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  • Report:  #804591

Complaint Review: St. Charles Hyundai - St. Peters Missouri

Reported By:
Adam - Saint Peters, Missouri, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

St. Charles Hyundai
5701 Veterans Memorial Parkway St. Peters, 63376 Missouri, United States of America
Phone:
636-441-4481
Web:
St. Peters MO 63376
Categories:
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Purchased 2011 Hyundai Tucson March 2001 with 5 year warranty. The morning of Dec 1 2011 the vehicle was started and immediately displayed an alert on the dash. When the vehicle was shifted from drive to reverse, the shifting unit popped loudly and caved in. After jostling with it for several minutes, I was able to disengage reverse and switch to drive. I repeated the same process after arriving to work, and again when leaving; then headed directly to the nearest dealership to have these issues remedied. Upon arriving at St.Charles  Hyundai  at approx. 5:30pm 12/1/11 I parked my vehicle along the curb in front of the main entrance. Again after struggling with the shift unit I was able to engage park, and remove the key. I was directed to the service department where I was greeted by Chris, I informed him of my problem. Initially Chris instructed me to leave the premises and telephone the service department the following day to make an appointment. I again, retold my situation, stressing the emergency light, and the incredible difficulty in shifting. Chris then informed me that he was simply in charge of oil changes and cannot offer a solution. I asked if it were possible to get a loaner vehicle so that I may leave my vehicle, and yet still have safe transportation until this issue can be resolved. Before Chris could answer my question, another employee was passing by and yelled out NO WAY and walked through a door and slammed it. The three of us were the only ones in the area, clearly he was addressing me. Chris then looked down, and excused himself. A few minutes later Chris arrived back with another employee. Chris introduced this man as a technician and asked me to show my Sonata to the tech. I informed the tech that I own a Tucson, and he said he would take a look. I directed the tech to my vehicle parked along the curb out front. The tech opened the driver's door and immediately began pulling at the unit trying to open it. He stated he didn't want to pull too hard, for he was unsure of how it came apart. He continued to push/pull around on the shift unit and then said it had to have been caused by beverages spilling on the shift unit. I advised him that that was impossible; there were no signs of such spillage anywhere. The tech indicated there was a slight stick to the side of the rubber. I stated if something had in fact spilled, there would be lots of residue, especially to cause actual damage. Then to my dismay, the tech used a razor blade to slice up the rubber dust cover to the unit. Chris also looked surprised, and asked the tech if the vehicle could be moved into the service dept. The tech refused and continued to cut, eventually cutting the entire dust cover out in several pieces. When he had finished (approx 3 minutes later) he asked for my keys, placed the key in the ignition turned them forward and moved the shifter back and forth. It was loud and grinding. The tech stated it was fine now and that he was going to talk to his boss the next day. I then asked the tech about the emergency light in the dash and he stated no big deal and exited the vehicle. Chris then asked me to come inside and leave my name and phone number. I then left the property. The following morning I received a voicemail from a service manager stating that my vehicle was not covered under warranty and to contact them for a price for repair.  At no point did I authorize St. Charles Hyundai to perform any service on my vehicle. The vehicle was never entered in the service department or properly inspected. Using a razor blade in the parking lot is not a proper way to diagnose a vehicle's malfunction, or to fix one. There are cuts/scratches on the surrounding shift unit due to this parking lot rigging. This is the first vehicle I have purchased new in my life; I was sold on the company's proclaimed best warranty in the industry. I pay over $300 dollars a month for this vehicle, and will continue to do so through 2016. I feel as if I were discriminated against based on my appearance as a young kid, and was shoved out the door, without ever even being given the courtesy of an appointment.


1 Updates & Rebuttals

St. Charles Automotive

St. Peters,
Missouri,
United States of America
St. Charles Automotive Response

#2UPDATE Employee

Thu, December 22, 2011

This customer came in as we were getting ready to close. Our Express Service Adisor explained that it was too late to get his vehicle into the shop. The customer told him about his difficulty in shifting and as written in his complaint, "struggling with the shift unit I was able to engage park". Since putting it in gear to pull it into the shop seemed unlikely at that point, the advisor brought a Hyundai technician out to look at his vehicle. Our technician immediately observed the damaged rubber dust cover that surrounds the shifter. It appeared 'accordion-like', bent and mangled from repeated attempts at jamming it into gear. The technician pointed out the sticky residue on the rubber piece. The customer metioned in his complaint that on the morning of Dec 1, 2011, that "the shifting unit popped loudly and caved in". What that means is that the rubber piece came apart from the track where it normally moves freely. We see this type of problem often in many makes and models; when a customer accidently spills liquid into the shifting assembly, the liquid runs down into the tracks. Many times, this 'gums up' and can bind the rubber piece to the track. According to our technician, the best thing to do when this happens is bring the vehicle in by tow truck to prevent any damage (versus attempting to force the vehicle into gear). The technician explained that since this rubber piece was already damaged beyond repair, he could cut away a portion of it so that the shifter would move freely for now. Then tomorrow, Mr. Merideth should bring it back in to be repaired correctly. The customer agreed to this temporary solution, waited for the technician to retrieve the tool from his toolbox, watched as he freed the shifter, and left; to the best of our knowledge satisfied and thankful for the assistance. He has not returned to our dealership for this repair. This customer did not purchase this vehicle at our dealership and has never been to our service department before this time. Ironically, every new Hyundai comes with Roadside Assistance for 5 years/Unlimited miles. Mr. Merideth could have called them and they would have towed the vehicle in at no charge. We have tried repeatedly to contact him and he does not return our calls. The satisfaction of our customers is our primary goal each and every day. Thank you.

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