Consumer Alert: Hyundai

They say if it’s too good to be true, it usually is.  Here’s a case in point.

As many of you know my California minivan of 10 years died last December. As we needed transportation, we were referred to Brown’s Hyundai in Manassas and as I’ve previously driven a Santa Fe, I sought to purchase one.

Upon doing the loan paperwork, and after test driving a used Santa Fe, we were told the finance company wouldn’t finance that auto because it had too many miles on it (88,000), so we were immediately positioned toward a 2010 Elantra. We were told about this great ten-year, 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, “Tires For Life” and we were specifically told that covered the tires even if we ran up on a curb and popped one.

We bought the car and that’s were our trouble began.

One thing we found odd is after we signed all the paperwork, they had new license plates right there to put on the car; no temporary paper plates with us having to go to the Registry. The man who did our paperwork also asked for our proof of insurance, which we provided.

Here’s the catch. Cory was the primary owner of the car with myself as co-signer. The insurance policy was under my name and the man who entered the information into his computer made no mention of this potential problem, thus we essentially drove off the lot in a brand new, uninsured car. I do admit some responsibility, however since I hadn’t been in a showroom in 14 years, my car salesman skepticism skills were a bit rusty. I also fully expected to hear from my insurance company so I could pay for the discrepancy in car value but as I am busy, it skipped my mind.

Two weeks ago, Cory was backing out of our apartment’s parking space and another resident tried to drive around him while he did so. There was a minor collision.

After we exchanged insurance information, we found out later that our New England insurance company never received any notice from Brown’s Hyundai and even if they did, they don’t cover cars purchased in Virginia. We’ve received an estimate of $2500 to fix the other person’s car, we have no licensed person to counter that estimate on our behalf, and we still have the matter of having to replace the entire (probably very expensive) rear panel on a 2010 vehicle out of our own pocket.

Again, had we been told upfront that our insurance policy would not cover the new car, we would have had the opportunity to buy insurance here in Virginia before we drove the car off the lot. It turns out we were driving a brand new, uninsured car for four months.

I also had a rear tire leak, so I took it in to Brown’s Hyundai this morning to get it replaced under the “Tires For Life” warranty we got with the car. Once there, I was told that it ONLY covered normal wear and that I should have read the contract. Again, maybe I should have, but we trusted what the salesman told us. It cost $20 to do whatever they did, and I’m assuming they probably just patched the tire and not replace it.

Also while there, I talked with a gentleman who just four days ago bought a used car at Brown’s Hyundai in Manassas in cash and something about a bogus inspection sticker, it now failing inspection and he had to pay for a repair.

Bottom line for all of you living in the Manassas area: Avoid Brown’s Hyundai in Manassas like the plague. I have the paperwork and will be filing a consumer complaint with the Attorney General of Virginia (as will the gentleman I talked with).

Curiously, Hyundai’s corporate website is not accepting consumer complaints…