[staxm]

I bought a new car Hyundai i30 in July 2008. It has 43000 km. I have recently started to hear the gentle creaking of brakes from time to time, and later to feel vibrations on the steering wheel and pedal when braking at speeds of 120 to 90 km/h. At lower speeds I do not feel the vibrations.
I was in service and was told that the brake discs are distorted and that they should be replaced, while also changing the brake pads.
Brake pads are not even half worn. I am gentle on the brakes and I always use engine braking.
Does the warranty cover this?
General distributor in my country refuses to replace the parts and I was said that this is not covered with the warranty. Are they right?
Does anyone have a contact email on the European or world level for complaints or something?

Thanks in advance,
Staxm

[eye30]

The service book will state warranty details.

If it is still in warranty per the book then get back on and point this out or go direct to HY europe

[Dazzler]

Did you get a 3 year or 5 year warranty?.. Warped brake discs? I wonder if they got very hot after a mountain descent and then you hit some puddles of water? I believe that could cause it 

[staxm]

body
 

The service book will state warranty details.

If it is still in warranty per the book then get back on and point this out or go direct to HY europe

In connection with brakes it is stated in the service book that just brake linings and consumables are not covered with warranty. Are discs included in one of these groups?

Did you get a 3 year or 5 year warranty?.. Warped brake discs? I wonder if they got very hot after a mountain descent and then you hit some puddles of water? I believe that could cause it 

5 year warranty. The service guy also told me the same thing but I don't remember that something like that happened.

[beerman]

Don't know if it helps, but there was a batch of discs that were distorting in Australian Holdens and Fords (mostly Fords), and without exception these were fixed under warranty. Unless they can prove the distortion was caused by other factors, I would think that they would be obliged to fix them.

Remember that it is better for the dealer to charge you top dollar to fix them than to accept the warranty price from Hyundai (some try to get both).

[eye30]

The service book will state warranty details.

If it is still in warranty per the book then get back on and point this out or go direct to HY europe

In connection with brakes it is stated in the service book that just brake linings and consumables are not covered with warranty. Are discs included in one of these groups?

I would say the discs are not consumables and are defo not brake linings so they should be covered under the terms of the warranty

[accim]

Similar thing happened to owner in our country (Europe - Slovenia). Had to replace the disks and brake pads and pay for everything himself... 

They told him it cannot be replaced under warranty, even after arguing with them. They said that he had probably hit the brakes too hard or that he had (az Dazz already said) hit the puddle of water while the disks were  "overheated".

Hope you get it fixed under warranty though..

[beerman]

One could argue that hitting a puddle of water whilst the discs were hot would not be unpredictable, and should have been reasonably foreseeable in the design process. It could also be argued that disc rotors should have a life that exceeds 200k so the failure of the discs at 40k is not 'consumable' (much the same as a transmission or engine, both have a consumable life, but if one blew at 40k, they would fall over themselves to replace it)

And my other favourite, I drove my previous car in the same way and it didn't happen in 198,000k so how come yours are warped at 46k?

If that doesn't work I usually ask them which address they would prefer their summons to be sent and to whom I should address it to. That normally gets them going as the cost of spending a day in small claims court for them, would far exceed the cost of a couple of discs. At this point you should be dealing with Hyundai direct, for maximum effect.

[accim]

One could argue that hitting a puddle of water whilst the discs were hot would not be unpredictable, and should have been reasonably foreseeable in the design process. It could also be argued that disc rotors should have a life that exceeds 200k so the failure of the discs at 40k is not 'consumable' (much the same as a transmission or engine, both have a consumable life, but if one blew at 40k, they would fall over themselves to replace it)

And my other favourite, I drove my previous car in the same way and it didn't happen in 198,000k so how come yours are warped at 46k?

If that doesn't work I usually ask them which address they would prefer their summons to be sent and to whom I should address it to. That normally gets them going as the cost of spending a day in small claims court for them, would far exceed the cost of a couple of discs. At this point you should be dealing with Hyundai direct, for maximum effect.

You are right about that, but it always "stops" when it comes to brakes, tires, etc, because you can't prove it's not your fault (nor can they, but..). We'll see what they will tell him in the end.

I've also heard about i30 owner in Slovenia (he services the car where I do, but still wasn't able to reach him and talk with him in person), that has done over 300.000 km with his i30 (in 2,5 y) and still hasn't replaced brake pads nor brake discs. So it's not like the quality's bad, it's just probably bad batch of disks or result of unlucky circumstances.. I sometimes brake hard too, I've even replaced brake pads (back at 90k km and front at 100k km), but the disks are still OK, and what I find interesting, they are not that much "worn" as they were on my previous cars.

I have heard before, that Hyundai's are very "sensitive" when it comes to brakes and the best thing is to install genuine parts in order to avoid problems -> vibrations, etc. But don't know if that is entirely true.

[Ace Demon]

I was in service and was told that the brake discs are distorted and that they should be replaced, while also changing the brake pads.

Did they measure the discs with gauges or assume this from the symptoms? Often, "warped" discs just need a clean.

Brake pads are not even half worn. I am gentle on the brakes and I always use engine braking.

Might be part of your problem. When you say you "always use engine braking" is this for going down steep hills or do you shift down when slowing routinely? No need for routine work.

[staxm]

Just to keep you posted on this.
I have written to Hyundai (contact from global site) three times, and haven’t got any response.
Meanwhile, I have replaced old tires (hankook k415) with new one and the problem was gone.
Old tires went 45000km, were balanced and had good tread (3-4mm), didn't making any vibration when driving at speed over 120km-140km, but it turned out that during braking made some vibration.
 
Thanks to all of you for suggestions
Staxm

[Surferdude]

Just to keep you posted on this.
I have written to Hyundai (contact from global site) three times, and haven’t got any response.
Meanwhile, I have replaced old tires (hankook k415) with new one and the problem was gone.
Old tires went 45000km, were balanced and had good tread (3-4mm), didn't making any vibration when driving at speed over 120km-140km, but it turned out that during braking made some vibration.
 
Thanks to all of you for suggestions
Staxm

Glad you got the problem sorted mate.
It's also added something to my knowledge. In all my years involved with cars' tyres, brakes & suspensions, I've never seen a case before where, if the vibration came in when you applied the brakes, it was anything but the brakes (or possibly, in rare cases, something in the suspension). Tyre vibration usually happens when you DON'T have your foot on the brake pedal - and goes away when you apply it.
So, updating my mental approach as we speak.

[2i30s]

the good old square tyre problem,been there before.    i also thought my disk rotors were the culprit and replaced them,it didn't solve the problem.    i replaced all 4 tyres and the problem was gone.    this was on the wife's old AU ford falcon,piece of crap.