Comments on: 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Warranty Complaint

By: Sean Purdon

Sean Purdon — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:51:09 +0000

We too have had a similar problem 2002 Santa Fe 96K car broke down,sent to local mech,problem =(timming belt.) replaced 07 (timming belt,balance shaft belt,crank angle sensor),some 9 months later) and 20+ KMS not quite 21Kms, balance shaft belt breaks ,this time causing major problems,16 bent valves #2 piston gone,etc etc.
1st mechanic’s insurance investagator suggests I look up this web site and here we stand,some 8 weeks 9 on sunday with out our 2002 (1 owner) Santa Fe,any advice

By: Drive One

Drive One — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:17:36 +0000

If the dealer fitted a non-genuine belt to your vehicle that’s not Hyundai’s fault. It’s not a fault with the vehicle, it’s a fault with the tighta$$ dealer not using the right parts, and you need to take it up with them. I am sure Hyundai is giving the dealer a suitably hard time for this though.

By: jim corbin

jim corbin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:47:45 +0000

as your vehicle is a My03 model the warranty ,helen would have run out by the time 90000klms came around. and you havent stated what type of driving you do. as you said it was jul 07 the timing belt could have perished

as most two car families the one that is for just for the convenience of dropping off pampered kiddies, dosent get as much use as the other normal family sedan so is contunually short hopping ” when this happens the timing belts and balance shaft belts become brittle and calcified .then “snap” so thus the shortsighted agument for “low klms” when clamity happens

wheras the other end of the scale, is when the car is over used and constantly running causing the belt to wear out.

By: jim corbin

jim corbin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:12:21 +0000

have you approached hyundai themselves? as most warranty work must have used genuine parts and this would have been of interest to hyundai themselves as outside parts are not condoned until the vehicle is out of warranty that was agreed upon.

having worked at a dealership im of the knowledge that the customer can have the service performed by “jbloggs and co” as long as the customer has the book stamped by a reputable, taxed and licensed, mechanical work shop

but all warranty work is to be performed in house.NOEXCEPTIONS

the parts need to be genuine at time of fitment.

However after the original warranty has expired though whether by time or distance the latent warranty kicks in which is as you described (20000 klms / 12 months)

so given the vitriolic data above you may have a case.

In my experience i’ve found most customers to be of the australian nature: cheapskates and barroom experts when things go well but when things go wrong they get on the warpath .then they take it out on the dealership staff claiming “its ONLY just done xxxx klms so warranty should be extended”

this only seems to suit the customer. but most signed yet not read as per the warranty stipulation of the owner responsibility in that contract,visavie the owners responsiblities on point of sale. conveneiently forgotten when customer is affronted.

also the servicing schedules are not a point of ignorance for customers as they are well documented in the owners manual and yours may have needed replacement on the shorter maintenance schedule. Timing belts need to be used or they will perish as well as run out from over use.