Battery issue that dealer refuses to know how to fix.
Service Department – Unorganized, Poor Communication, Lack of Experience
I purchased a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited from steele hyundai kyle texas, and my experience with both the sales and service departments has been extremely frustrating and disappointing.
Service Department Experience
In October, my vehicle experienced a severe battery issue. The battery drained, and the dashboard lit up with multiple errors — check engine light, safety system failures, headlight and door module errors. The vehicle wouldn’t allow me to turn off the headlights or lock the doors. I took it to the dealership the next day, where they kept it for 4–5 days. I was told the battery had simply drained and needed to be charged.
By November, the issue became repetitive and clearly cold-weather related. After any cold night:
Battery would be below 30%
Doors would not unlock (manual key required)
Dash full of warning lights
Turn signals inoperable
Headlights couldn’t be adjusted
Heated seats and steering wheel disabled
Once the battery charged, everything worked normally. If the car sat 12–13 hours during the day, there were zero issues. If it was cold overnight, the problem happened again. If it wasn’t cold, there were no issues at all.
This happened about 15 times in November.
On December 1st, I returned to the dealership and waited 3 hours. I was again told the car was fixed and the battery just needed to be charged. I refused to take the vehicle and insisted they keep it overnight. The next morning, I received a call stating the vehicle did exactly what I said it would.
I returned on December 5th, only to find out they had not touched the vehicle at all. I was assured a diagnosis would be ready the following week. On December 10th, I called and was told there was still no diagnosis. On December 11th, I received a call saying the issue was fixed — supposedly caused by paint on the threads of a ground wire. This explanation made little sense for an intermittent, cold-weather issue, especially since I was repeatedly told there was no parasitic draw.
I was told to pick the car up the next day. On Friday, December 12th, I received a text saying the vehicle was not ready because it was doing the same exact thing again.
At this point, my vehicle is less than 3 months old, has under 3,000 miles, and is completely unreliable. The inability to properly diagnose or explain the issue is unacceptable. I had to contact Hyundai corporate and obtain a case manager to assist due to the service department’s failures.
Sales Department Experience
Unfortunately, the buying process should have been a warning sign.
The sales process was similarly disorganized, including refusal to provide an out-the-door price and incorrect application of an EV tax credit to a gas vehicle.
I am documenting this experience publicly for transparency and consumer awareness. While there are individual employees who are professional, the dealership as a whole lacks the organization, technical capability, and processes necessary to properly support customers.
Overall Impression
Overall, this dealership lacks organization, technical knowledge, experience, and customer service. During my many service visits, I’ve repeatedly seen technicians standing around joking rather than working, while service advisors appear overwhelmed and take the blame from angry customers for issues clearly beyond their control.
I truly love the Palisade and wouldn’t want a different vehicle. However, this dealership has made ownership stressful and regrettable. I’m sharing my real experience so others are aware of the potential issues. Hopefully, Hyundai corporate will step in and make this situation right.
Verified Owner
