37k!!!! And they tell me I need a clutch?!?!?!

Hello all, I am the owner of a 2003 Accent. I just had it to the local dealer who informed me that the clutch was bad and needed to be replaced. At 37,499 miles!!!! As a side note, this is NOT my first five speed, I have been driving 5spds for over 10 years. The accent still has the original tires and brakes on it, so no.... it does not get driven hard or abused. Just alot of highway miles.

I have done everything so far but call the BBB and file a complaint. In my years as a service advisor for a couple of other car makes, I have never seen anything like this. Has anyone else had this problem of heard of anything like it???

Please help! I love my car and Hyundai...... but this leaves a real bad taste in my mouth.


The clutch is NOT slipping, I noticed it was hard to get into gear the past two days. I had to take it in for an Air Bag light that came on after I removed the drivers seat to install an alarm/power lock system. That is why I asked about the car being difficult to get into gear.

Are you the original owner of this vehicle?

Yes, I am the original owner. Any further questions?

Your right, sounds like bs however, it could be a cheap plate (OEM), the rivets may be loose which could explain the hard shift. My GEO METRO, god rest it's little 3 cylinder soul, had that issue. How was it determined that your clutch needed to be replaced??
Good Luck,
Brant

Sounds to me like your syncronizer's shot.

Does it have a tendency to pop out of first or fourth at all? Is it also nearly impossible at times to put in reverse?

The vehicle has no difficulty in staying in gear. just going into all gears, foward and reverse. The clutch pedal is also like stepping on a wet sponge. not much resistance till you get to the bottom. The clutch engages just after the pedal is released from the floor.

The service dept at CAPITOL HYUNDAI in columbia S.C. said that is what it would need. A $900 dollar repair. I spoke to the svc manager as well as calling the customer service line. Bottom line, whatever the dealer says.......goes. I took it to a different dealership yesterday to have a second opinion. They feel it should be a warrantied claim due to the mileage. So monday they are going to tear into it and see what the problem is. Most certianly it is the pressure plate has crapped out. But we shall see.

I am glad to se there are some dealerships that seem to care about the customer out there. The slackers at CAPITOL just seem to want to make a quick buck. I know warranty work doesn't pay as well as customer pay, but doing that is a real good way to loose customers.

So if anyone is in the South Carolina area, do not go to Capitol hyundai in columbia. The service dept down a Florence Hyundai are much better. A real good group of guys there.

I am really glad that things worked out for you. The pressure plate is definately a good possibility. Let us know exactly what they found out when it's done.

Will do. I am very pleased with the treatment from the dealership in Florence. I don't feel like an open wallet to them.

Sadly good customer service is hard to find, so stick with em.

Good advise Poacher,
It still pisses me off that after spending thousands on a car, dealers still care very little of your best interests. Just another rant!!

Well...... they replaced the whole clutch. No dramatic change. however in the process of changing the clutch the slave cylinder needed to be bled. After that...like brand new! Well it was brand new. So in the long run it was either the pressure plate internal springs that crapped out or the slave cylinder is going out/internally filthy.

The long and short of it is the dealer took care of the customer. Like Poacher said I will stick with them.

Glad to hear it all worked out in the end!!!

Tha is awesome, I am glad it worked out.