Hiya, I am leasing a 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in Utah, and it is about 1 year and 3 months old. It recently broke down in a parking lot with no warning signs at all. Stuck in park, cannot shift out. They had to pull it onto a truck with sleds. I waited 8 hours for Hyundai to find me a tow truck Let me know if you want the whole story.
Anyway, Hyundai has been working on the car since November 6th and I have received very few updates. I was never offered a vehicle to drive while mine is busted. I am making do with my '98 truck. My last message from them was 7 days ago, when they said they got some replacement part and were going to try it out soon. I hate that I’m about to make a monthly lease payment on a car I’ve been unable to drive for nearly the entire month.
I have read that people have been successful with calling the car a lemon if it sits in the shop for 30 days. However, I’ve also read that it only applies to cars that are < 1 year old.
I know I need to contact a Lemon Law lawyer, but I just wanted to ask here first to see what y’all think. This is my first lease and I am learning as I go. Do I sound like I have a case at all? Should I just pester them about a refund for a month of my lease or something?
As someone who used to work lemon law complaints for a major manufacturer, you are well within the limits. As long as the vehicle is under warranty you are covered. I wouldn’t rush anything but as soon as your car hits 30 days out of service for this issue, call up Hyundai customer support and ask to initiate lemon law. Don’t do this early as they might pressure the shop to get the repair done in under the 30 days. If its clear cut you can generally get the buyback processed faster without involving lawyers. If they push back in any way then i would go get an attorney involved to fight on your behalf.
Every manufacturer handles this differently though, so just be sure to stand your ground with it.
I’m not sure that they won’t, but they just never offered one. They never asked if I had other means of travel or anything like that. I never pestered them for one because I was busy and stressed and just found it easier to use my truck. I do like my truck a lot and have enjoyed spending more time driving it, too.
The manufacturer has had at least four attempts to repair the defect or the car was non-operational for at least 30 days as a result of the defect. In all cases, the repairs or out-of-service dates must be within the first year of purchase or within the warranty period.
Keep good records (when/who you called, what you discussed) but give them a chance to fix it, and talk to a UT Lemon Lawyer.
You are just a one phone call away to go with rental and get it reimbursed. But noone will volunteer with that, you need to ask for that.
We have done this before when family member has a problem with his Ioniq.
Some futher clarification, there are both state level and federal ‘lemon laws’. State level is generally the one with better remedies, but you should have some coverage under the magnuson moss warranty act throughout the period of the warranty. Most states just need the issue to present during the coverage period. Either way, probably worth a consult with someone local if the manufacturer doesnt play ball when going direct.
IANAL but MM allows for something to be sold as-is, or if it has a warranty it expects the manufacturer to honor that warranty. They haven’t said they won’t do that here. MM also has very limited remedies.
It sounds from OP like this is a first breakdown during the warranty period and they are waiting on parts, they’re within the state lemon law guidelines for a single repair, they know the clock is ticking.
It would be in OP’s interest to also get in contact with whatever passes for Hyundai Customer Care (Squid Games?) and open a complaint. After it’s all settled discussion compensation.
Let me know if you want the whole story.
