I’ve been thinking about skipping the dealership for my free oil change and tire rotation and just paying for it at my usual local shop. I keep hearing stories about how clueless Hyundai service departments can be. I’ve got a big 1500-mile drive ahead and don’t want to risk them messing up something simple.
Does it make sense to avoid the dealership for this? Or am I just being paranoid? The free maintenance sounds nice, but not if it ends up causing more problems. What’s your experience been like?
Dealerships aren’t too bad in my experience. I’ve been taking my cars to one for six years now, and it’s been alright. Sometimes communication between the service rep and the mechanic is a little off, but overall, they do a decent job.
Lin said:
I had to stop going to my old dealership because they charged me for a tire rotation they didn’t even do!
I always mark my tires before going in for a rotation. Once, I picked up my car, and it was obvious the tires hadn’t been touched. The service manager even backed up the mechanic when I complained! I sent a complaint to Nissan’s headquarters but never heard back.
@Terry
That’s exactly how I found out they didn’t rotate mine. Even after pointing it out, they still insisted it was done. It’s frustrating when they don’t take you seriously.
Not all dealerships are bad. Some are great, others are just okay, and a few are terrible. Give yours a shot and see how they handle it. Just ask questions and make sure they’re following proper standards.
I’ve had good experiences with dealership service, but if it’s more expensive or inconvenient, I go to a trusted shop. Do what makes you comfortable. If you have a good relationship with a local shop, they’ll appreciate your business. Have a safe trip!
I live in an apartment, so I don’t have space to work on my car. I handle small things like wipers and filters, but I let the dealership handle oil changes and major work. For tires, I’ll probably switch to Costco or a similar place for the perks.
I gave up on doing my own oil changes years ago. I’ve used quick lube places and dealerships, but I feel a bit more confident with the dealer. One Hyundai dealership I used felt a bit shady, though, so I switched to one that’s been fine.
Dealerships are a safer bet for liability reasons. If they mess up, they’re held to stricter rules. Independent shops are great too, but if they make a mistake, you might have to take legal action to get it fixed.
@Davi
Dealership mechanics might not always be better, but they have specialized tools for their brand. For warranty work, I stick with the dealer. Basic stuff like brakes and oil changes, I go to a trusted local shop.
@Spencer
Exactly. Everyone makes mistakes eventually, but dealerships have more accountability. If they mess up, they have to fix it. With a shop, you might end up in court.
It’s about trust but verify. I used the dealership for free oil changes and tire rotations, but they didn’t always do things right. I started marking my tires to check. After calling them out on a missed rotation, they fixed it and gave me another free oil change.
@Spencer
I’ve got a Genesis, and the dealer has only rotated my tires once, even though they claim to do it every time. I stick with the dealer for the Genesis since they have the right parts and knowledge, but for something like a Santa Fe, any good shop can handle it.