I am so disappointed with and stressed out by West Palm - Patann119
I am so disappointed with and stressed out by West Palm Beach Hyundai. I have been in this nightmare since May 23rd of this year (2026). On that day, I was driving my Hyundai Santa Fe Sport to West Palm Beach from Orlando because an immediate family member was in a hospital there and was being discharged despite still being ill. (But that’s another story.) Before I made it to the hospital my vehicle slowed down on the Florida Turnpike and almost came to a complete stop! The check engine light came on and I was forced to put on my hazard lights and slowly make my way to the nearest exit because it was getting late and I did not want to be stranded on the turnpike. I pulled my vehicle to the side of the road and made arrangements for the car to be towed to a local mechanic that was open late, because the Hyundai dealership service department was closed. I took a rideshare to the hospital and from there we stayed the night in a hotel.
The following day the mechanic stated he replaced the check engine light sensor but the vehicle was still not working right. He suggested taking the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership because of recalls on some Hyundai engines. We left the mechanic and slowly drove to the WPB Hyundai dealership that was close by. The service department was closed so I left the vehicle there and had no choice but to take a rideshare to Orlando because my family member was not feeling well and needed to get back. (Another part of the other story.) From May 24th to June 19th, my vehicle was in their service department during which time the engine was replaced under recall. I went to WPB to pick it up and return to Orlando and the car malfunctioned when I drove it. I brought it back and the service tech said it was fine, I just wasn’t used to it being slow as an older car. I drove it off the lot and brought it back again when the check engine light came on at the gas station. Luckily I didn't go straight to the highway where I could have been in an accident! By this time the service department was closed and I found myself once again, stranded in WPB at night. I went over to the sales side that was still open and expressed my frustration. A kind hearted man who worked there by the name of Mario Henriquez bought me a train ticket and saw to it that I got to the station.
The next day the service lane manager called me back and assured me that they would find out what was wrong. I was later told that it was the engine sensor light and that it was replaced. I made it clear that I wasn’t driving back to WPB and that the car needed to be brought to Orlando. Eventually, the car was returned to me.
Since I got it back it has not functioned properly. I took it to a dealership here and was told it needs a new transmission. I also found out that it is not uncommon for a vehicle to have transmission failure after an engine replacement and that the vehicle should be re-examined as a “comeback” diagnostic. This never happened and I was told by the WPB Hyundai Service Lane Manager Alex that I should ask the dealership here to submit a prior authorization for goodwill to corporate. Subsequently, it was not approved and why would they, when the problem came from the service department at WPB Hyundai? Currently, my vehicle sits at home and I have no transportation to see my loved one in the hospital, go to appointments, work, anywhere, unless I rent a car or pay for a rideshare. In what universe is this fair?
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