Used Hyundai from dealer, bad transmission, Help!

[lucigo]

I need help from experienced car salesman, transmission mechanic, or anyone with experience with car deals. My 18-yo son bought a 2003 Hyundai Accent in january from a Hyundai dealer. We were told the previous owner had the transmission replaced under its warranty at the dealership just before trading it in, but that it wasn't a transferrable warranty. Now the car needs a new transmission. We owe $4100 on a car that needs $2600 worth of work. The guy we bought the car from is "seeing what they can do". The shop we took it to said the new transmission was installed sloppily and they did what they could to reweld and fix it the last time we took it in (it needed new sensory at the time).

Any suggestions? Should we try to make a trade? Get it fixed? Some other option?

I'm just sick about this. He has done such a good job of making the payments and is doing well in college, and I just hate this for him.

 

[wmharley]

hyundai and Kia love to promote a "lifetime" or "10yr" warranty..

BUT the reality, is that if the car is sold or transferred, the "lifetime" or "10yr" becomes the same time as the normal bumper to bumper.

I almost bought a used one of those (forgot which) that was 9 yrs old and had 10K left on the original 100K limit. After reading the fine print, the warranty was long gone as this would have been the 3rd owner.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OMG SO sorry to hear this.
Does your state have the LEMON LAW?
I would GO, not call, literally GO back to that dealer and tell them that you are having it documented that the transmission was not put in correctly CAUSING these repeated current issues and you will seek an attorney to file a claim in addition to filing a better business bureau claim (which you can usually do ON LINE and tHEY investigate) unless they get this fixed NOW.
Let them know that you are very dis-satisfied with their handling and that you want to be sure they did not "fail to disclose" the potential for these problems...
Perhaps playing hardball will help...they will certainly try and take advantage of an 18 year old, but maybe not an adult, I would PUSH the situation, such a shame...GOOD LUCK...let us know what happens.....

 

[4Seasons]

I would go thru all your purchase documents with a fine tooth comb, but in reality if the car is not under warranty I really doubt they will do anything. Especially since he's had the car since January. I'd keep being the "squeaky wheel" though and see if they can come up with a solution.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Depending on your state law you may be up the creek so to speak. In my state you have 60 days 3000 mi on a used car over $3000 excluding cars over 7 years old. I don't know what Florida's laws is.

 

[lucigo]

I expect we don't have a leg to stand on, so whatever the dealer offers is pretty much going to be take it or leave it. I talked to the man who sold it to us who said the service rep is going to research the car and call me back today, and if he doesn't call I'm supposed to call the first guy back. So far no call.

So what would you do...we have a car we owe $4100 on, that needs a $2600 transmission (per the local transmission shop). We couldn't sell it for what we owe, the blue book for "good" said $3700.

 

[msmayor]

OMG SO sorry to hear this.
Does your state have the LEMON LAW?
I would GO, not call, literally GO back to that dealer and tell them that you are having it documented that the transmission was not put in correctly CAUSING these repeated current issues and you will seek an attorney to file a claim in addition to filing a better business bureau claim (which you can usually do ON LINE and tHEY investigate) unless they get this fixed NOW.
Let them know that you are very dis-satisfied with their handling and that you want to be sure they did not "fail to disclose" the potential for these problems...
Perhaps playing hardball will help...they will certainly try and take advantage of an 18 year old, but maybe not an adult, I would PUSH the situation, such a shame...GOOD LUCK...let us know what happens.....

Lemon laws don't apply to used car purchases.

Used car warranty limits are VERY different than new. In my state, there is a sticker on the window of any used car a dealer sells that clearly spells out what is and is not covered, and what the period of warranty is.

Water under the bridge at this point, but in my mind a 6-year old car that required a new transmission is a red-flag...an especially BIG red flag if you consider the owner traded it RIGHT after getting the tranny replaced. That must mean the guy really wasn't happy with the vehicle even after getting a 'free' transmission.

 

[LUV DA MOUSE]

I would look into prices on a rebuilt transmission. In my area they range from $1000-$1800..depending on the car.

 

[mjhd]

I would badger the dealership but understand they are probably under no obligation to help you. Sometimes they will though in the interest of customer satisfaction.

If that fails, I would research used transmissions from junk yards and find someone to put it in for you. DH does all of our car repairs - he's a car guy but not certified or anything. Maybe you know someone that could do this? Or - and this is all about your comfort level - maybe find someone on craigslist? There's lots of people out of work right now. You might find someone certified who is just not employed right now. Good luck! I hate car problems! Mine just finished being fixed today

 

[lucigo]

Lemon laws don't apply to used car purchases.

Used car warranty limits are VERY different than new. In my state, there is a sticker on the window of any used car a dealer sells that clearly spells out what is and is not covered, and what the period of warranty is.

Water under the bridge at this point, but in my mind a 6-year old car that required a new transmission is a red-flag...an especially BIG red flag if you consider the owner traded it RIGHT after getting the tranny replaced. That must mean the guy really wasn't happy with the vehicle even after getting a 'free' transmission.

we actually talked to the guy who traded it in...he was very proud of his little red car. He traded it for a tiburon as he was moving up in the world (he was a chiropractor). My son said he saw him about a month ago at Hardees, the guy walked up to him and told him it used to be his car and went on and on about it.

I still agree needing a new transmission was a red flag, but I was thinking that with a budget of $5K, it was a very clean nice looking little car with a new transmission so it seemed a lot nicer than the other cars we had looked at.

I'm wondering now if we should try to work a trade with them for something new (with a warranty) or suck it up and buy a new transmission. He will have scholarship money again in Jan/Feb.

 

[lucigo]

I would look into prices on a rebuilt transmission. In my area they range from $1000-$1800..depending on the car.

I would badger the dealership but understand they are probably under no obligation to help you. Sometimes they will though in the interest of customer satisfaction.

If that fails, I would research used transmissions from junk yards and find someone to put it in for you. DH does all of our car repairs - he's a car guy but not certified or anything. Maybe you know someone that could do this? Or - and this is all about your comfort level - maybe find someone on craigslist? There's lots of people out of work right now. You might find someone certified who is just not employed right now. Good luck! I hate car problems! Mine just finished being fixed today

These are good ideas. My son said if we have to get a new transmission he wanted to see if we could get a manual instead of automatic, maybe we can find a used one. Thanks!

 

[4Seasons]

These are good ideas. My son said if we have to get a new transmission he wanted to see if we could get a manual instead of automatic, maybe we can find a used one. Thanks!

Mmmm, not sure if that would be a good idea. It would end up costing you more because things such as shift linkage, shifter, etc. would have to be changed.
I'd call around to see what a used/rebuilt one would cost. Too bad you're not in MD, my husband does side work all the time.

 

[skatermom]

we have owned hyundais also my husband is an auto mechanic...hyundais are known to have problematic transmissions and a rebuilt or even a new tranny could give you trouble in the future....I would get a different car if it were possible financially...

 

[lucigo]

we have owned hyundais also my husband is an auto mechanic...hyundais are known to have problematic transmissions and a rebuilt or even a new tranny could give you trouble in the future....I would get a different car if it were possible financially...

Went back to the transmission shop to get the paperwork to fax to Hyundai dealer, realized, my son has only put 11K miles on the car. Local shop says that when Hyundai installed the transmission they smashed wires and dripped solder all over, and plugs weren't tight, etc. I faxed all this to Hyundai and they are supposed to look at it and decide if they want to take responsibility. Maybe they will let me trade it in for something else and give me a fair price??? Will see....

 

[tina95]

The shop we took it to said the new transmission was installed sloppily and they did what they could to reweld and fix it the last time we took it in (it needed new sensory at the time).




I would think that the dealer might want proof that they were the ones who did it wrong, since it has been welded on before.

 

[lucigo]

The shop we took it to said the new transmission was installed sloppily and they did what they could to reweld and fix it the last time we took it in (it needed new sensory at the time).




I would think that the dealer might want proof that they were the ones who did it wrong, since it has been welded on before.

He has all the evidence now, was supposed to call me back today....now I play the game of waiting and calling...

 

[bumbershoot]

Hubby, who used to work at a dealership as the guy who took the work orders and assigned mechanics to do the work (at Saturn, but still), says that you should keep the Better Business Bureau in mind. He says that work on cars is supposed to be guaranteed, and he didn't indicate that a change in ownership would change that. Such awful work as it seems they did should be fixed by those who did it.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hubby, who used to work at a dealership as the guy who took the work orders and assigned mechanics to do the work (at Saturn, but still), says that you should keep the Better Business Bureau in mind. He says that work on cars is supposed to be guaranteed, and he didn't indicate that a change in ownership would change that. Such awful work as it seems they did should be fixed by those who did it.