2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Warranty Complaint

Name: Helen Mccready
Car Make: Hyundai
Car Model: Santa Fe
Year of Manufacture: 2003

Warranty Complaint:

This vehicle was serviced as per the service schedule by sunco motors my local hyundai dealer. At the 90000km service in feb 06 both the timing belt and the balance shaft belt were replaced. Car was still under factory warranty. The balance shaft belt snapped in july 07 causing major engine damage to the vehicle.

As the car had done 145000km sunco motors said the car was not covered by warranty. Car was repaired by another mechanic. it was discovered that the balance shaft belt that was replaced by sunco motors was not a genuine hyundai part. Sunco have informed me that the belt had a 12 month 20000 km warranty but the vehicle had done 50,000 since it was replaced.

According to sunco motors they can use non genuine parts any time they like and not void any warranty. It seems that they call most engine parts "consumable" and therefore the only warranty is 12 months.

I have always been under the impression that to keep your new car warranty genuine parts had to be used. So why can they get away with using whatever parts they like? If a genuine part was used at the 90000km service i am sure it would not have snapped after 18 months - especially since hyundai say they do not need replacing until 90,000kms.