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In 2008, we purchased a new Hyundai Azera, at Rosen. We always had GM cars, but were impressed with the features and value of the Azera, as compared to other cars. Overall, we have been very pleased with the Azera, which is a pleasure to drive.

On this past September 15^th, after noticing a grinding noise in the rear of the car, on stops, I brought the car to your service department. At that point the odometer was showing 24,629 miles. The service advisor told me that I had failed to have the 15,000 mile service performed, during which the brakes would have been inspected, and the calipers would have been cleaned and lubricated, due to the fact that the calipers have a tendency to rust and stick, prematurely wearing out the brakes. After having a technician check the car, I was told that it needed rear brake pads and rotors, and to have the front calipers cleaned and lubricated. The estimate I was given was $530.00, and I was told that it was my responsibility due to the fact that the 15,000 miles inspection had not been done. At that point, I had the choice of authorizing the repairs, or driving it out with the rear brakes worn out, and the rotors damaged. I didn’t have much of a viable choice, other than to authorize the repairs.

When I arrived home, I checked previous service records for our car, and found that when I had the car in to your service department on January 27, 2010, at 18,827 miles, a 27 point inspection was performed by the technician. The brakes were found to be in good condition, and no additional service was suggested to me, leaving me to believe that they were in good working order. I have looked at the owner’s manual, and Rosen’s maintenance recommendations, and found that they both recommend that the brakes be checked at 15,000 miles, but neither states that the calipers must be cleaned and lubricated.  Now, just under 6,000 miles after the inspection, the rear brakes and rotors were worn out, and needed to be replaced. After the work was completed, the service advisor told me that the brakes should be inspected again at 40,000 miles, and that I could expect another 30,000 to 40,000 miles from the front brakes, now that they had been cleaned and lubricated.

 I was a mechanic for a large Chevrolet dealer for 8 years, and operated my own independent auto repair shop for 5 years. I understand that technology has changed considerably since I was in the business; however, the basics have remained the same. The front brakes normally provide at least twice the stopping function as the rears, due to the distribution of weight. This would translate into the rear brakes needing replacement approximately every other time that the fronts are replaced. It also seems unreasonable and very high maintenance to have to clean and lubricate the brake calipers every 15,000 miles. They should reasonably be maintenance free until they need to be replaced due to normal wear, especially if they were found to be in good condition at just a little under 19,000 miles. If in fact the calipers need to be cleaned, and lubricated every 15,000 miles to keep them from seizing, and the rear brakes needed to be replaced long before the fronts, this suggests to me that they are of poor design.       

We were treated very well by our salesman, Doug Howison, when we bought the car, and our service needs had previously been handled courteously, and in a timely manner.  Unfortunately, this situation has left me feeling that I have been taken advantage of, and leaves somewhat of a question in my mind, as to the reliability, and potential high maintenance costs of this car.

If the brakes needed to be replaced due to normal wear, at a reasonable mileage, I would have no problem paying for the repairs. I understand that brakes are wear items, and normally are the owner’s responsibility; however, these obviously wore abnormally, and prematurely, due to malfunction of the calipers.