New JD Powers survey: oh, dear

I plonked down money on a Hyundai last weekend. Today, I saw this:

2004 Vehicle Dependability Study
http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2004055

Hyundai is rated poor. Very poor: well below the industry average and ranked
near the bottom with the other Korean brands. The showroom was happy to show
me the earlier initial quality survey, but somehow I doubt they'll show me
this one. Of course, I did not make my purchase thinking Hyundais were
unusually reliable. Still, I had heard that Hyundai has improved these days,
so this sort of news is disappointing. Comments?

Chris

 

=============
Well,

Our family has several Hyundai Sonatas, so that's the only model I can
speak for. We have a 1989 Sonata GL with over 300,000 miles on it. The
cylinder head was reworked at about 185,000 and the clutch was replaced
a little earlier. I've pulled other cars across country behind this 4
cylinder Sonata and it still runs (and looks) like new.

We have a 1999 Sonata GLS with over 70,000 miles on it. New rear wheel
bearings are the only repair. We have a 2001 Sonata GLS with about the
same mileage that has had no repairs at all other than the Hyundai
recall and program mods.

We have a 1991 Sonata V6 Special Edition and a 1989 Sonata GL both of
which we bought for peanuts ($35.00 and $50.00) and we are driving both
of those although they had been terribly mistreated by previous owners.

Personally, I love these half-baked surveys and "studies", since they
keep the price down for those of us who know better and are buyers for
these great cars.

Unless you neglect or abuse your new Hyundai you will almost certainly
grow to understand what a great value you have.

Best of luck,
Harry

 

Here is a little how I look at the phenomenon:

I vaguely recall that CONSUMER REPORTS ignored Hyundai's Excels etal, except
(perhaps) to trash 'em in the late 80s and early 90s. They were nastily equated
with the "fiated" Yugo.

I bought a used '88 and then traded it for a new '91, and the new '91 (or '92?)
was a darn good car for the money.

The company now sells with a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. One may pay
600-1000 bucks more initially for extended or 100,000 bumper-to-bumper
coverage. One is of course duly obligated to do the prescribed maintenance,
including that timing belt stuff that costs ya about $600 at a dealer.

The cars have side airbags, though there are now publicly noted
issues/limitations with 'em, which is par for the course of life in which mosts
persons live lives of quiet despair, except they're allowed to kvetch on the
internet.

If you can buy a better value car, including with the rebates/financing, then
do so.

Also, Hyundai doesn't have enough dealerships, so be sure your servicing dealer
is relatively convenient/easy to get to.

The quick oil change places that one may tend to go to have been known to not
have hyundai oil filters or to not screw 'em on correctly; but so do servicing
dealers sometimes screw-up.

And that's part of the way it is, summer 2004, stay tuned for LIFE WITH RAYMOND
or turn to KING OF THE HILL to laff.

 

This is a quote from a poster at hyundaiexchange.com regarding
concerns/confusion between the two different jdpowers surveys.



"http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2004055

For the record, the 2004 JD Power VDS measures cars built in 2001--and
corresponds fairly well with the 2001 IQS. As such, don't expect
Hyundai to really make any waves on this survey till 2007."

 

I'm still surprised Hyundai finished so far below GM, Ford, and
Daimler-Chrysler. I've been telling everyone where I work that in Korean,
Hyundai means "better than Dodge!"

 

I have to agree with Harry on this one, Sonata is an exceptionally good
car for the money and so is the whole brand in general.

Additionally, wasn't JD Powers and Associates that had that
"stink"(scandal, lawsuit, whatever you want to call it) about how car
manufacturers would contribute ($$, *winks*) to the outcome of their tests?

According to the information of that study by JDP&A, a Cadillac is more
dependable than a Honda, and a Lincoln more than a Toyota? GEE, what
cars are they rating!

If I'm looking for a good opinion on a car/brand/etc I go straight to
Consumer's Reports since they offer consistent and in my opinion
truthful information. Take a look at what Consumer's Reports says about
Hyundai's, you would be surprised .


Rich

 

So the 2001 Accent that I just bought is a lemon, but the new Accents at the
same dealer are solidly reliable? The funny thing is, we are talking about
the same car, substantially unchanged since its introduction in 2000.

I'm seeing conflicting signals on reliability. Consumer Reports gives the
2001 Accent a neutral. JD Powers gives Hyundai a thumbs down. And this site
I just came across gives Hyundai a thumbs up:
http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk. Click on the "latest trends" section:
Hyundai does well in the "reliable car manufacturers" and "reliable small
car" categories. Maybe Hyundais are happier in the UK.

Chris

 

Well I guess cars are like everything else in life, sometimes you get lucky
and sometimes you don't! Here's my story, if interested. I bought a 97
Elantra with 56,000 mile on the clock, I've now got 125,000 on it . I use it
daily for my courier routes and based on it's performance so far I wouldn't
hesitate buying another Hyundai of course YMMV. The only expense I've been
out on the car has been front brake pads, gas and oil changes and a front
right wheel bearing. My advice to anybody looking for a car is that if you
plan on keeping the car for several years I do believe the Hyundai's are a
viable option and value, but if your a person who likes to trade every few
years there are other brands that will hold their resale value. Again this
is from personal experience and with the type of work I do I pretty much
"use" a vehicle up so resale for me is a non issue. I'll probably have about
a 160, 000 miles on her by the end year and of course I have no idea what
the future may bring, but I don't see or feel like I'll be spending a great
amount on maintenance. The little Elantra is still ticking like a Timex!!!

Rick

 

Oh I did forget to mention I also had the timing belt changed(needs done on
the Hondas, too), but that's considered normal maintenance, anyway.

Rick

 

I did my own survey. I bought a 2001 Elantra brand new in May, 2001
and put just over 60,000 miles on it by April 24, 2004 when I traded
it for a new Sonata.

During the time I had the Elantra I spent a total of $30 on it for
maintenance, not counting oil, filters and tires. The car still had
the original brakes. Warranty worked performed consisted of
replacement of a front wheel bearing, a headlight bulb, and a
dashboard clock. The $30 was for a set of spark plugs and a headlight
bulb. I bought and installed the plugs myself at 52,000 miles when the
idle got rough (problem solved) and the rest was for a new headlight
bulb. Both of these items probably would have been covered by the
warranty but it was more convenient to just pay for them.

 

"The 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more
than 48,000 original owners of 2001 model-year cars and light trucks."

As such, it doesn't necessarily say anything about '04 Hyundai quality.