I’m a Genesis G80 owner, and when my car was under warranty, I always took it to the dealership for maintenance. They honored the warranty every time something under it broke.
Now, as I consider my next car, I’m wondering if I could maintain it with an independent shop and only take it to the dealership when I need to make a warranty claim. Of course, I’d make sure the shop uses Hyundai-approved parts and sticks to the maintenance schedule.
Has anyone here had a similar experience? Were you able to have warranty claims honored even though the maintenance was done outside of the dealership?
TucsonTalker3 said:
You can go to any shop for maintenance, and Hyundai can’t refuse warranty coverage because you didn’t go to a dealership.
But remember, you might need to keep records of all the maintenance you do.
Actually, you might not be allowed.
Was the shop certified to do the work? Can they prove that they were? I’ve done something similar at a local shop with an ex-master mechanic who can vouch for his work.
@carhero
Yes, you absolutely are allowed. This is actually the law. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act clearly states that no one can force you to use specific shops or parts unless it’s required for the proper functioning of the product.
If you need the details, here’s the link to the law: 15 USC § 2302(c). It’s your right, and the burden of proof is on Hyundai to show that the work caused the issue.
@carhero
Why would someone’s qualifications matter when the work was done at a reputable independent shop? It’s still up to the dealership to cover the warranty if the issue is covered under it.
evanderjay said: @carhero
Why would someone’s qualifications matter when the work was done at a reputable independent shop? It’s still up to the dealership to cover the warranty if the issue is covered under it.
But when it comes to warranty work, qualifications matter. Are you sure your local shop was qualified to perform warranty-related repairs?
@carhero
The Magnuson-Moss Act protects you here. Manufacturers can’t set conditions based on whether the work was done by a qualified or non-qualified person, as long as it didn’t cause the problem.
So, even if a Jiffy Lube did an oil change, it can’t void your warranty unless they caused the issue. If you’ve kept records of all services, then Hyundai has to prove the work caused the damage.
@carhero
I’ve done it. I changed my oil myself in my 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT, and had the engine replaced five times because it kept seizing up. Hyundai covered all of them, no questions asked, even when I didn’t take it to the dealer. They covered the last engine at 157,000 miles.
The people saying they won’t honor the warranty are probably the ones who gave the service advisor a hard time. Or they’re not in the US, where the protections are different. Even if you’re not in the US, you can still contact Hyundai directly if you need help.
I’ve had Hyundai help me twice. Once, my 2001 Accent had paint flaking, and they replaced the bumper. Another time, the dealer tried to charge me $500 for a service I didn’t need, and Hyundai made them refund it.
I always do my own maintenance, except for automatic transmission fluid changes, and I’ve never had an issue with warranty claims.
As long as you don’t refuse free service from the manufacturer, you can choose any service provider. Just make sure you follow the service intervals, and don’t use proprietary parts that aren’t available elsewhere. The Magnuson-Moss Act allows you to use any shop for service, but you need to keep track of everything.
@C.cole4
The only time maintenance records are really needed is for engine-related issues. My shop puts everything they do on Carfax, so it’s never been an issue for me.
I had brake fluid replaced at the shop once, and they noticed a leak, so they sent me to the dealer. The dealer checked it out, and…