Intermittent Heat -- Help

Yeah I looked up the Lemon Law stuff. Do you know how they determine four or more attempts. They've tried fixing it for 2 weeks, with different tries each time, but technically only one service call. Will probably try to call the State on Monday to see how they would interpret 2 weeks of attempts

 

Here's the latest. Hyundai had them pull one heater part from the new Kona they had on the lot and try it in our car. That didn't work. The problem is the PTC heater itself so they tried ordering a part on Friday. They found out today there are none in the US and will have to get one from S Korea. Unfortunately they have no clue as to how long it could take to get the part--Service Manger's comment was it could be one week or could take 3-4 weeks. They have no clue as to how long it might take.

I then asked if they pulled one part from the new car, can't they pull the PTC from that car. They said no as it requires the disassembly of the dashboard and then they would have a new car they can't sell.

We do have a case open now with the Hyundai's national Consumer Affairs Department. They have been intervening with the local dealer (who was not happy by the call from Hyundai CA).

I also called the NYS Attorney General's office, Lemon Law division, who informed me that it is either 4 separate attempts to fix the same problem or the dealer has your car for 30 days or more. Ours is now at the dealer for 14 days. If it really takes 3 more weeks to get the part, we might have a right to get a new car, but for now we just have to wait.

 

Day 29 and still no car solution. No one at the dealer could give us information as to when the PTC part might arrive or even if they figured out how to order one.We then called the Hyundai Consumer Affairs contact we had and she said she was putting us into the Hyundai car buy back program—which we assumed meant that we would then be in the process to get a new car. The buy back program people called today and told my wife that they do not replace vehicles but on do a buyback. And to do this they will have to determine the current price of the vehicle based on mileage and ware and tear—and thus that we may not get back the full amount of the vehicle and what we paid to date. This person also said those determinations would be based upon the lemon law in the state we live (NY). They also said that they were informed that the PTC may be in this Friday, November 22 and perhaps we would want to wait as the buyback could take up to a month to process.

So this was not the news we expected. The car only has 2,500 miles on it so in our opinion it is essentially still a new car. Were a bit perplexed as to what to do, but it sounds like from this initial call from the buy back people that we either want to file through New York's lemon law, which does have a provision to wither get cash or a replacement vehicle. As to the replacement vehicle, the guide to the NYS lemon law states:

"The courts have ruled that the lemon law does not
entitle you to receive a brand new vehicle if you
elected to receive a "comparable replacement vehicle"
instead of a refund. Rather, you are entitled to receive
a car of the same year and model and which has
approximately the same mileage as the car being
replaced."

Seems like getting a car of the same year and mileage might be better than getting cash, assuming that we get the same model and make of the Kona EV. The lemon law is an arbitration hearing.

Anyone ever use the NYS lemon law for any kind of car?

 

So our Kona finally got fixed after 43 days. They put in a new PTC heater and put on about 140 miles testing it out (not pleased by how many miles they put on).

In the meantime we have been in negotiation with Hyundai USA over either them buying our car back or us keeping the car and taking an offer and keeping silent about it with some restrictions as to any further claims—this could get me in trouble if I say too much about that but since we haven't signed anything yet....

About the car. The heat is working and it seems plentiful to me over a few somewhat short drives. My wife put about 100 miles on it yesterday and she said the heat worked but at times it does start to blow cooler air. However if she turns the heat up, she gets heat back again—this didn't happen previously (having the heat come back). So can anyone tell me if this is normal--heat reaches temperature and then it may start to blow cooler air? I don't notice this as I wear pants and boots this time of year (NYS), but my wife is wearing a dress and dress shoes and said she notices cooler air on her legs and feet at some point of her ride. she's tried it on both auto and just manual heat. We mostly drive the car in ECO mode.

Anyway, just wanted to update everyone and to find out if the heat we are now getting sounds typical or still a bit off. We have until the end of the week to decide on either giving the car back or taking their offer.