I bought a car from Kingston Hyundai on December 9th of 2002. Not even a month later I brought the car back because the two front rims were bent, the dealer replaced these without cost to myself.

Then in March I brought it back again for a cracked front exhaust which cost $192.00, I then brought is back a number of times to complain about noise in the breaks, and oil burning in the engine. These were never logged by Hyundai because the car was never looked at by service people at any of these times.

I also brought it back to have the stereo replaced because the one which was in the car was not working. I then brought it back within a few months because the car was acting up in rainy weather, sputtering and stalling. I was told by a Hyundai salesman that it was a common issue with the stock spark plug wires on the car and there was nothing that could be done unless I wanted to buy new wires myself. None of these issues were logged by the dealer or even addressed.

Then in October I brought it back to the dealer to have it looked at for shifting issues, because the car would rev really high and not automatically shift. They test drove it and said they could see anything wrong. I checked Hyundai service bulletins and found 5 issues related to my issues with the car. The Shifting issue is a well known issue with my model of car. I then mentioned the oil issue again and was told again there was nothing wrong. Another problem I mentioned to them was that the gas tank release was rusted shut and required a significant amount of effort to pull open, this was validated by a staff member at the dealer but nothing was done. This issue like all others was apparent from the date of purchase.

Brought it back again October 28th for the stalling and sputtering in the rain and was told it was the coil, spark plugs and wires. (I was required to replaced the plugs and wires myself, which I did at another garage. This garage also mentioned that the coil was fine and did not require replacement.)

In December, I go back again because the breaks are making screeching noises when the breaks are pressed, and there is a pungent smell of oil coming through the vents. This being the 4th time I've mentioned break issues to them an the 3rd time I've mentioned the oil. They tell me the wheel cylinder was leaking and the oil issue was not addressed. None of the issues above are covered under the warranty and will cost me big money to have fixed. The break cylinder needed to be replaced (an issue which I had mentioned to the dealer from day one), with this I was also required to purchase a repair kit so they could remove a broken wheel nut to get to the cylinder. A kit which they did not have therefore I had to buy.

By this time I have only had this car for 12 months. Including all the cost of repairs to my purchased car, I was also required to pay major labor fees every time I required service to the automobile.

I finally convinced the dealer that my oil issue was real after 9 months of them putting oil into the car and letting it disappear and then refilling it and so on. This 9 months was what I consider an attempt to bring my car closer to its 100,000K warranty end. I bought the car at 60,000K and by the time they were finished "testing" the oil issue my car was at 94,000K I was then told to bring it back at 96,000 to have the engine rebuilt and the issue fixed. This was so I would not have to pay for labor because it was a warrentied service check, but I would have to pay for the parts required. I brought the car back at approximately 96,000K and had them complete the repairs, I also mentioned that I wanted the Hand break (which I surprisingly found out was not working) and the gas tank release fixed at this time because these should have been fixed long ago and should not have cost me anything to have done.

I get the car back and notice the gas tank release and the hand break still have not been fixed. I brink this to the attention of the dealer and am told to bring it back a week later. At this time my cars mileage is 98,984K and in one week was over the 100,000K warranty. When I do bring it to the dealer I am told it will cost me to have the repairs done. The car at this current time is at the dealer to have the above repairs completed as well as have the front wheel looked at for screeching noises similar to the issue in the same tire earlier in the year when the cylinder was replaced.

This is my first car and I have had nothing but issues with it. I would like to say that getting it to work properly would be a sufficient request but honestly, if I've had this much trouble with it under warranty, I don't want to imagine how much trouble it will be now that the warranty has just expired. I DO NOT want the car, I want something that I am not afraid to drive. This car is a lemon and a money pit and I am very unhappy with this whole ordeal.

I have been attempting through my lawyers to have the car bought back and have, if not all then some of the money lost by purchasing this car returned to me. But myself nor the lawyer have been able to get any response or action from the dealer or the corporate headquarters.

It has now been 1 1/2 years since I bought the car and I still have a Lemon!

Sherman Woodman