I was pretty sure we already had a new clutch. The tech told me the clutch was a big job, he'd know if I had gotten a free clutch. That he already checked the records, and we'd already been through that.

Over the weekend I did find my original invoice for the defective clutch – it states specifically we went in for an oil change and they found “defective clutch parts”. Looking at my invoice from the defective clutch disk from and pressure plate I see they did not address the flywheel. The flywheel should have been resurfaced or replaced at the time a defective clutch was, but it was not. I drove the car with these defective clutch parts for almost 30k miles I am sure the flywheel experienced severe wear and tear as a result. That wear and tear would no doubt be transferred to my “new” clutch.

When they called me and told me both my clutch and my flywheel were bad, I told them I had found the invoice about the defective clutch, and I did have questions about why the flywheel was never changed or resurfaced.

Upon hearing this they quoted me $1,500 to replace the flywheel and the clutch. I asked why was it $1,500 not the $1,200 he quoted me – I was told because this was for the clutch and the flywheel – not just the clutch. I said I thought that the flywheel should have been replaced when the other defective parts were replaced and since it wasn't that the dealership should share some of that responsibility. I said good clutches DO NOT just go out after 30k miles. I told them my knowledge of the drive train was limited but doesn't the flywheel connect to the clutch disk or pressure plate? At this point the tech just told me it would be $1,500.00 not really answering my question. (and of course the answer is yes, they do interlock).

Then they asked if I wanted them to see if it could be covered under warranty and I said yes. They submitted a claim that was denied. I asked for a copy of the claim. The claim said because I got it replaced once, I want it replaced again, for free. The tech, I believe out of spite, grossly simplified my request to Hyundai so it would get denied leaving me no options but to pay for the repairs. Any decision Hyundai Warranty Claims makes is permanent.

I did not want a free clutch per say, I had concerns that the defective repair really wasn't handled the way it should have been. A good chunk of the cost of this repair is accessing the area and the labor to dismantle. If they didn't handle the repair properly in the beginning, and I don't believe they did, then at the very least I feel it's fair to split the cost between myself and Hyundai. I feel the techs vindictiveness ruined any chance of that for me on purpose.

When I declined to have the work done, the tech told me the $300 to diagnose didn't cover putting it back together. He said could “Maybe put my clutch in the car, like in the trunk, and push it onto the lot in the snow” and “how would I like that” but that “the $300 wasn't going to really cover that either!”.

I asked to speak to a manager. The manager was without any emotion or sympathy who said nothing aside from the fact that he assured me that wasn't going to happen and then hung up. There was no mention of when my car would be ready, how much it would be, or when I could pick it up. I had my spouse call a few hours later to avoid any confrontation with the tech who always seemed to be answering the phone and the manager said it would be ready in a few days at the price of $300.00. Then the tech called me back on my cell phone on 1/14/2015 @ 3pm to tell me the car was ready. All things considered, I feel anyone else but the tech should have made the call. Clearly no manager is really handling this.Desired Settlement: My complaint is, aside from all that has transpired: the lack of transparency, the lies, the fact it took them over 4 days to diagnose my car and 2 more days to put it back together..... I fully expected to have a conversation with someone so I could understand what was happening and then have my car repaired.

I feel it's reasonable at this point to say that the tech, who threatened to put my dismantled car in a snow bank, will not repair my car to the best of his ability. I will be forced to go elsewhere now, and that $300 doesn't count at all towards anything. Additionally that tech purposely ruined any chance I had of getting warranty coverage by excluding the fact I was complaining that the repair was never done right in the first place.

I paid the $300 on my credit card for the diagnosis to keep things civil and to take possession of my car before anything happened to it. Either because the tech threatened my wife to leave it out in the snow dismantled or because the dealership is not in the best part of town. I never really consented to leave it out on their lot for 6 days as nothing was happening in a timely manner.

I signed a contract to have the flywheel and clutch replaced with another mechanic. I expected that $300 for diagnosis to go TOWARDS the cost of repairs as was promised to be my the tech and manager.

I also filed a complaint with Hyundai directly, and they requested I file with the Revdex.com also. They suggested I do pay the $300 with a credit card, and then request a refund this way, which is exactly what I will do.

Hyundai Customer Service

Case Number [redacted]

At this point Hallman Hyundai should be grateful I do not take them to civil court through a local DJ and file for the price of the work done else where under the lemon laws. They covered the part outside of warranty once, so obviously it was factory defective since it rolled off the lot – but that is a whole other complaint I am not asking the Revdex.com to address.

Business

Response:

January 25, 2016Revdex.com[redacted]RE: ID [redacted]Dear [redacted],On September 21st, 2010 the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon, belonging to the [redacted], was brought to us for the two items as noted in the attached documents. The first was a request for a lube, oil and filter change and the second was for a noise when the clutch was depressed and a shifting concern.We found a defective pressure plate that made contact with the clutch disc. These parts carry a 12 month factory warranty. Our Service Manager petitioned for and received assistance from Hyundai Motor America to correct the concern at no charge to the customer. During the repair there was no evidence of any damage to the flywheel and none would be expected given the repair and low mileage.Now we come to January of this year. Our Assistant Service Manager, Jamin S[redacted], is the person who spoke with the [redacted]. Jamin provided the price quotes and the updates including the process of removing the transmission and clutch components for inspection, a very labor intensive job. We were given authorization for $300 to remove the transmission and clutch assembly to determine what had failed. The [redacted] were provided with a list of the failed parts and a price to replace them.Again we petitioned Hyundai for assistance with the repairs but the request was denied. Please note this vehicle is now 9 years old and the clutch components carry a 12 month factory warranty because they are an item that is subject to normal wear and tear through normal use of the vehicle. When the [redacted] elected to decline any repairs I chose to reassemble the vehicle at our expense as a goodwill gesture for any and all misunderstandings that might have taken place. Dave Hallman Hyundai did participate in the cost of the diagnosis and reassembly as an equal partner.I am offering a 15% parts and labor discount toward the [redacted] next maintenance and/or repair as a gesture of goodwill. At this point no farther assistance can be provided regarding the clutch and we will consider the case closed.Sincerely, John H[redacted]Service Manager

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. First I'd like to point out that if the clutch was under warranty for 12 months why did they replace it for free when the car was 4 years old, 28K miles on it, then mark it as defective on my invoice clearly marked Oil Change? It obviously was defective and these parts do not exist in a vacuum. Which is evident by the fact that the clutch failed again at 30k miles. The car might be 9 years old but it has just over 60K miles on it, and that is a factor worth noting. They've covered very expensive repairs outside of regular warranty at great expense to them. They did so because the car had defective parts, not because they were giving me a $1,200 "courtesy repair" Let's move past that though, as the clutch has been replaced by another mechanic. As far as their further goodwill in putting my car back together that is a a bold face lie. We were told $300 covered the labor to diagnose a bad clutch, and were also told that money could go towards the cost of a repairs, if repairs were needed. Originally they claimed to have never done work on the car's clutch before and when confronted with proof they had replaced the clutch before they were angry and unprofessional. So we decided to take our business elsewhere. They did not say that the price of the diagnosis was contingent upon doing the repairs. When we hesitated to even go that far they assured us that the price of that diagnosis could be absorbed into the repair itself if we decided to have it repaired. We feel that the dealership either assumed we'd have the work done and started the project without authorization, or was just being difficult because they were confronted with the fact this would be the 3rd clutch installed in our car in 60K miles. It's incredibly offensive that they think we'd ever use some slap int he face 15% discount after they threatened to put out car half apart in a snow bank. Their conduct is what prompted us to take our business elsewhere and their own conduct broke their promise that if repairs were needed, the $300 would go to that repair by acting in such a way that we could not trust them to make the repairs. If this isn't resolved by February 15th we will certainly take this to the district justice via civil complaint at [redacted] office. Regards, [redacted]