Dublin Hyundai — Local services in Dublin

This is a long overdue review regarding the questionable, predatory tactics this dealership has displayed towards me and the repair of my Hyundai Sonata. This is particularly in regard to service advisor: RONESH KUMAR.

I decided to take my Hyundai to this dealership as they were the only dealership with the earliest available service appointments compared to my local ones. The problem with my Hyundai was the "Check Hybrid system. Turn off engine." with the orange HEV symbol beeping rapidly whenever I would turn on my vehicle. I scheduled my appointment with them for 10/01/2024 and dropped off the vehicle.

Six days later (10/07/2024), Ronesh Kumar calls back. He states that he was able to find the problem with my Hyundai and invoiced me $1302.00. He mentioned about how he needs to replace the spark plugs, an HSG belt, front tire cords, carbon deposits in EGR ports, alignment, engine air filter replacement, and cabin air filter replacement which aren't covered under warranty. He did mention that the knock sensor was to be replaced with is covered under warranty. I then UBER over to the dealership the next day to make a payment. They then release the vehicle back to me and I drive home thinking they fixed the issue given they had to do a TON of repairs/replacements.

Two months later, it shows the same HEV symbol with the engine light turned on. The car still works but the engine light was turned on afterwards. I then schedule another appointment with the same advisor, Ronesh Kumar. I go back to the dealership (12/14/2024) and tell him that they just serviced it not too long ago and now it's giving the same message. He then tells me they will try to run diagnostics on it to see what the issue is and they'll call me when they've found it.

The next day, I receive a call from Ronesh. He states the issue is nothing more than a faulty electric water pump. He mentions that it's covered under warranty since apparently its under the vehicle's hybrid battery warranty. I said "Great!" and he said he'll be able to get it repaired and to expect another call for pickup.

Then the day after that, he calls me again saying that unfortunately, the water pump is not covered under warranty. I ask "How much is it going to be?" He tells me $3197.60. I decline his offer to pay for it and decide to pay for UBER once again to retrieve my car from them.

I look over the paperwork they gave me and I check the itemized bill on what Ronesh was trying to invoice me. I then come to find out that he tried to charge me AGAIN for the engine air filter and cabin air filter as if it needed replacing two months later! The electric water pump was invoiced at $1138.41 for the part and $1,400.00 for the labor along with coolant/anti-freeze for $43.77 and $280.00 for the labor. Ridiculous! Anyone who thinks that this is normal behavior charging a customer these outrages invoices has to have room temperature IQ.

I then took my vehicle to a mechanic to see if he can find any problem. He then checked the electric water pump for any leaks or anything that would be "faulty". He reports back saying the electric water pump had NO issue and was fully working!

To this day (08/03/2025), my vehicle is still working as it should even without the false and deceiving declaration of a faulty electric water pump valued at over $3000.00. It did show the same HEV warning again on 06/22/2025 but when I took it to the same mechanic instead of the dealership, all it needed was an oil change which has completely fixed the issue for only $65. I was close to paying over 3K for a false and untrue invoice generated by Ronesh Kumar in the hopes of overcharging me. If this is the tactic most dealerships condone for their advisers to make a commission on every part and labor they add to the itemized invoice unaware of what the customer should be paying, then do better.

I will not be a Hyundai customer after this ordeal given by the very poor experience this has been and the unreliability of these vehicles now that I'm experiencing this first hand....

6/23/25 - Updating my Review to 1 star- I was not going to update the review despite PLENTY of mistakes and miscommunications of Hyundai Dublin's part, but today's experience with their service department sealed the deal. I originally came to this dealership because 3 of my family members bought brand new cars here. This was my very first new car purchase, a big moment to say the least.

The Dublin sales team was uninformed and sold me on features that didn't exist on the model of car I purchased. I only found out about this AFTER signing all the paperwork, pulling my credit, etc. The car I test drove was the model I thought I was getting, and instead was given a lower trim kit, but told I was getting a great deal. When I came to pick up the car the next day, and I asked Lauren (sales person) where certain features were, she tried finding them herself, and then realized it wasn't part of the car. The wrong manual was also in the car, so I was disillusioned again when reading what my new car could do- or rather couldn't do. Knowing your product inside and out is a non-negotiable as a sales person. When I went to the manager, Tommy and brought the sales person into the discussion too-I found them to be completely defensive and non-compassionate. I shared with them how it felt to pick up my car on my lunch hour just to be told it did n't have the features I was promised, and advertised. I took time to think about the decision and considered walking away from the whole deal. Lauren tried to make it seem like I was upset about "seat warmers" and belittled the whole thing. The features I was looking for was the lift gate, seat warmers, electrified front seats, and certain safety features like cameras. Her trying to save face in front of the boss was condescending and humiliating. Her boss chalked it up to being a "late night sale", and that certain informations just "slipped through the cracks". One thing that was important to me was getting all weather mats, Lauren assured me over and over again that I would just need to fill out the review, and I would be able to be sent all weather mats at no extra cost. I got sent the link to a Google review (see below, my previous glowing review), and then told that wasn't the correct link, and that i needed to wait more time to get sent another link for another review. OKAY. 3 weeks later I reach out to Lauren to say I never received the link, and could she please send it so I can get the mats, to be told: if I didn't get the link, then there's nothing she can do. I would have to purchase my own mats. My husband and I went to San Bruno Genesis to purchase another car at the beginning of June. We purposefully avoided Dublin although the more convenient location for us, because of all their shadiness. My husband had gotten a quote from Lauren for the Genesis car (also sold at Dublin) and brought it to the San Bruno sales people, who told us she did the SAME THING AGAIN. She quotes the price for the lower model, and tells you it's for the high trim kit. I originally had compassion, after I was upset- hence no bad review until now- maybe Lauren is a green sales person and simply doesn't know the product. It sucked to be her guinea pig, but what could I do? I needed a new car. Seeing that she did this again, I am sure she is using bait and switch tactics to sell people cars- and worst of all, this tactic is cosigned by the manager Tommy. Today, I brought the car in for the first oil change at 887 miles. The handbook states I should change oil at 600 miles. I was 387 miles late- the service department makes it clear I am "early" for service, and I only get 4 complimentary services, so since I was early, I could pay out of pocket, or I could use one of the later milestones. The employees had NO idea that the car is recommended for oil change after the 600 miles break in period listed in their product manual!!!! I would never recommend Dublin Hyundai at all- not for service and not for sales. The slogan, "Doin' it...

When was the last time you had an amazing car search or car buying experience? And when was the last time you worked with a knowledgeable, hard working, kind individual who is also a customer champion at a car dealership? Most of the car dealers are cut-throat (obviously figuratively) to a point when they’d come to know that you’re having second thoughts about making the move towards your dream car, due to whatever reason they obviously don’t care, it’ll just start showing up in their approach, behavior or how they’d deal with you from that point on. They barely realize that not stepping into the customer's shoes, in the car buying business (or any business for that matter) is the deal breaker!

We were looking to buy our first EV. The market is now flooded with EVs. So what can one look for in an EV car? Efficiency, product features such safety, some self driving or guided driving capabilities and the list goes on. But what if you get an out-of-the-world customer service in addition to that. That’s cherry on the cake!

Enter Lauren Jarvis.

It was 7pm on a Monday. We went to the Hyundai dealer to look for our first EV. Lauren greeted us like we were her first customers of the day - with energy, smile, willingness to help - everything she’d give to her first customer. Her knowledge on the EV was top notch. She drew comparison points for us for various EV products and the various options within those and laid them out on the table. She compared and contrasted features of the various EVs Hyundai has (they’re awesome by the way).

There were some specials on the Hyundai website for the month of February which obviously were no longer applicable in March. She respected what we saw on the website site and was willing to work with us. She won our business right there. She quickly crated various financial plans for us that would fit our budget and worked hard with her manager and their manager to get all of the options laid out for us. I’ll admit, car buyers can be demanding. We were. She didn’t give up. She made us feel she was on our side. She worked with us on every little think we wanted from the buying experience and the car.

Meanwhile it was late. Our kid was hungry and there was school the next day. Lauren heard us talk about grabbing dinner on the way. She promptly reached out to her bag and offered every single thing she brought for her self. Our kid obviously took the chips :-) She didn’t have to do that for us - remember she was in our shoes from the get-go? She wasn’t really forcing us to buy a car but she was willing to work with us in her actions, intent and knowledge. That is what is needed to win businesses and hearts! We could’ve walked out without making a decision really that night because it was getting late and we had our typical Monday that day. Her commitment to helping and serving us as her customers made us so much comfortable to make the decision right there.

The next day I had some questions and I texted her cell as she shared her cell with us and mentioned we could reach out. I needed some information urgently to make a decision on getting my EV station setup. She responded within a minute. - it was her day off that day but she did not hesitate to be kind and respond to our questions.

Customers have innumerable choices today when it comes to a car. The vehicle industry is very product driven as it should be. Imagine working with someone like Lauren who adds tremendous amount of human touch for one of the most important investments you're about to make. You’ll obviously walk out of the dealer with a car in that case, but you’ll come back with a relationship too.

We wish Lauren nothing but the very best. She has what it needs to reach the stars in this business. Whoever in Hyundai is reading this - give Lauren more opportunities to grow and support her. She’ll exceed your expectations and more importantly she will bring you returning and referencing customers.

Reach out to me if you need more specifics about Lauren’s...