A Hyundai owner says a used car purchased for $16,000 has spent more than two months in a repair shop after its transmission failed. The situation has left the driver without reliable transportation while nearly $400 monthly payments continue.
The buyer purchased the 2020 Hyundai in May with approximately 130,000 miles on the odometer. Despite the high mileage, the dealership reportedly assured the customer that the previous owners had maintained it well.
By August, the transmission had failed. According to the owner, the repair shop initially refused warranty coverage because the vehicle had exceeded the mileage limit by just 40 miles. After some pushback, the business agreed to cover approximately $6,000 in parts, leaving the customer responsible for roughly $2,000 in labor.
That might have been the end of the dispute if the repairs had gone ahead. Instead, the Hyundai remained at the shop for over two months, with the owner claiming the business was still searching for a mechanic to complete the job.
A Costly Breakdown
My car broke down and it’s been in the shop for over 2 months now
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u/Anonymous7468 in
Advice
The owner shared the experience in an October Reddit post, explaining that the breakdown came during an already difficult financial period.
About two weeks after purchasing the Hyundai, the driver lost a job held for nearly four years. Although another employer initially accommodated the transportation problems, the owner said changing work hours made getting rides increasingly difficult.
Paying for Uber was not a realistic alternative, either. The driver described a 40-minute commute and said eight rides each week would be too expensive.
Even with the car sitting at the shop, the loan payments have not stopped. In a follow-up comment, the owner revealed that the Hyundai originally cost $16,000 and approximately $15,000 remains outstanding.
Dealer Won’t Budge
Reddit commenters questioned why the shop needed more than two months to arrange a transmission replacement. One suggested contacting a state automotive repair regulator to investigate the delay.
Another recommended moving the vehicle to a different repair business. However, the owner said that option had already been discussed.
According to the driver, the shop would only provide the $6,000 replacement transmission if its own mechanics performed the installation. Taking the vehicle elsewhere would mean purchasing the parts independently.
Commenters disagreed about the dealer’s responsibilities. Some criticized the lengthy delay, while others argued that covering the replacement transmission after the warranty expired was already a significant concession.
The owner did not identify the dealership or provide documentation confirming the warranty terms or the repair agreement.
Payments Keep Coming
The biggest question was whether the driver could stop making payments on a vehicle that could not be driven.
Unfortunately, a breakdown generally does not suspend an auto loan. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends contacting the lender immediately when payments become unaffordable. Depending on the lender, borrowers may qualify for a changed due date, payment plan, or temporary payment pause.
Missing payments without an agreement can lead to late fees, credit damage, and possible repossession.
The Federal Trade Commission also recommends having used vehicles inspected by an independent mechanic before purchasing them, even when a dealership says the vehicle has already been inspected.
In this case, the Hyundai owner acknowledged skipping that step and relying on the dealership’s assurances.
For now, the car remains the center of a financial problem that extends beyond its transmission. The owner is still facing an estimated $2,000 labor bill, nearly $400 monthly loan payments, and an unresolved repair timeline.