2015 Genesis 3.8 H-track AWD rear differential damaged by tow truck

[BostonMike]

My AWD car was recently towed, the company towed the car by the rear end, backwards with the front wheels on the ground.
When i picked the car up, i noticed that it would buck/shudder when the front wheels were cut (in both reverse and drive)
Brought it to the dealership, and they diagnosed the issue as being with the rear differential.

The tow company says that this couldn't be the result of the tow, because it is the rear differential, and that b/c the car was in park, the car would have effectively been a rear wheel drive car.

Can anyone provide any detail on how towing in this manner would cause the rear differential to fail?

Thank you for any information.

 

[carguy75]

My AWD car was recently towed, the company towed the car by the rear end, backwards with the front wheels on the ground.
When i picked the car up, i noticed that it would buck/shudder when the front wheels were cut (in both reverse and drive)
Brought it to the dealership, and they diagnosed the issue as being with the rear differential.

The tow company says that this couldn't be the result of the tow, because it is the rear differential, and that b/c the car was in park, the car would have effectively been a rear wheel drive car.

Can anyone provide any detail on how towing in this manner would cause the rear differential to fail?

Thank you for any information.

If you took pictures of the tow truck towing your car with the front wheels rolling on the ground; then you submit a claim for damages related to the tow to the tow company. I would also post a claim with your insurance company with the supporting evidence.

AWD vehicles must be towed with all the wheels supported to avoid damage to the transfer-case and drive axles. It seems that your tow truck driver did not know that your Genesis was AWD and treated it like a RWD model; bad move on the drivers part.

 

[carguy75]

Here is a quick video that highlight why you should not tow an AWD vehicle with one set of wheels on the ground with the drive shafts installed. Best way to tow an AWD car is to use a flat bed tow bed to support the entire car or wheel dollies to support the wheels on the ground if just lifting one end.

 

[BostonMike]

If you took pictures of the tow truck towing your car with the front wheels rolling on the ground; then you submit a claim for damages related to the tow to the tow company. I would also post a claim with your insurance company with the supporting evidence.

AWD vehicles must be towed with all the wheels supported to avoid damage to the transfer-case and drive axles. It seems that your tow truck driver did not know that your Genesis was AWD and treated it like a RWD model; bad move on the drivers part.

I did not get pictures of this, as i was asleep when it was towed away. However, the manager of the tow company watched the video of the car being towed into his lot, and confirmed that the driver did not use dollys as he should have.
Even though they towed it incorrectly, they are disputing that towing it could have resulted in damage to the rear differential.

Thanks for the advice, i just contacted my insurance company and created a claim.

 

[BostonMike]

Here is a quick video that highlight why you should not tow an AWD vehicle with one set of wheels on the ground with the drive shafts installed. Best way to tow an AWD car is to use a flat bed tow bed to support the entire car or wheel dollies to support the wheels on the ground if just lifting one end.

Thanks for the video, hey, stupid question, what is DSM???

 

[carguy75]

Thanks for the video, hey, stupid question, what is DSM???

I have no idea really. Some reference to the import racing world involving around Mitsubishi I assume like JDM.

Note: It means Diamond Star Motors for Mitsubishi car followers.

 

[carguy75]

I did not get pictures of this, as i was asleep when it was towed away. However, the manager of the tow company watched the video of the car being towed into his lot, and confirmed that the driver did not use dollys as he should have.
Even though they towed it incorrectly, they are disputing that towing it could have resulted in damage to the rear differential.

Thanks for the advice, i just contacted my insurance company and created a claim.

I agree that the rear differential is not what is damaged. The issue would be mostly likely with the transfer-case and front differential.