NHTSA Complaint #11636536 — 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

In January, 2024, my vehicle (2023 Hyundai Santa Fe) started shuddering when brakes were applied at high speed, on quick or hard stops, in stop and go traffic, and especially going downhill. I had only been driving the vehicle for about 5 months. I took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who explained that my front rotors had burn spots. He recommended that I have them resurfaced. I did not want to pay for the problem to be fixed when I believed it was a factory defect and should be covered by warranty. I asked the Mission Hills Hyundai dealership Service Department to investigate and correct the problem, because I felt that my family's safety was jeopardized by faulty brakes. They showed me the burn spots on the front rotors and recommended resurfacing. They said I could wait for the pads to wear down and do the resurfacing at the same time as the pad replacement. Their estimate for resurfacing was higher than the one from my mechanic. I found a Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin, Number 23-BR-004H, which described the exact defects of my vehicle. I returned to the dealership with the TSB in February, 2024. They replaced the two defective front rotors and front disc pads at no charge. The shuddering was no longer evident, and I thought the problem was resolved. However, 10 months later in December, 2024, I once again experienced the shuddering while braking on the freeway while going downhill and when slowing for stops from high speed. Since I had been told that the new rotors and pads were covered by warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles, I returned to the dealership on 1/16/25 and asked them to evaluate the brakes again. They said that the front rotors again had burn spots. They once again recommended resurfacing at a cost of $249. I reminded them that there was a warranty on the new parts, they claimed that the only warranty was for the original parts that had been replaced. They agreed to resurface no charge. Please investigate and respond to my complaint.