Complaint Review: Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai reports that sales in the United States have jumped a huge 41.7% in 2001-2002. This is in large part due increased horsepower of 2001up engines. (181 hp for V6)

However, this is a consumer ripoff as the actual horsepower is still about the same as the 1998-2000 models which had 170. The imaginary improvements were published in order to increase sales!

On March 30, 2002, I traded in my 170 horsepower 2000 Hyundia Sonata on a 181 horsepower 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe to get the extra 11 horsepower. The Santa Fe was so under powered that I needed an appointment to move out into traffic.

The answer why came by way of a letter from Hyundai CEO, Finbarr J. O'Neill, dated September 23, 2002, "We believe you deserve the truth from us. We made an error in the information published about the horsepower of the engine in your Santa Fe. The horsepower was published as 181, when it is actually 173."

Mr. O'Neill further insulted me by offering to settle my claim by extending the warranty to 12 years.

Norman
Mineral, Virginia