[buyerbeware]

Before you consider buying ANY Hyundai product, please read about my experience!

I have just taken my car into Richmond Hyundai Portsmouth to have it checked as the clutch had FAILED. The car has covered 18,000 miles, is in daily gentle use and has NEVER shown the slightest sign of clutch wear whatsoever, no slipping clutch, no change in clutch pedal travel, no baulking gear changes, nothing. The car has FHSH and had just been into Richmond Hyundai Portsmouth, for a full service not 6 weeks and less than 1000 miles before and there was no mention of clutch issues, because there weren't any.

The service manager at Richmond, then told me that the reason the clutch wouldn't engage was that the clutch had "welded" itself to the pressure plate with rust, and asked whether the car had been left for several weeks parked in a flood! Of course I explained that it had never been parked in a flood and the car is in daily use, which I can happily prove with our CCTV. He then asked me whether the car had been driven through any water? Well, as I live in the UK which has just had the wettest April for 100 years, I would have to admit that yes, it has been driven through puddles. This apparently, may be the cause!!!!

I may not be an automotive engineer but, in my humble opinion if the Hyundai i30 is supposed to be driven only in dry conditions, then I would suggest that it should only be sold in particularly arid countries and certainly not in the UK which is quite prone to rain.

Richmond Hyundai told me that this is not going to be covered by warranty as the clutch is showing wear and therefore cannot be a warranty claim. The clutch is showing wear? I'm sure all clutches that have been installed in a car will show wear if the car has been used at all, it is a part that is designed to wear. This is nothing to do with clutch wear, it is to do with the clutch FAILING due to a design fault or manufacturing defect, or is it normal for the clutch to “weld” itself to the pressure plate with rust?

So, Richmond Hyundai want me to pay £630.00 to repair this failure, which I absolutely refuse to do. They asked me to authorise them to put the car back together, so that this cost can then be fully incurred. I will not. If this is how they treat customers, when their clutch fails due to being rusted to the pressure plate, even though it is only 3 years old, done 18,000 miles, is in daily use and has never been in a flood, then I will be obliged to take whatever action necessary to get this resolved satisfactorily and to inform other Hyundai customers and potential customers of :-

A. this "dry use only" clutch problem and......

B. The way Richmond Hyundai and Hyundai UK deal with issues like this.

I will also take this to the Trading Standards and if necessary to court as I absolutely refuse, on principal, to pay for what is obviously either a design fault, manufacturing defect or downright shoddy manufacturing or materials. I have spoken to Hyundai UK’s customer care department and after speaking to Richmond Hyundai Portsmouth, they have also refused a warranty claim.

[AlanHo]

I think we can rule out a design fault  - otherwise this forum would be awash with similar complaints. The fact that you have done only 18000 miles in 3 years and that the car gets daily use suggests that it is mainly used on short journeys where the clutch might well be used more than average. Having said that - it is most unusual for an i30 clutch to require replacement at such a low mileage.

In my opinion - and based upon experience - most car manufacturers will wriggle out of a replacement clutch claim simply because it is a component so easily abused and it is almost impossible to prove otherwise. I am not suggesting that you did - far from it - but it seems that you have been unwhittingly caught up in the regular stampede of clutch hanging drivers who actually do cause premature wear.

Whilst I have great sympathy for you in this situation, I find it hard to recommend a course of action that you have not already mentioned.

I will keep my fingers crossed and wish you the best of luck.

[eye30]

Would it be possible to consider having the clutch replaced and request that all parts removed are given to you so you can get an independent opinion.

Make it clear and get their agreement that if it is deemed the clutch is at fault then you will be requesting a reimbursent plus the cost of the independent review.

[Lakes]

Sorry to hear about your problem.
in all the time i have been a member of this forum, only one member had premature clutch issue ( in Australia ) and Hyundai replaced under warranty. but it was a different issue to what you have & it showed up when car was still almost new.
the way i see it is. if a component breaks i expect it too be covered under warranty. if its wear & tear i know it's my responcibilty.
but what you have here sounds strange to me. i have only had a clutch bond itself once but was on a motor bike & water caused that too but was an easy fix, i took clutch out freed it up cleaned it and away we went. but you sure know if its clutch bond or not. as the clutch does not Dissengauge. so you start the motor in neutral. then go to put it in gear and bang they will jump forward as it's like a dirrect drive. did this happen to you? if not what happened?
Good Luck.

[Dazzler]

Very frustrating BB (welcome to the club - shame it is in such circumstances)

Great replys as always by our members 

Are you the first and only owner (I assume so) I think part of the problem is the fact it is 3 years old  As previously stated clutches are one of those things which can fall outside a warranty fix.

Do you have a mechanical friend who you could take to the dealership with you to have a look at the offending part?

Hope it gets resolved without too much of a $hitfight (can't think of a better word)

[2i30s]

Nigel I'll say this,go to a different dealer for a second or even a third opinion.  your only the second member i recall having a clutch failure in the 3+ years Ive owned 2 i30s and been a member of this brilliant forum. 
the warranty is rock solid mate,its the dealers that aren't.  most will bend over backwards to help you repair your car,but there have been reports of a very small number of dealers not wanting to help what so ever. 
i genuinely hope you can have your clutch fault repaired without any further hassle. 
 have you noticed any coolant loss/coolant level being low,if so it could be leaking from the welsh plug on the rear of the engine block onto the clutch causing the rust,just an idea i had.    Steve

[AlanHo]

The warranty on my new i30 clearly states that the clutch is covered for 3 years with a maximum of 60,000 miles.

I do about 35,000 miles in 3 years - so if my clutch fails after 3 years I'm not covered. I am not sure what the warranty is on other models or in other markets

[2i30s]

The warranty on my new i30 clearly states that the clutch is covered for 3 years with a maximum of 60,000 miles.

I do about 35,000 miles in 3 years - so if my clutch fails after 3 years I'm not covered. I am not sure what the warranty is on other models or in other markets

the clutch in an Australian i30 is covered for the 5 year period for a manufacturing fault.

[2i30s]

I'll bet that the clutch on most cars in country's with snow/salted roads has surface rust on the clutch Assemblies. 

[Doggie 1]

If you don't trust the dealership, maybe get the car taken to a mechanic you do trust and have all parts independently examined during the rebuild process and an independent report drawn up on the reasons why it failed.
Then at least you might have something concrete to take back to Hyundai .
I wish you well with it.

[Phil №❶]

Welcome buyerbeware,

So sad your first communication with us is a sad event. Your problem is atypical of the majority of i30 owners, which in itself indicates something abnormal with your car. Wear on the clutch plate is irrelevant. I'm surprised that rust is the culprit, as the clutch friction material contains other particulates which are non ferrous, I also believe that copper is sometimes used to improve heat transfer properties and this metal does not rust. However, in your case, something has occurred to cause your problem. Is your car reaching operating temperature, generally, heat is produced by friction of clutch components through normal usage, however, engine heat travels through all components of the engine and after approx 1 hour of driving there is heat buildup in all gearbox components as it transfers power to the wheels. There are many members driving regularly in ice and snow with no clutch issues. Hope you can get a successful resolution to your problem, please keep us posted. 

[eye30]

I'll say this,go to a different dealer for a second or even a third opinion. 

Might be a problem as it is in "bits" at the dealers isn't it as they want paying to put it back together.

I wonder whether the dealer is the selling dealer?

Ther was an article in this weeks Daily Mail (UK) and it was a similar issue on I think a 3 yo Citroen.

Again driver told it was a driver inflicted cause

[2i30s]

the rust on the clutch,pressure plate and flywheel is normal in my opinion.    if you look at your disk rotors in the morning you ll also notice rust on them,the clutch Assembly is the same composite material binding against metal as your brakes do. the bell housing on a car isn't a sealed unit and can get moisture inside it very easily. if you were to remove the gearbox on a relatively new car you would find the same surface rust,moisture in the air can cause surface rust in only a few hours. machined metal surfaces usually don't have paint on them,and that's why they will get surface rust on them.

[buyerbeware]

Thanks for all your kind and informed comments. I am now removing the car from the dealership to a mechanic friend of mine to inspect it and effect repairs. Richmond Hyundai are charging me to remove the gearbox and refit it as it can't apparently be moved without being refitted (I suppose that is actually true due to the pressure it would put on the engine mounts being only connected on one side). This is a rare problem for sure, the technician said it's the first one he's seen in 15 years, which in my opinion would again suggest it is a one off failure. The dealership is not interested in any way in helping out with this and seem to now be being actively obstructive, the car was supposed to be ready for collection on Friday but when I had a recovery truck go to pick it up they hadn't even moved it from the ramp or put the gearbox back in and now say it wont be available for collection until late Tuesday.

So, I will pay the bill then start legal proceedings to reclaim the money, it's a pain, but I think it is our duty to not let dealerships like this get away with it and to bring them to the attention of others as well. I am really annoyed by the whole episode, as I genuinely liked the i30, but I feel that I couldn't trust buying another Hyundai product after this, it's not just the dealer at fault here, Hyundai UK customer care have absolutely no interest and just kept reiterating to me that that they will not repair this under warranty.

I put very specific questions to their senior case worker, who simply did not answer them but rather gave political non sequiturs instead and then actually refused to answer when I asked for ACTUAL answers to my questions. I am trying to go higher than this person, who seems breathtakingly arrogant in her easy dismissal of a customer and she assures me she has full authority to make such decisions. I wonder what the shareholders or directors of the parent company would make of her arrogant posturing, I can't imagine it is something they would be very impressed by.

[Dazzler]

I am sure most of our long term regular members can see where you are coming from with this.. (I certainly can) ...

Hopefully with the help of some ombudsman or legal body you  can recover the out of pockets at some stage and enjoy your i30 for what they are (a great car) 

[Phil №❶]

Definitely engage the ombudsman, I would also start a public campaign against the dealer, to highlight their miserable performance. Provided you stick to the truth, tell your story as you have here, there can be no legal comeback on you, write to your local papers & use any means available to impact on their business. Protest outside their premises & hand out leaflets to potential customers, get legal advice on this first.

There must be someone in Hyundai Korea that speaks English who can help you. If you're not getting satisfaction I say, go over the top. Good luck with your efforts.

BTW, as the car was no ready when promised, they should pay for the transport you hired as well. 

[2i30s]

i can see were your coming from,but to say its turned you off buying another Hyundai is a bit rough.    generally when the mechanics at a dealership diagnose a problem/fault with a customers vehicle its backed up 99.99% of the time by the dealerships management,customer service/complaints department and head office,wether the diagnosis is right or wrong,their decision is final.  i wish you luck in your efforts with your own mechanic in finding the actual fault/cause of the clutch failure,and in your pursuing re numeration from the dealership. 

[Surferdude]

This whole thing reads like a nightmare.
Hope the owner gets satisfaction. Like others I can't see how some rust on the clutch would stop it working.

[beerman]

G'day mate,

I'm sorry about your car.

As most have said, I haven't heard much about clutch problems in the I30.

If Hyundai UK are being so definite, I assume they have looked at the vehicle independently of the dealer and come to the same conclusion.

I'm not saying that they are right, but I would have someone else look at the car and give you some advice. Just in case they are right.

Also remember that once you remove the car and parts from the dealer, it becomes easy for them to allege substitution, so you may wish to have them identify parts some how (I suspect they have already photographed them for their own reasons).

[AlanHo]

I am now removing the car from the dealership to a mechanic friend of mine to inspect it and effect repairs. ..........So, I will pay the bill then start legal proceedings to reclaim the money,

How have you dealt with two points.

Firstly - is your mechanic friend of such standing in the motor repair industry that his opinion will hold sway in Court. The Court will possibly have to compare his proven expertise and qualifications versus the hyundai dealers staff and experience.

Secondly - I believe that the dealers cannot carry out a significant warranty repair until given prior approval by Hyundai UK (who have refused to meet the costs). So who do you intend to sue?. I have a particular interest in this because I have a less significant issue with my new 2012 i30 and your experience may influence my future actions.

[bumpkin]

Alan is absolutely correct here, no Hyundai dealership is authorised to perform warranty work until they have established with Hyundai themselves that the repair is covered by warranty.

My dealer ensures that you sign a form stating that they are authorised by you (not Hyundai) to investigate the issue which is at your cost until it is established the issue is warranty.  To soften that blow slightly they give you the first hour of labour to investigate free, over the hour costs you the hourly rate.

Whilst your problem is irritating to yourself, the statement to beware when buying a Hyundai is perhaps a bit over the top.  You have noted from your own experience that a Hyundai tech with 15 years experience has never seen this type of issue before, over 3000 members on here over the last 4 years can concur with that statement.  The overall summary to that would be that this is a one-off failure which can happen to any form of mechanical purchase, a simple reading of AutoExpress on a weekly basis will see motorists having similar issues with all manufacturers.

Perhaps that would be a better route, rather than going lawyers etc, try the car clinic in AE, they will investigate the case for you and pursue with the manufacturer it if they decide that you have a case?

Good luck!

[Keith]

I'm with the honorable Bumpkin here.
It does on the face of it seem like a "one off failure" which as the OP suggests would indicate a Warranty repair... but I cant help wondering WHY the dealer & Hyundai UK feel secure in their response? Are we getting the full story & all the facts & information here? I do note... have done before on here, that some Hy owners are becoming a little disillusioned with some new dealerships that are opening up, my own case is but one example....
Send the complaint into Auto Express... see what they can do with it... maybe Hy UK need a boot up the rear orifice...? 

[eye30]

I am now removing the car from the dealership to a mechanic friend of mine to inspect it and effect repairs. Richmond Hyundai are charging me to remove the gearbox and refit it as it can't apparently be moved without being refitted (I suppose that is actually true due to the pressure it would put on the engine mounts being only connected on one side).

Wouldn't it have been quicker and cheaper to allow them to replace and ask for the parts to be given to you so they can be forwarded to the independent for checking.?

[buyerbeware]

In reply to those of you that are saying that a dealer cannot cover warranty work without the approval of Hyundai, I am sure you are correct but, it seems to me that it rather depends on how they have described the problem. In my case, they seemed to be purposely missing the point and focusing on clutch wear which had absolutely nothing to do with the failure. The technician even admitted to me that the clutch plates may have had as much as 2 more years left in them, but when I spoke to Hyundai, it was obvious that the case had been made solely for clutch wear and not for the the clutch bonding to the pressure plate and becoming inoperable. It didn't matter how many times and how politely I tried to explain to customer services the distinction, she kept repeating like a robot "we will not cover worn clutches under warranty".

[buyerbeware]

In reply to Bumpkin, I appreciate that it may seem a bit over the top, and I'm not suggesting that all Hyundais will suffer this particular failure, I was simply shocked by their treatment of a supposedly valued customer and the way in which they choose to interpret their warranty cover when you have what I would consider to be a genuine and straightforward failure and claim. We bought a Hyundai almost entirely for the 5 year warranty in order to avoid these sort of issues and feel very badly let down by the dealer and Hyundai UK. Thanks for the advice re Autoexpress, I will contact them and see if they can help.

[Dazzler]

Being that most of us are biased towards Hyundai and their products on here... some may be giving them the benefit of the doubt  but I must say BBW that you certainly state your case very well.. I would be equally frustrated in the same circumstances 

I think part of the problem (with respect to our Female members) is that Hyundai UK uses Females in these roles and we know how many times you are likely to win an argument with a female...

[bumpkin]

Given that your problem has been described by the dealer to Hyundai UK as clutch wear then your gripe is with the dealer and not Hyundai UK.

They can only go on what the dealership tells them and unless you have another dealer close by to validate your own claim they have no reason to dispute what the dealer is saying.

In fairness, again I appreciate your frustration, but you claim that you are "not suggesting that all Hyundais will suffer this failure" but your opening statement at the top of this thread is "to consider carefully before buying any Hyundai product".  Which statement do you really want to go with?

It might be an idea to write directly to Tony Whitehorn head honcho at Hyundai UK and see if you can progress the issue from the top down explicitly stating what you have said here.

[beerman]

Ok, I'm going to play devils advocate here (it's just what I do).

As we only have one side of the story, from a person who has joined the forum under the name buyer beware for the sole reason of pushing their position.

Perhaps, despite the number of miles, the individual concerned is particularly hard on the clutch, perhaps they ride it at every opportunity, and they have in fact worn the clutch out due to their manner of driving. This position could be supported by the fact that there have been no other reported clutch issues on here and (in the main, people have been happy with their warranty service and the three or four auto gear boxes that they have changed without argument when they have failed).

I wish you luck in your endeavours, It sucks when you cop a large mechanical bill, especially when you are not expecting it, believe me, I've copped a few (did the head twice on my old car). But until I see a report from an independent person of knowledge (your local motoring body no doubt have a section devoted to this very issue or an engineer specialising in such issues not your mate the mechanic) I am going to remain sceptical to your cause.

As an aside to you and the mods, one should be careful naming dealers without having evidence of their culpability in this matter, the laws of deformation still apply to the internet.

[Talking Hoarse]

This is a really sad story.  However I do wonder if life would be much easier for BuyerBeware if he were to pay up for replacing the bits (that are then under some sort of warranty again), retain the bits and sue / go to court for recovery of that.  I presume that BuyerBeware will also be finding a new dealer too after all this.
I know we have only heard 1 side of this story, but to me it shows how easy it is to lose a customer (who will I surely find another garage and likely never buy another Hyundai), whereas dealers will surely testify how hard it is to win a new, loyal customer.  Customer service can make a really big difference when these sort of failures happen - they can keep a customer, restore confidence and smiles, or alternatively repel and upset someone who then tells everyone about the bad experience.
I really wish I could say "Step up to the mark HUK" - but as we only have 1 side of the story that is maybe unfair.