My Hyundai Experience
 

I bought two new Hyundai Accents from a local dealership about three weeks ago. These were to be used as delivery vehicles which both the sales and the finance person knew when I declined the extended warranty (usually not offered on commercial vehicles anyway) or prepaid maintenance (told the finance guy it will cost me more to drop and pick up the cars from the dealership). So it's not like they could claim that they did not know.

Fast forward three weeks and one of our cars gets a flat tire while making deliveries during the evening commute hour. And guess what? No spare tire nor a jack in the trunk even though the well for the doughnut tire is there. Of course we do not have AAA. Normally one of our people would have gone with a service jack and help change the tire, a 30-45 minute job.

Later in the evening I texted the sales guy to let him know that he had a moral obligation to have told me that the cars had no spare tire. I would have simply bought a set of wheels from the dealership and added this to the total. Instead here we are, car is going to be laid up for a day or two since we can get a replacement tire.

His answer in a nut shell was:
a. I did not ask him
b. Buyer be aware.

One of my employees suggested that we write a letter directly Hyundai regarding the ridiculous response from the dealership besides the danger this could cause to unwary buyers. Like Paul said, " what if your daughter was diving the car and got a flat tire at 2 AM on the way home"?

What really bothers me even more is that I was a dream customer, price negotiated over emails, did not bother with a test drive, signed the papers and our drivers picked up the cars. Normally the dealership would have delivered the cars. Besides they screwed up the paperwork and I had to go a second time to sign all new paperwork. Fearing a scam I really had to spend the time to scrutinize the paperwork.

It seems that this is normal, new cars may not come with a spare wheel. :mad:

Surprising: According to my son Hyundai dealers usually make the effort to keep their customers happy.

Probably Hyundai is getting too popular.

Apparently, Hyundai's come with a flat repair kit to save weight (in order to squeeze out every bit of gas mileage to meet CAFE standards).

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...flat/index.htm

At the very least it was rude customer service when you called.
I would call the same person and nicely ask for a spare tire...and if he refuses tell him that you will let higher management know about his caveat emptor response.

I've had good luck calling the Manufacturer and explaining the issues. Now they were Ford and Ram. But was happy with results. Both times that come to mind, the manager of the dealership handled the issue after the one call.



Barney

Wow...the car comes with no spare tire?

Shame on them. And Buyer beware, that's a bullshit answer. I'd be talkin' to these guys bosses.

We checked Consumer Reports and it is indeed true that most economy cars no longer come with a spare tire but these Accents did include a tire fixing kit of sorts. Regardless the salesman and/or the finance guy should have told me that the car did not have a spare once they knew that they were intended for delivery and as such multiple people would be driving them.

I do intend to send a letter to Hyundai with the sales guy's text messages back to me. And we are going to slam them on Yelp too. Piss on that dealership, Stevens Creek Hyundai.

I feel the dealership has a moral obligation to inform the customer since this is a dangerous situation to be in.

Sleazy sales.... Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai Stevens Creek Hyundai

Bad Guy's


Just trying moving their spot on the net searches........



Barney

I bought a new Outback earlier this year...it has a spare. I'll add, it's a pretty great car.

I ordered two spare OEM alloy wheels to match the ones on the car, $190 each and two tires for $90 each. So what did Hyundai save, $100-$150 per car (they don't pay retail)? Why not simply make the spare wheel as an option?

The real insult is that the OEM tires are not stocked locally and I opted to order this from Walmart, an insult in itself. :D
Well, their store is nearby and they can mount the tires on the wheels.

Hyundai should welcome that suggestion.

It is a shame you were under the gun and could not be patient. OEM tires and wheels show up on CL as takeoffs for bigger wheels and tires often.


I just bought a set for my truck wheels and tires (1K miles) for $350. Sold the old steel wheels and tires ones for $150.

Don't forget the sensors for the wheels! ~$50 a wheel......

Barney

Model is too new and besides these are the upgraded version with larger alloy wheels. Now I cannot even get the OEM wheels, the online store is out of stock. Need to find & get aftermarket ones.

Three of my last four cars didn't have a spare. :)

Make sure they fit the space provided. Junkyard?

Also the sensor on the value stem.

Bragging about your Tercel again, or is it a Yaris? :D

Thanks Barney, checked just now and the car does have TPMS.
I will just order a pair of aftermarket rims, the 16 X 6" rims are not readily available. A reconditioned one if $350.00!!!!!!!!!! Yikes.

All fine German automobiles. :cool: :p :D

Call the parts guy at the dealership and ask them about the style. You might get lucky and have a cheap style. Rubber value stem and a plastic sensor attached inside the wheel on the other side. Like my Ram the ford IIRC has a band going around the wheel on the inside.

If they are just going to be for a spare, try calling a yard and ask them. You may get lucky and get tires also.


Barney

Just found an original on eBay for $125 + $30 shipping from a recycling shop in LA. This has the sensor. May get lucky and find another one.

I am having an email exchange with the dealership, not going to ask them for anything if I can help it. Do not want to be obligated and we can afford the additional cost.

The manager has claimed that they will change their sales policy and also notify Hyundai America. My intent here is to ensure that their customers are informed.

I've found face to face discussions workout best, phone conversations next best. Messaging or text back and forth is slow and sometimes hard to get resolved completely.

Great news on finding a used wheel and sensor.


Barney

Very good!