Consumer Reports - April 2013

[PMCErnie]

I read the April issue of Consumer Reports today. Still shaking my head
in disbelief. The reliability ratings for new and used cars were particularly harsh for the 2012 Genesis sedan. Strangely, the car scored Much Better Than Average (top grade) in 13 of the 16 rating categories!!!! It scored Better Than Average in 2 categories. In the only other remaining category, audio system, it scored Much Worse Than Average (the basement rating). One would think that despite this one low category rating, the car would have scored very highly overall. Such was not the case and they rated the car a Worse Than Average used car buy.

One can only conclude that there were a very large number of audio system complaints. It boggles the mind how that one category could drag the rating of the entire car down so low. Ratings in all of the other categories were stunningly good.

What's your take on this mess and whom do we contact for a recount?! This smells like a hatchet job to me. How can they pan a car that did poorly in only one of 16 categories!

PS

All earlier years of Genesi had Average used-car verdicts, but all rated worse overall than the '12 in the various categories, excluding audio system.

 

[Mark_888]

Since the audio/video system warranty is only 3 years or 36K miles, and the only thing Hyundai usually knows what to do if there is a problem is to replace the entire head-unit (at $3,000 a pop), that might concern a used car buyer if there have been a lot of reported problems. Consumer Reports gets their stats from customers who turn in survey info once a year, so there is usually a fairly large sample size.

 

[CC4.6]

Most everyone, myself included, have had the audio system go blank on more than one occasion. Thankfully, mine has been fine for the lst 10 months or so.

The failure of Hyundai to acknowledge the problem and/or come up with a repair/fix campaign is inexcusable.

In light of this, perhaps the criticism is somewhat warranted.

 

[Vince2]

The poor audio reliability rating is justified....too bad for us since something like this has to effect resale value. I was asked to participate in the Consumer Reports' online auto survey but I chose not to reply. Had I replied I certainly would have given the audio system a poor grade for reliability! My audio has quit a handfull of times. Two of three local dealers were unable to correct the issue (one of the service writers laughed and said "hold on, I think they're going to recall that thing"). This reliability grade is just the type of info that will sink Hyundai! For Christ sakes our "tech" versions will not stream Bluetooth audio even though the "lesser" equipped sedan does.

This is my second Hyundai ("fool me twice" as the saying goes) and each one had this issue. This audio issue is probably why the 2013 comes with a different head unit.


Prior to my first Hyundai I was a big Toyota fan and when the day comes that I can stomach buying another new car...it will more than likely come from the Toyota/Lexus dealer.

 

[Vince2]

CC4.6. +1. Exactly my sentiments

 

[PMCErnie]

I think we know that the poor audio rap has sound basis. As a matter of fact, my dealer just ordered me a new head unit today. What we cannot accept, however, is the way that one bad category rating sweeps this car's reputation into the gutter. Something is definitely screwy with the way consumer reports weighted these categories. "Something is rotten in Denmark."

Additionally, I want to make it clear that the only major problem that I have with the audio system is that the screen freezes every once in a while during the process of the initial Bluetooth connection at start-up. It's a big annoyance at times, but hardly worth wrist slashing.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

I think we know that the poor audio rap has sound basis. As a matter of fact, my dealer just ordered me a new head unit today. What we cannot accept, however, is the way that one bad category rating sweeps this car's reputation into the gutter. Something is definitely screwy with the way consumer reports weighted these categories. "Something is rotten in Denmark."

^ I agree. However, it's even more frustrating when you have not had any head failure and have had to contend only with the small annoyances of surround sound memory lapses and stupid software.

 

[Vince2]

Not screwy PMC but the responses of those who shelled out thirty five to fifty grand for a vehicle with an aggravating problem. The dealer is all but silent about the issue (they have to be pulling the " rope a dope" hoping for the complaints to stop)

If the respondents to Consumer Reports are like me ( they only gave Hyundai a second thought after the initial reviews of the Genesis in the pages of the magazine ) then we are frustrated and angered about this. This radio thing is just the beginning ....want to talk about the telescoping (or not) steering wheel or the out dated and sometimes frozen Nav screen or when my car was towed after a check engine light appeared along with a rough idle.....emperor's clothing starting to look skimpy. Next time my money will be spent on proven quality.

 

[PMCErnie]

Not screwy PMC but the responses of those who shelled out thirty five to fifty grand for a vehicle with an aggravating problem. The dealer is all but silent about the issue (they have to be pulling the " rope a dope" hoping for the complaints to stop)

If the respondents to Consumer Reports are like me ( they only gave Hyundai a second thought after the initial reviews of the Genesis in the pages of the magazine ) then we are frustrated and angered about this. This radio thing is just the beginning ....want to talk about the telescoping (or not) steering wheel or the out dated and sometimes frozen Nav screen or when my car was towed after a check engine light appeared along with a rough idle.....emperor's clothing starting to look skimpy. Next time my money will be spent on proven quality.

It's always a good idea to put the year of your car and other specs in your signature area. That way every post gives your profile. The other problems with your car that you mentioned above are obviously not widespread enough to severely impact their various categories in the survey. That's the good news.


I previously owned a Honda Accord that rode like a buckboard and had insufficient engine torque. The seats were like sitting on a stone bench. Yes, it did have a pretty good radio. I owned a BMW once, as well. It had widespread electrical problems, engine cooling problems and brake problem. It cornered like a go cart, though, which was very nice.

 

[PMCErnie]

Not screwy PMC but the responses of those who shelled out thirty five to fifty grand for a vehicle with an aggravating problem. The dealer is all but silent about the issue (they have to be pulling the " rope a dope" hoping for the complaints to stop)

If the respondents to Consumer Reports are like me ( they only gave Hyundai a second thought after the initial reviews of the Genesis in the pages of the magazine ) then we are frustrated and angered about this. This radio thing is just the beginning ....want to talk about the telescoping (or not) steering wheel or the out dated and sometimes frozen Nav screen or when my car was towed after a check engine light appeared along with a rough idle.....emperor's clothing starting to look skimpy. Next time my money will be spent on proven quality.

It's always a good idea to put the year of your car and other specs in your signature area. That way every post gives your profile. The other problems with your car that you mentioned above are obviously not widespread enough to severely impact their various categories in the survey. That's the good news.

I previously owned an '09 Honda Accord that rode like a buckboard and had insufficient engine torque. The seats were like sitting on a stone bench. Yes, it did have a pretty good radio. I owned a BMW once, as well. It had widespread electrical problems, engine cooling problems and brake problems. It cornered like a go-cart. That was the good news. I had to trade it in on a Pontiac. It drove me maaaaad.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Vince2]

PMC 2010 3.8 Premium for a year (couldn't take the ride even one more day) then 2012 3.8 Tech (improved ride plus nice trade value for 2010). Honestly happy but for the occasional electrical problems. The rough idle and check engine light happened with the 2012. I was told that a dirty fuel injection nozzle caused the issue ( service center didn't provide paperwork and the problem was diagnosed by a Hyundai engineer) hmmm OK.

 

[Mark_888]

I previously owned a Honda Accord that rode like a buckboard and had insufficient engine torque.

From your sig, I assume you got the Accord L4. Should have got the Accord V6, with more powerful engine and slightly better suspension.

 

[Mark_888]

I think we know that the poor audio rap has sound basis. As a matter of fact, my dealer just ordered me a new head unit today. What we cannot accept, however, is the way that one bad category rating sweeps this car's reputation into the gutter. Something is definitely screwy with the way consumer reports weighted these categories. "Something is rotten in Denmark."

Additionally, I want to make it clear that the only major problem that I have with the audio system is that the screen freezes every once in a while during the process of the initial Bluetooth connection at start-up. It's a big annoyance at times, but hardly worth wrist slashing.

I think the point you are missing is that you bought new, and got a 36 month - 36K mile warranty on audio/electronics. A used car buyer (which is what the CR ratings are geared toward) will like have very little, or no, warranty left when they purchase. Since the minimum charge to repair anything wrong with the audio system seems to be $3,000 or more, that is tough to swallow.

 

[PMCErnie]

From your sig, I assume you got the Accord L4. Should have got the Accord V6, with more powerful engine and slightly better suspension.

My goodness, where was your input when I needed it?

When I bought the four-cylinder Accord, I was looking for better gas mileage.

 

[Mark_888]

My goodness, where was your input when I needed it?

When I bought the four-cylinder Accord, I was looking for better gas mileage.

I am right were I have always been, and always available to give you advice .

I test drove a 2009 Accord L4 and V6 right before I discovered the Genesis. There happened to be a Hyundai dealer right next door to Honda dealer (owned by same company) and I wondered over there on a whim. Had I not purchased the Genesis, I probably would have gone with 2009 Accord EX-L V6. 2009-2012 Accord had the most headroom of any sedan I could find that had a sunroof (typically 1 inch more than others). 2013 Accord is 1 inch less headroom, like most others.

 

[PMCErnie]

I think the point you are missing is that you bought new, and got a 36 month - 36K mile warranty on audio/electronics. A used car buyer (which is what the CR ratings are geared toward) will like have very little, or no, warranty left when they purchase. Since the minimum charge to repair anything wrong with the audio system seems to be $3,000 or more, that is tough to swallow.

I think the point that you are missing is that we expect Hyundai to fix these audio problems before the 36 month audio warranty is completed.

 

[Mark_888]

I think the point that you are missing is that we expect Hyundai to fix these audio problems before the 36 month audio warranty is completed.

I don't think CR cares about what happens to new car owners with a warranty. The ratings are for used car reliability. Also, Hyundai just replaces the units with new ones, which are usually the same as the old ones, so eventually may go bad again.

 

[PMCErnie]

I don't think CR cares about what happens to new car owners with a warranty. The ratings are for used car reliability. Also, Hyundai just replaces the units with new ones, which are usually the same as the old ones, so eventually may go bad again.

So, you know how Hyundai's parts stockroom works?

 

[Mark_888]

So, you know how Hyundai's parts stockroom works?

As I understand it, the units are made by Harmon International, so not exactly sure if Hyundai can really do much about the problems directly themselves. Someone can correct me if I am wrong about that.

But even if Hyundai can fix the problems, they usually just replace the whole head unit. Therefore, either the new units are the same as the old ones, or it is cheaper to just replace instead of fix it, which is why the non-warranty cost for a head unit would be $3,000. I am not sure what you are getting at, perhaps suggesting that Hyundai (or Harmon) fixes the old ones when returned by the dealer to the factory? Maybe, but the dealer is still going to charge $3,000 for a non-warranty repair according to everything I have heard.

I am not sure what we are arguing about, since most agree the incidence of audio problems in the Genesis is much higher than the average car.

 

[PMCErnie]

I'm sure nobody here disputes the fact that Hyundai has major audio problems with the Genesis. However, your point that they are unwilling, or unable, to fix these problems is something I cannot agree with. You bought a car with superior warranty coverage and, yet, now you are telling us that, in your mind, it is meaningless and moot. I'm much more hopeful. Let's hope that this consumer reports coverage wakes Hyundai up a bit and gets them in gear. I don't expect a recall on the audio system, but every customer who has a problem should be cared for.