Hyundai's 3rd Party Defense" A Masterclass in Passing the Buck
Leased a 2025 IONIQ 5 from Sport Durst Hyundai in Durham, NC in August 2025. Two issues, zero accountability.Issue 1: We were explicitly promised Hyundai's Level 2 home charger promotion at signing. Turns out it had ended a month earlier. When we discovered this, the sales rep acknowledged in writing that they'd given us false information and were "working to have Hyundai honor the credit." That was September. It's now December. Total silence. We bought our own charger for $344.Issue 2: They never properly transferred our license plates. Four months later, NC DMV still shows them registered to our trade-in. Also listed the wrong county. Nobody returns calls.Hyundai's response? "Not our problem. We used a third party to run that promotion, and dealers can do whatever they want."Funny, that's not how it works anywhere else:* Amazon uses third-party sellers. Order wrong? Amazon makes it right.* DoorDash uses third-party drivers. Food missing? DoorDash refunds you.* Airlines use third-party baggage handlers. Lost luggage? The airline compensates you.* McDonald's franchises are independently owned. Corporate still enforces standards.If your brand is on it, you own it. That's how accountability works everywhere except, apparently, Hyundai.The car is great. The corporate accountability is a case study in how not to treat customers.
Scott
Won't replace my engine even after a Class Action lawsuit
I bought a used 2018 Elantra GT in May 2020. About a year later, the oil change place told me that I was really low on oil and to pay attention to that. Fast forward to 2025, I'm only getting 170 miles for one quart of oil. I'm pouring in quarts of oil every week to keep it at a full level. I do some research and find out there's a Class Action lawsuit that my car's VIN qualifies for. I start the process to get my engine replaced through a Hyundai dealership; only to find out that Hyundai corporate won't replace my engine. Complete crooks. I will literally NEVER buy a Hyundai or Kia again and I've been telling everyone that I know to never buy one.
Corey
Hyundai “Warranty” Not a Risk Worth Taking
I purchased a gently used Hyundai Kona, with a documented service record at a Hyundai dealership. Once purchased, the vehicle had to be returned to the Hyundai dealership in my state no less than 3 times for an air conditioning issue. Finally, the local dealer told me the warranty would not cover to fix the issue, because they believe the previous certified Hyundai techs at the out of state dealership caused the problem. Even after filing a customer service complaint with Hyundai Motors and assigned a case manager, they would not honor the work of their own certified Hyundai techs at their Georgia dealership. I’m disgusted that Hyundai Motors is permitted to refuse to cover a repair under warranty by simply saying “yes, it was one of our own branded, trained and certified mechanics but we don’t have to back their work.” I need to know where to file complaints for this, as I want it elevated. Why buy a car with a manufacturers warranty when the manufacturer can just say “nah.” And why do we have certified techs at dealership repair & service depts if the manufacturer can refuse to accept responsibility for the work they turn out?
TLM Tozer
stylish cars
this korean brand does really well when it comes to design of their cars, very stylish, new sonata is just fire, elegant and powerful at the same time, excellent quality
Gaspar Pinero
Disappointed Buyer, Misled & Ignored
Disappointed Buyer, Misled & IgnoredI am extremely disappointed with my purchase experience at Arapahoe Hyundai and with Hyundai Motor America’s complete lack of accountability.When I leased my 2026 Ioniq 9 SEL, my salesperson Wendy told me directly that the vehicle would include Digital Key. After weeks of escalating through Hyundai’s Customer Care, Executive Case Management, and BlueLink, I have been told nothing but contradictions. One person told me the SEL trim doesn’t have any digital key availability, another said the hardware isn’t present, and someone else told me it only works on Android. Nobody seems to have a straight answer.The sales experience itself was a disaster. Sales Manager Phillip Porras had texted me a sign-and-drive offer, with no payment due at signing, and that message was in Hyundai’s own internal communication system. When I went in the next day, Wendy and her supervisor refused to honor that written offer and instead charged me a payment. I then sat in their office for more than three hours while Wendy walked back and forth to the printer for new documents and then back again to her supervisor for approvals. Nothing improved from the original offer Phillip had provided by text. The entire process felt like being stuck in a bad 1980s car-sales movie.On the support side, things somehow got worse. Executive Case Manager Dinesh refused to provide his supervisor’s last name or title when I asked for it. At BlueLink, a representative transferred me to someone introduced as “Kathy,” who told me Digital Key was not possible, only for me to later find out her real name was Genysis. If Hyundai’s own teams cannot even provide accurate supervisor names, how can customers trust them with something as important as vehicle features?I escalated all of this directly to Hyundai executives, including Michel Poirier, Vice President of Aftersales and Customer Experience, and Barry Ratzlaff, Chief Customer Officer. The only response I ever received was from Dinesh, their Executive Case Manager, who had no answers and only served to confirm that my model does not include Digital Key. Weeks later, I am still waiting for meaningful follow-up. Even the corporate survey sent by Michel Poirier went unanswered after I completed it.On top of everything else, the seat warmers in my Ioniq 9 fail after about five to ten seconds, so I will need to schedule service for a brand-new vehicle.Hyundai sold me on the idea of a premium EV experience, but what I got was false promises, broken processes, and leadership that hides behind case managers. If this is how Hyundai treats new customers, I would strongly advise anyone considering this brand to look elsewhere.
Kasey
Hyundai customer service is absolute trash. They ignore every email, never call back, and lie about “escalating” cases (40999298) just to shut people up. Their white paint recall (TXXW) is a joke..!!
Hyundai customer service is absolute trash. They ignore every email, never call back, and lie about “escalating” cases (40999298) just to shut people up. Their white paint recall (TXXW) is a joke..!!While they approved repainting the roof, they denied the hood by blaming a dent—even though the dent clearly has nothing to do with the paint peeling. It's just an excuse to avoid responsibility for their manufacturing defect.No logic, no accountability, just excuses. This company doesn’t give a damn once they’ve sold you the car. It’s a deceptive practice hiding behind warranty loopholes. The way they treated me felt blatantly discriminatory and biased. Never trusting Hyundai again.
Sewly Khatun
2023 Santa Fe Hybrid
2023 Santa Fe Hybrid - 2 Critical Life Threatening Highway Failures, Hyundai Refusing Repair or Reimbursement, SAME AS Numerous Other Postings on Hyundai HybridsI’ve experienced repeated, dangerous hybrid failures in my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Numerous other Hyundai hybrids have posted similar potentially catastrophic failure of their hybrid system which needs to be addressed. Hyundai Corporate has chosen to ignore the issue and irresponsibly require that I take the car back without performing a single repair. I have reported to BBB AutoLine, NHTSA, and Maryland Attorney General Office. This is serious and Hyundai has not demonstrated responsible corporate governance, placing myself and others on the road at serious risk.
Virginia Horgan
MY SAD STORY OF DEALING WITH HYUNDAI OF…
MY SAD STORY OF DEALING WITH HYUNDAI OF VENICE FOR VEHICLE SERVICEI have a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe which I purchased from CarMax on June 2, 2021. Along with that purchase, I bought a 3 year warranty costing me $1800. Shortly before the warranty was to expire in late May of 2024, I brought the vehicle in to Hyundai of Venice (in Venice, Florida) for repairs that were covered by the warranty and provided the service desk with a list of the necessary repairs. The work was authorized by the warranty insurance adjuster, Hyundai handling all the liaison with the adjuster --- I never had any interaction with the adjuster. One of the important items on the list to me, as a then 80 year old senior living in the often rainy climate of Florida, was repair or replacement of the windshield wipers motor which was not working at all, a potential safety problem. Hyundai of Venice was paid over $4,100 for the warranty work (and I paid a $200 deductible, as per the warranty agreement, as well as paying for an oil change a cabin air filter replacement), when I picked up vehicle on May 29, 2024 and was assured that all the warranty work had been completed successfully. Relying on that assurance, I drove home. The next day, I attempted to use the window washer and found them to still be inoperable. That day, I had received an email from the General Manger of Hyundai of Venice thanking me for having them service my vehicle and letting me know that if I could contact him regarding any issues. I emailed him back about the problem re their apparent failure to make the necessary repair getting no response to my email or several subsequent ones to him. The warranty period, of course, had now expired. A few months later, I brought the vehicle in the dealership for some routine maintenance and inquired about how much it would to repair or replace the window washer pump and I was told, at that time, it would be just about $500, including “shop charges” and sales tax. Very shortly thereafter, I received the apparently same stock letter from their now new General Manager, and my response to him was stonewalled, too. I then contacted a program run by the Sarasota County Courts whereby I could request mediation of the matter (voluntary by both myself and Hyundai). The mediation was set for a day certain but, shortly before that date, the mediation office contacted me to and told me that, while they’d made several attempts to contact Hyundai of Venice to participate in the mediation, Hyundai had never responded to them! It should be noted that Hyundai of Venice had a poster hanging in their area where customers can wait while their vehicles are being serviced, that states that the dealership is #1 in customer satisfaction in the entire Southwest Florida area among all dealerships in that area. I can attest that, yes, they do have and coffee/cappuccino in the waiting area, but otherwise I cannot give them a grade of F for their service. I have saved copies of all of the emails mentioned in this document.Ira HechtMay 26, 2025
Ira
Still No NACS Adapter – Disappointed with Hyundai’s Lack of Follow-Up
I own a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and was excited about the announcement that eligible EV owners would receive a free NACS (Tesla) adapter. Like many others, I registered, followed all instructions, and waited. Months later—still nothing.There’s been zero communication or transparency from Hyundai USA about when (or if) these adapters will ship. No tracking info, no meaningful updates—just silence. For a company promoting itself as a leader in EVs, this is incredibly disappointing.Hyundai makes great cars, but their customer service and follow-through on this promise have been unacceptable. I expected better and hope they take steps to fix this.
Bashar Masad
I paid off my car on March 15th with…
I paid off my car on March 15th with Hyundai Motor Finance and been waiting on my title. I been told so many stories on where it was sent to instead of me, the lienholder and owner of car. Sometimes the stories change in two 2 hours after I check to see where they say they sent it, and that turns out to be not true. Don't finance with them at all costs unless you want piss poor service. Still waiting as of April 8th
Mark Haywood
I own a 2019 Hyundai Sonata
I own a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. I have less than 60k miles and no issues until the paint started peeling. This random spot on the hood just peeled right off. You receive no response on their website. There is a recall, as this is clearly a known issue, but not for my model year. This devalues my well taken care of vehicle immensely. Disappointed in the lack of response and the known issues not be recalled entirely for all their paint issues.
Tristin Duchemin
Besides the scams concerning fuel…
Besides the scams concerning fuel paybacks that have been going on for years with my Elantra, the dealer tells you it's on hold and they're not doing it, then another says they are, and not sending letters on certain issues then when you find out about it it's too late, they will flat out lie to you and tell you they will go ahead and cover it but when you take it I. To be repaired say they didn't say it, I demanded they pull the audio recording of the escalation department telling me they would cover it and they said they did but would not play it for me.. because they know it does show they lied. I've had many recalls and issues so unless Hyundai does something miraculous I'll never buy another new car from them but I still have 2. My newer Ionic has been relatively successful other than a few recalls and battery failure which was covered but the windshield sensor they replaced failed with the next year after they replaced it and still periodically only blows defrost so your body and especially feet freeze on very cold days.
kenny
Hyundai Motors is trash
Hyundai Motor Finance and Hyundai Gap Claims are 2 of the most incompetent organizations I’ve ever dealt with, their people useless, clueless and don’t actually care about customer satisfaction. I had the misfortune of exa total loss in March 2024, on sept 6th 2024 the gap company (Safe-Guard) finally sent payment to HMF USA and somehow the payment was lost, so I’m forced to continue paying on a car that I’ve not seen in 8 months because these people are honestly capable of locking themselves in a car with the keys in the ignition. I will never ever purchase anything with Hyundai printed on it. Useless at every level. My case has been escalated for over a month now and I e gotten 1 voice message from them to let me know they’re still locked in the car. if you’re buying a car and getting gap insurance, ask your salesman if the gap insurance is managed by Safe-Guard, if so go through your auto Insurance to get gap coverage, safe-guard is beyond useless and you can thank me later. You’ve been warned!
Troy Frazier
HYUNDAI SELLING CARS WITH DEFECTS IN ENGINE MANUFACTURE
Subsequent to purchase of a Hyundai Accent, we noticed a significant increase in oil consumption. Researching on the internet, we found that multiple Hyundai and Kia cars had defects in the engine manufacture (See, for example “How to Tell If Your 2011-2019 Hyundai or Kia Engine Might Fail”, 6 Jul 2022; “Hyundai Finally Replace My Engine. Millions of Other Owners Aren’t As Lucky”, 7 Dec 2023). Concerned with our oil consumption, we took our Hyundai Accent to the dealership. Although we showed them the excessive oil consumption, they confronted us with multiple barriers before they would respond – too much. DO NOT BUY CARS FROM HYUNDAI – POOR QUALITY OF CARS AND SERVICE.
K W Mitchell
midlevel exec gaslit me over 120 bucks they owed me
when the theta engine on my 2018 Hyundai sante fe went Hyundai had to replace it because of a class action lawsuit. I was told I could be reimbursed for several costs. But filing it took me over 15 hours on the phone, hearing different answers from at least 3 different call centers, a request for arbitration from the BBB and then I received 2 harassing phone calls.The first was telling me they would end the arbitration 10 days before my allotted evidence-gathering time was complete. I gave him a hard NO on that. (they didn't ask, it was a statement, but they couldn't.A couple of days later I got another call from the same guy selling me a circular argument about some other costs I had claimed related to a labor issue. When I read him comprehensive text provided by an actual hyundai tech he said "I can't validate that I'm not an engineer" suggesting I go, at my own expense and buy a professional Hyundai service tech manual which I wouldn't be reimbursed for so I could show him. I was only asking for &120 on that point. the book is probably over &100. To put this in perspective I had some mid-level exec call me and gaslight me over 120 bucks. The dealership agreed I shouldn't have been charged. (the private dealership reimbursed me)this happened over almost 4 months. after all this work I got my 421 dollar reimbursement. I am no longer a loyal Hyundai Customer.
Travis Mandenberg
New car love
Love my new car, its gorgeous
NobleAthena
Hyundai recall fix damaged my car
On 01/18/2024, Jim Ellis Huyndai, 30341, installed a recall Anti-Theft Software Upgrade. When I park the car, I can't get the key out.The manager said it needs a needs a new shifter mechanism.The manager said I can go to my preffered place to fix it.I told the manager I'm leaving the car with him to fix it.I have never heard back from him.518949H 884046 176606 Mercier BobbHyundai should fix the problem for free and provide a free loaner car until the problem is fixed.Honda Motors said it was nhtsa.gov who mailed you about the recall so talk to them.I was referred to Attorney General Consumer Protection where the web site complain form requires a 10 digit home phone number.I called the governor office and they did not help.
SAMIR HAMMAMI
