Simpson v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc.
| Decision Date | 20 August 2004 |
| Docket Number | No. A04A1279, No. A04A1301. |
| Parties | SIMPSON v. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA, INC. Phillips v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc. |
| Court | Georgia Court of Appeals |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
Adam Krohn, Amy M. Budow, Eric S. Fortas, Scott M. Cohen, Shireen Hormozdi, Krohn & Moss, Atlanta, for appellant.
Jill C. Kuhn, Jeremy M. Moeser, Charles K. Reed, McKenna, Long & Aldridge, Atlanta, for appellee.
Angela Simpson and Tina Phillips appeal from the trial court's grants of summary judgment to Hyundai Motor America, Inc. (HMA) in their separate suits pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act1 (the Act) and Georgia law claiming breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, and revocation of acceptance. Because several of the issues raised in both cases2 are identical, the cases have been consolidated for purposes of appeal.
On appeal from the grant of a motion for summary judgment, we conduct a de novo review of the law and evidence, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, to determine whether a genuine issue of material fact exists and whether the moving party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Holbrook v. Stansell, 254 Ga.App. 553, 553-554, 562 S.E.2d 731 (2002).
In October 2001, Simpson purchased a 2001 Hyundai Accent with manual transmission from HMA dealer Courtesy Hyundai for $12,500. Simpson received with her vehicle the 2001 Accent Owner's Handbook, which contained the "Hyundai New Vehicle Limited Warranty." That limited warranty, for 60,000 miles or 60 months, whichever came first, provided that:
The Handbook also provided, in compliance with the Act, an alternative dispute resolution program for customers' warranty complaints. This program is the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program. Also, the Handbook states that Auto Line must be used prior to initiating court action pursuant to the Act. The maximum relief available under Auto Line is the repurchase or replacement of the vehicle.
On December 27, 2001, Simpson took her Accent to the dealer with complaints regarding the transmission, sound system, an unidentified noise, and a loose floor mat. The Accent had 3,784 miles on it. According to the repair order, repairs worth over $400 were made to the car. Simpson acknowledged that service was performed and the problem with the transmission was temporarily solved.
On April 4, 2002, Simpson returned to the dealership because the transmission would not stay in reverse. The Accent had 6,980 miles at that time. Repairs worth over $250 were made, including the replacement of fifth and the reverse hub, at no charge to Simpson.
On June 12, 2002, Simpson returned to the dealership with complaints of grinding when shifting into second gear. There were 9,616 miles on the car. The entire transmission was replaced, at no cost to Simpson.
On June 18, 2002, Simpson contacted the BBB Auto Line Program, complaining of a defective transmission. She did not return to the dealer for further repairs. Also, on June 18, 2002, Simpson, through her counsel, sent a letter to HMA purportedly revoking acceptance of the Accent.
On June 27, 2002, prior to any sort of resolution pursuant to the BBB Auto Line Program, HMA offered, through BBB, to replace the Accent or repurchase it for $11,809.01, which included a setoff of the $500 rebate Simpson had gotten when purchasing the car as well as a mileage setoff of $1,095.64. Simpson rejected this offer.
Simpson continues to drive the Accent, make payments on it, insure it, and pay ad valorem taxes on it. As of her deposition on February 6, 2003, Simpson had driven the Accent over 13,000 miles following her attempted revocation of acceptance on June 18, 2002.
The Accent was inspected by Ben Hall, the District Parts and Service Manager for HMA, on April 2, 2003. He opined that, in his expert opinion, the Accent performed like any other 2001 Hyundai Accent and was not defective in any way.
On September 29, 2001, Phillips purchased a 2002 Hyundai Sonata with automatic transmission from Rick Case Hyundai for $23,749.52. Phillips received her 2002 Owner's Handbook and Warranty Information Manual, which also contained the Hyundai New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Phillips received the Manual and acknowledged that representations made regarding the warranty influenced her decision to purchase the Sonata. The Limited Warranty was the same as that contained in Simpson's Manual, set out above, except it referred to a 2002 Hyundai vehicle.
The dealer, Rick Case, did not provide an express warranty and in fact disclaimed all warranties, including express warranties and the implied warranty of merchantability. This disclaimer is on the front page of the purchase contract, immediately above Phillips' signature. At the time of the purchase, Mancell Roby, Phillips' uncle who co-signed for the car, also purchased a CostGuard Vehicle Service Agreement. This agreement was between Roby and Acceleration National Service Corporation.
On January 11, 2002, Phillips took her car, with 5,984 miles on it, into Rick Case for a nonworking right rear brake light. The problem was corrected at no cost to Phillips and she acknowledged that it was repaired. On February 18, 2002, Phillips returned to Rick Case complaining that there was a ticking noise while the Sonata was running and that the transmission was jerking from first to second gears. There were 6,708 miles on the car. Phillips returned to Rick Case on March 25, 2002, reporting a clicking noise while idling and the transmission continued to shift very hard. She was provided a rental car and the clicking was diagnosed as a problem with the drive belt, which was replaced at no cost to her. The mechanic who test drove the car was unable to duplicate any shifting problem. Phillips returned with the car on March 28, complaining that the transmission was still not shifting right. The transmission fluid was drained and replaced, at no charge. On April 4, 2002, a fog light bulb was replaced on the driver's side.
On August 29, 2002, with 15,217 miles on the Sonata, Phillips took it to Jim Ellis Hyundai with a number of electrical complaints, as well as again stating that the transmission was shifting hard. The ETAC module and sunroof relay were replaced. Also, the fuse box was damaged and it and all fuses were replaced. The transmission fluid was low and was topped off. Phillips was provided with a rental car and the repairs, worth over $1,000, were all covered by her warranty.
On November 1, 2002, Phillips returned to Jim Ellis with her sunroof inoperable, lights flickering inside the dash, headlights flickering, and the transmission still shifting roughly. Phillips was provided a rental car and a wiring harness was specially ordered for the sunroof. The battery was replaced, but the technician found the transmission operating to manufacturer's specifications. On November 21, the wiring harness was installed. On December 30, 2002, Jim Ellis replaced the headlights on Phillips' Sonata after finding they had internal failure.
The car had 20,553 miles at this time.
On November 22, 2002, Phillips, through counsel, sent a letter to HMA purportedly revoking acceptance of the Sonata. On December 2, 2002, Phillips contacted the BBB Auto Line Program, stating that the Sonata had transmission, electrical, engine, and brake problems. On December 23, 2002, prior to any resolution by the BBB Auto Line Program, HMA notified Phillips through the Auto Line Program that it would replace or repurchase the Sonata. HMA agreed to repurchase the car for $23,749.52 minus an offset for mileage. This offer was rejected, although at her deposition on June 17, 2003, Phillips stated she had been unaware of this offer and its rejection. In an affidavit of October 3, 2003, Phillips averred that she had been well aware of the offer and decided to reject it.
Phillips still drives the Sonata, makes payments on it, insures it, and pays ad valorem taxes on it. As of July 30, 2003, when the Sonata was inspected by Hall, the District Parts and Service Manager for HMA, the car had 33,738 miles on it. Hall drove the car for approximately two and one-half hours and found it performed as expected and as any other 2002 Hyundai Sonata would perform. He inspected the transmission and found no problems and no transmission codes indicating any problems. He inspected the engine and found no problems and no engine codes indicating any problems. He did not hear any abnormal noise from the engine. Hall also inspected the electrical system, including the battery, charging system, lights, turn signals, brake lights, head lights, and hazard lights. He found the dome lamps and sunroof working properly. The radio and alarm system worked properly. Although the front right fog light was out, it was a burned out bulb, which is routine maintenance and not covered by warranty.
Also, Hall examined the oil in the Sonata and found it to be extremely dirty. Oil sludge he found indicated that there had been a failure to maintain the car. The air filter needed replacing and the oil sticker in the car stated that it was due for an oil...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Mitchell v. Backus Cadillac-Pontiac, Inc.
...Superstores, 271 Ga.App. 813, 815(1)(b), 611 S.E.2d 108 (2005), citing OCGA § 11-2-314(2)(a), (c). 33. Simpson v. Hyundai Motor America, 269 Ga.App. 199, 204(1)(b), 603 S.E.2d 723 (2004). 34. Gosnell, supra at 686(1), 282 S.E.2d 168. 35. (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Weir v. Kirby Con......
-
Monticello v. Winnebago Industries, Inc.
...warranty but fails to return to the manufacturer or its authorized dealer for a final attempt to repair. Simpson v. Hyundai Motor Am., Inc., 269 Ga.App. 199, 603 S.E.2d 723, 727 (2004). In this case, Plaintiff's Amended Complaint identified ten specific defects that he contends he brought t......
-
Udoinyion v. Michelin North America, Inc.
...24–3–37 (“admissions or propositions made with a view to a compromise are not proper evidence”). Cf. Simpson v. Hyundai Motor America, 269 Ga.App. 199, 201, 204(1)(a), 603 S.E.2d 723 (2004) (finding in warranty action that plaintiffs had presented no evidence that car had defect; evidence d......
-
Knight v. American Suzuki Motor Corp., No. A04A2106.
...(Citations omitted.) McDonald v. Mazda Motors, 269 Ga.App. at 66(1)(a), 603 S.E.2d 456. See also Simpson v. Hyundai Motor America, 269 Ga.App. 199, 203(1)(a), 603 S.E.2d 723 (2004). Moreover, unless the repairs are accomplished within a reasonable amount of time, the warrantor may be deemed......