Hyundai Faces Backlash Over Assembly Defects: Consumer Trust at Risk

Hyundai is facing recurring assembly defect controversies
While this is a fundamental issue,
there seems to be no sign of improvement

Due to continual assembly defect controversies, Hyundai has been put on the chopping block. This marks the third controversy this month alone. Hyundai’s Chairman, Chung Eui-sun, had previously vowed to prioritize quality management to regain consumer trust, but no improvements can be spotted.

Customers who bought Hyundai vehicles have expressed dissatisfaction after discovering improperly assembled parts in their cars. In some cases, bolts were entirely missing, while in others, bolts were left partially screwed in, and the vehicles were shipped out in this condition.

Even though it’s visible, they don’t even conduct essential inspections

This time, the assembly defect issue sparked controversy in Hyundai’s Grandeur model. This model, which starts at 33.7 million won ($30,000), was the best-selling car in Korea last year, earning it the title of a “national car.” The owner showed a bewildered reaction when they found the bolt of the wheelhouse cover protruding and not fully tightened.

The problem arose not in the unseen interior chassis but in the visible exterior. The car owner asked, “If this is the state of visible parts, what about the unseen ones?” Many other Hyundai owners who saw this expressed empathy, sharing their experiences with assembly defects.

Even Genesis, which claims to be a premium brand, has problems

On the 14th, a similar controversy arose over Hyundai’s premium brand, Genesis. In one case, the Genesis GV80 was shipped out with bolts in the interior of the door trim that were not tightened at all. This included six bolts on the driver’s side and three on the rear door, totaling nine bolts that were not tightened. The car owner expressed horror, saying, “If I hadn’t removed the door, I would have continued to drive under stress due to the rattling noise.”

Genesis claims to be a premium brand, but even with the GV80’s starting price of 69.3 million won ($61,000), many consumers have expressed dissatisfaction due to the lack of basic assembly and inspection processes. With assembly defects also occurring in Genesis, there are suggestions that there are chronic problems in the production line.

They tighten the bolts and call it a day
Consumer dissatisfaction is reaching its peak

On the 12th, a customer who bought a Santa Fe found that the bolts securing the third-row seats were not tightened, causing the seat to lift when removing the plastic cover. If the bolts holding the seat are missing, sudden braking or an accident could cause the seat to move, resulting in severe injuries. This is a serious safety concern.

While consumer dissatisfaction is rising, the response has been inadequate. When the car owner contacted Hyundai’s official service center, Blue Hands, they merely tightened the bolts and considered the matter closed. Despite the flood of assembly defect cases, no solutions for the root problem have been proposed. The disappointment of consumers who purchase new cars with high expectations is immense. Resolving this fundamental assembly defect issue appears necessary to regain consumer trust.