My name is Paul Millard. I have written this as an open letter to the management of Hyundai. The following is an account of my experiences with Hyundai in South Africa. It is not my intention to defame the company, I just wish to relate my bad experiences from when I bought the car. I shall relate the more recent of these first.

On the 14^th June 1999 I had the misfortune of having the cam belt break on my Hyundai Sonata (DHN315N). I was on my way back from Messina to Tzaneen in Northern Province. I called Hyundai Tzaneen from my cell phone and they arrived about 2 hours later and towed my car back to their workshop.

The mechanic and workshop manager then opened the cam belt cover and confirmed that it had broken. I was then told that there was a possibility that the pistons had been damaged and that this could only be ascertained once the head had been removed which they could only do the following morning. I then asked if there was a possibility that I cold use a courtesy. The workshop manager returned from speaking to the branch manager and said "No!" While driving me home the mechanic told me that the manager always looked at the service booklet to see that all services had been done before he allowed anyone to have a courtesy car. My booklet had last been stamped on 60000 km. and my car was now on 150000. (in 2 years)

The following morning at 9.00am I called the workshop manager to be told that they had not opened the engine up as yet but that he would call me as soon as he had. At 2.00pm I called again to be told that he still hadn't had a chance and that he also hadn't ordered a new head as the whole engine might have to be replaced. He again promised to call.

At 5.00pm I called again to be told to "hang on". 15 Minutes later he came back on line and told me that the pistons were fine and that he would only have to order a head. There was one problem though, he informed me, the following day was a holiday and the spares division was already closed. He could therefore only order the parts on Thursday.

Thursday 10.00am I called the workshop manager again and asked if the part would arrive that day and if he could give me an idea of when the car would be ready. He said he could not say when it would arrive and could not give me an idea of when the car would be ready. I again asked if a courtesy car could be arranged and he again said no. I then phoned Hyundai Head Office and was told that Mr. Fleur handled customer queries. On being put through to his office I was informed by his assistant that he was away but that she was competent to help. I related the whole of my tale to her. She was unable to see anything wrong until I pointed out that I was self employed and relied on my vehicle for my income and that I felt that excessive time had been wasted. She promised to call back. (I'm still awaiting her call.)

At 4.30pm I called again and was told by the mechanic that the workshop manager was not available and that the head was not in stock at Hyundai and the existing head would now have to be sent to an engineering works by courier for it to be machined.

Friday 9.00am when I called I was told that my car would most probably only be ready, "sometime next Week."

I then called Hyundai Head Office again and spoke to Mr. Rautenbach's secretary Barbara. Service at last. Nothing was too much trouble and after having heard my story she assured me that she would have someone call me back. At 11.00am I called her to tell her that no one had called yet. She said that she had left three messages and three e-mails and someone was bound to call back soon. At 1.00pm when I called again she was shocked that I hadn't heard from anyone and said that she would look into it. At 2.00pm she called back to say that she could not raise anyone as everyone was out.

I give up!

If you have read this far you may wish to read of all my experiences with Hyundai and my Sonata.

These include 3 sets of tyre changes, wheel balancing every other month, complaints of a shudder that cannot be rectified and a new clutch fitted. All this within 150,000km. (2 years.)

I can be contacted on +27 824494007 or +27 12 662-2987 e-mail [email protected]