I gave Lakeland Hyundai’s service department multiple - holly.laughlin
I gave Lakeland Hyundai’s service department multiple opportunities to correct this before posting publicly. They failed to do so.
For context, this is not my first serious issue with this dealership. About two years ago, I had a tire replacement done here that was not mounted properly — something that could have become a dangerous situation. I chose to give them another chance. That was clearly a mistake.
On March 11th, I brought my 2023 Santa Cruz in for routine maintenance and a wheel balance due to a vibration at highway speeds, which I paid for. The vibration was never fixed.
When I returned on March 30th due to the vibration still there, I was told the issue was “flat spots on the tires” and “warped rotors.” Based on how the vehicle is driven, I questioned this diagnosis — but the dealership proceeded anyway, and put these through my tire and wheel warranty that I purchased. After replacing rear tires and machining rotors, I was then told none of it fixed the issue. Therefore, there are now two fraudulent claims on this warranty.
My vehicle sat at their dealership for over a week with minimal communication. Eventually, I was told the issue was resolved after another balance. It wasn’t. The vibration was still there immediately.
At that point, communication stopped. No meaningful follow-up and no resolution.
I then took my vehicle to another Hyundai dealership. Within ONE day, they identified and corrected the actual problems:
The rear wheels — which Lakeland Hyundai had just worked on — were not balanced at all
A TCM update previously attempted by Lakeland Hyundai was not completed or registered properly
So I paid Lakeland Hyundai for a service that was not performed, while unnecessary work was done that did not address the issue.
What is most concerning, however, is the documentation. My service records from Lakeland Hyundai include statements I never made — such as claims that I reported tire issues and brake pulsation. These false statements appear to have been used to justify warranty-covered work that I did not request and that did not resolve the problem.
At best, this is grossly inaccurate record-keeping. At worst, it raises serious concerns about potential warranty fraud, as work may have been documented under false pretenses. I will be reporting this to the appropriate warranty provider for review.
Additionally, my vehicle was returned with a new dent on the hood, and despite contacting management and ownership directly, I have received no response or resolution.
This was not a simple mistake. This is now a pattern: improper work, misdiagnosis, incomplete repairs, lack of accountability, and serious concerns about the integrity of their documentation.
I will not return, and I strongly advise others to be cautious when trusting this service department.
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