Heller Auto Group

I went there on a Monday morning to have a check engine light checked. They said they were busy and it would be best if I could make an appointment. I did for 0830 Tuesday Morning. They said it should only take a couple of hours to figure it out. I returned at 1245 pm and they did not even look at the car. I was told they would get on it right away when then mechanic returned from lunch at 1pm. It only took 20 minutes to «reset» the indicator. I had to go to work and left my wife & child there to wait for the vehicle. They said they were going to wash the car and bring it right out (This was at 1:20pm) The car showed up at 2:40 pm after much hassling with the shop manager. Terrible communication & even worse service. I have owned 3 Hyundais, I love the cars but this service department is ridiculous.

I am pleased to share my experience with the sales and service personnel. Amazingly extraordinary people servicing customer’s needs, always focused on successfully identifying each of them. Everyone was kind, courteous and very respectful, by far the best place to buy a vehicle or service it. I highly recommend going to this Hyundai dealership, I can guaranty you will be mesmerized by their attentive service!

This place has the worst customer service i have ever seen. if you are not there to buy now then leave seems to be their policy. i was there to pick up a truck for a friend when it was getting maintenance done and was sent to three different people only to wait for the only person who could apparently help me to get off a personal phone call

Ripped me Off $ 1500
John Goodman ripped me off in November of 2012 1500 cash without giving me a receipt. I paid for my other half of my downpayment! Don’t trust these people! There full of fraud and lies!
Took my 1500 in cash and never gave me a receipt! They lie and cheat!
I just found out because John Goodman lied to me about a maintenance package that he said I could use anywhere in the USA so Troy Schneeweis said he would be refunding it only took 3 months. Now he says I have an outstanding balance of 1500 cash!
WTF?
I wanted a refund and now I have an outstanding balance of 1500?
Wow! Crucks! Cheats and lies!

Honest and friendly. Even gave a 3 year warranty on a 10 year old car and came through when repairs were needed!!!

I recently bought a ford fiesta and Elantra at Heller. the people there were very professional. I was sown around the very large dealership and was very impressed with all the options. We then picked out the two cars we wanted and I hate buying cars but Heller Hyundai And Heller Ford really treated me like I feel I deserved to be treated, as a customer for life. I am and will always be. I got the cars at the prices I wanted and my daughter and son are very happy and that made me happy. Thank you Heller Hyundai and Heller Ford for everything.

went to the hyundai side of the dealership. I WILL NEVER GO BACK! The finance manager (John) pulled my credit 3 times without asking me. Thats illegal and I will be taking action against the dealership.

Ok, so I just had to sign onto Unilocal for the first time to write a review for this crappy dealership. What a joke.
So I’ve been researching around for a new Hyundai to purchase, and this place was one of the dealerships that I’ve been trying to contact via email first. I would get one of those «automatic» responses asking me to «come in for a test drive!». I then asked for more specific questions regarding the vehicle that I was interested in, and I was completely ignored. I then proceeded to email another person, hoping to get a response. Nothing. Ok fine, maybe they’re very busy? So I called this guy named John in the Internet department. He was fine at first when was asking about the car, and then when we started talking about pricing, he just became rude. I asked him if he can match another dealer’s quote, and he said «oh it’s only $xxx amount less than mine». That $xxx amount was actually wrong, but hey, he made a mistake, no problem. It’s his job, but it happens. I let it slide. I told him that few other dealers «discounted» or absorbed license fee and destination charges. His tone became frustrated and irritated more and more. When I tried again to see if he can match the price I was quote by another dealer, he was clearly irritated and said «hey look, $xx, xxx is the price i have, so take it or leave it.» That price was a thousand more than another dealer’s quote.
Mind you, I was very courteous and respectful throughout the conversation with this idiotic salesman, if you can even call him that. You can’t match a price? Fine. You’re a brainless car salesman? Fine. But if you can’t even maintain a pleasant conversation over the phone for 5 minutes for someone who’s actually trying to give you business, then go find yourself another career; maybe car salesman thing is just too difficult for ya.
Go get your hyundai elsewhere. Save yourself the trouble.

Poor customer service. Long wait times.

I really don’t know what’s going on at Heller, and I don’t think their sales people know either.
Our experience here was uneventful and very off-​putting. We were trying to decide between the Ford Focus and a Mazda 3, so we stopped here for a test drive. I understand that now is the time to buy, but they only had four Focus models available, only one that was an automatic.
Off we went for the test drive. our salesman must have already given up trying to sell us a Focus or didn’t really know much about his product because he gave us ZERO information on the specs. Just turned up his beats on the Sync and let us putz around on the highway.
We returned from the test drive and wanted to get a quote. The finance person wouldn’t talk numbers until we found a car that we wanted. Okay, then. We were taken to their back lot to find a Focus we liked. We walked around the back for almost 10 minutes until the salesman realized they had none back there. Seriously?! They really should know their inventory before they make customers walk around on hot asphalt for nothing.
I feel that if they hadn’t given up selling us a car before the test drive, they definitely did after they realized they didn’t have a car that they could sell to us. Salesman pretty much walked away from us to find someone else.
And that’s how we ended up with a shiny new Mazda.

Worst car buying experience ever! Do not go here!
Ended up paying $ 700 more at another dealer because our experience was so terrible.
We went to look at the new Velosters, which they had none of. Instead of telling us when they would get some in their sleazy salesman tried to sell us every used piece of junk on their lot. We werent there to look at used cars. We were there to look at the Velosters.
Our second experience we talked to Deb the sales manager about Costco pricing. Told us she would be there all day the next day and that we would have to come in to get the pricing. So we did just that. Arrived at the dealership and wandered around for a while and no one was to be found. Called Deb on her personal cell phone (which she gave to us) and no answer. Left a message and still to this day have not received a return phone call. Finally wandered to the service dept and waited around there for about 10 mins for them to try and find someone to help me. Finally they found someone and he seemed rather annoyed almost like I was bother him. Ended up just telling me the Costco price and not printing out the actual invoice. Didnt seem interested in selling me a car at all. Worst customer service ever! If its this bad just buying a car I cant even imagine how terrible it would be if anything ever went wrong with the car you purchased. Dont waste your time at this dealer!
Go to North County Hyundai and ask for Jacob! Most amazing customer service and car buying experience ever!!!

Service review…
I took a Hyundai here for a 30k service and some warranty work. They did a good job with the communication and did the work in a reasonable amount of time.
— Very small service drop off zone.
— The prices here are higher than Poway Hyundai for some reason.
— The courtesy car was a new Elentra limited… Quite nice actually.
As an aside, if you ever have to use the Hyundai roadside assistance make sure they DO NOT send roadway towing to pick you up. Read here for more info.

Another reason to consider Hyundai of Escondido,
On Thursday, 17 May 2012, I noticed I had a screw in my tire. It was approximately 5:00 pm and needed to get my tire repaired to get to my home in Temecula, CA.
I called the service department and spoke with Ryan. Ryan informed my that tire repairs are no longer conducted, but assisted me in directions to a discount tire near my location.
He did not have to do that, but he went out of his way to help me.
When I got to Discount tire, they informed me that the tire was not repairable and needed to be replaced. Unfortunately, they did not have the tire in stock.
I called Ryan back at the Hyundai service department and informed him of my situation. I ask him to order me a replacement tire and then he informed me that he would have a replacement 2012 Hyundai Sonata rental for me until next week when my tire is replaced.
Without asking, Hyundai did this for me. Being in the US Navy, I have to work everyday and could not be without a vehicle.
Thank you for all the great service.
This is a winning team at Heller Hyundai of Escondido.
I will be HIGHLY RECOMMENDING Heller Hyundai of Escondido to all of my friends, family, and colleagues.
Sincerely,
LT Henry Gudino

I have recently purchased a 2001 Mercedes from Heller Hyundai of Escondido and I have to say I have never seen a dealership work so hard til the last minute to ensure the deal was exactly how I wanted it.
It all started from a wonderful entrance to a very clean dealership. There were many knowledgeable staff members on hand to make sure I was being helped. My trade in was evaluated and a fair offer was generated with haste. A nice man, Andrew Davis, was nice enough to converse with me on what my thoughts were on what my parameters would be in terms of a payment plan. Although I did not buy a new Hyundai, the dealership treated me as though I did. There was not a feeling that other customers that were there buying new Hyundai’s were being treated better just because they bought a new car.
The next thing that got me was something that has never been done before. I received two separate checks from the dealership after the deal was finalized. The first was for the difference of my trade in’s payoff was lower than they had quoted. The second check was for the difference on the DMV fee’s. I have never been told by a dealership that there was a difference in the payoff or fees and that they would make it right, I am sure the others would pocket the difference.
These are just a few of the reasons I will continue to make this my families first stops when we are in the market for a new vehicle.

We went with our 22 year old daughter to purchase her first car on her own. We were approached right away by John… amazing polite knowledgeable salesman. He was great. We reached an economical deal on a Tuscan. And Jonathan Goodman in finance really helped her secure her first car loan. Everyone at this dealership was so nice and welcoming. Very good experience.

My mother purchased a 2012 Hyundai Genesis in August 2011. Long story short: she was completely duped into buying $ 4700 of extras that are unnecessary and over-​priced (factory car alarm, paint protection, gap insurance). The finance «manager» said she completely understood what he was selling her, but if that was the case, why did she come home and wonder how her $ 33,000 car was costing her over $ 40,000?
While it’s partially her fault for signing off on those items, I know that her limited English proficiency was to blame and I truly believe the finance guy tricked her into buying all those annoying extras they always try to pin on you at the end of the deal.
Don’t buy from this dealership. Shady, dishonest people who feel no remorse for tricking people into buying things they don’t need.

I went into the Hyundai dealership after doing some research online. I found that Hyundai was clearing out their old Accent models and had them for crazy cheap. I figured it was worth a shot to see if there were any left on the lot. My car had keeled over THREE weeks prior to this visit — I had done many searches online, talked to many dealerships and knew that I wanted to keep my budget AS CLOSE to a specific dollar amount as possible, I also understood that being a first time buyer I was looking at 6−8% on a finance.
I printed out a page and walked into the dealership. A rude man named Jeff greeted my mother and I. (She was willing to cosign and is quite the hard ass negotiator). I realize I look a bit younger than I am but I hardly think that excuses the way Jeff talked to both myself and my mother. He wanted to know HOW I got this magical number and accused me, multiple times of pulling it out of thin air. I have never been so belittled in my ENTIRE life. He talked down to the both of us during the entire process, as if we were simple minded women who had no idea how the intricate workings of a car lot go.
Despite me having a printed out page and budget it took an HOUR for him to «ask his manager» if there any models on lot. AN HOUR. After the first 30 minutes he had brought me a page for a manual when I specifically had told him automatics only. It took another half hour for him to tell me there were none.
The only time he was courteous was when he was showing us the door.

1. I went into Heller Hyundai and met with Jim Spicer (internet manager).
2. BEFORE I test drove 3 different 2011 Hyundai Sonata’s, I told him I had accidently left my USAA Auto Circle Price Protection Certificate ($ 22,814 for a 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE WITH Cargo mat, carpeted floor mats, iPod cable, & mud guard) at home.
3. Jim said «That doesn’t matter. I can just look it up on the Internet in the office.»
4. I test drove 3 cars.
5. I selected the SE model and asked for a brochure. Jim went into the office to «check on the price.» Upon his return, Jim wrote ON this brochure, $ 25,853 (then scratched that out) and then put down $ 25,875, then scratched THAT out, and put down $ 26,700. I asked him if that was the final price before taxes and fees. He said «Yes.»
6. I did NOT buy the car, but went home and checked my USAA Auto Circle Price Protection Certificate. It said $ 22,814.
7. There was a difference in Jim’s quote of $ 3,886.
8. I called Jim back and explained this.
9. He said I made a mistake.
10. I offered to FAX him a copy of the brochure he had written on as well as the USAA Price Protection Certificate.
11. He said that wouldn’t be necessary and re-​evaluated his price.
12. I don’t remember the price he finally quoted me because I was so angry.
13. I called up USAA to file a complaint.
14. USAA said that they didn’t have a department handling the Autocircle Car Buying Program, but that I could POST a «community bulletin» expressing my viewpoint, which I did.
15. Jim Spicer of Heller Hyundai sent me an email saying that he was «sorry» they couldn’t work with me on something to my satisfaction, and, oh, by the way, would I please fill out a survey on their services.
16. I did.
17. Someone by the name of Deeno called me saying he handled the complaints for the Auto Circle Program. (866) 480−1313×8273.
18. I told Deeno what had happened.
19. Deeno called Heller Hyundai and came up with some kind of «deal» that he, Deeno, is suppose to be mailing to me. Should I choose to accept the deal, I could still purchase a car from Heller Hyundai
20. I will not, but I still want to see what they were ultimately willing to offer me.

False Advertising,
After experiencing a very dishonest and unprofessional by Kearny Pearson Kia, I went to purchase a Hyundai Elantra at Escondido Heller Auto group. They had the car that I wanted in their inventory at the time and it was advertised at $ 20,272 by them on
after 3 days of playing cat and mouse with me on the phone and in person the sales Manager Rick Taylor said that he would not honor the advertised price and he would only sell it for full sticker price!
Wow, what happened to customer service and appreciation in these bad economic times!!!
I am very dissatisfied by Heller Auto Group and will not ever attempt to go near them for any car needs.

Who would believe someone would find a car-​buying experience at a car dealership actually enjoyable? Given the usual high pressure stereotype of car salespeople, you typically go onto a car lot with an inventory of excuses ready to dispense with a salesperson so you can leave the car lot in one piece.
I just bought a 2011 Hyundai Sonata from Heller Hyundai in Escondido, and the experience was nothing short of a pure delight. First mention goes to our salesman, Fernando Ramos. What a great guy! No pressure, let us drive the entire process, answered all our questions, and even though we started the experience with the statement «we’re not going to buy today, just doing some research» (remember that inventory of excuses???), he was just as attentive and enthusiastic and took great care of us. We ended up doing a deal, and there was no pressure, and the back-​and-​forth of settling on a price was very easy. If you’re looking to buy a Hyundai, go see Fernando, you’ll thank me later, trust me! Second mention goes to the Sales Manager, Rick Taylor, another terrific guy. He was obviously busy with a few deals, but when I asked him about a photo displayed on his wall, he stopped what he was doing and engaged in a very long conversation with me about it — and this was all genuine interest, not putting on a show for the customer.
As if the purchase experience wasn’t enough for me to rate this company so highly, but a few days later I had a question about the final purchase price (my fault for not scrutinizing the sales contract as I should have), and I thought there was a $ 300 discrepancy, so I called Heller Hyundai. Although it turned out to be a misunderstanding between the dealership and myself when we were doing the deal (and when I did the math in another way, I see the way they presented it was correct and I was the one in the wrong), Heller was moving toward refunding me the difference. They were totally in their rights to say a deal is a deal, etc., and it was my fault for not reading what I was signing (and it was), but they were more interested in keeping a happy customer. I finally called them back and told them that I now understood what they meant vs. what I had thought originally, and all was good, and no refund was necessary. But I was impressed that they were going to take that extra step to make sure I was happy. Nice touch, Heller Hyundai!
Of course I got all the follow up phone calls asking me how I liked the car, is there anything they can do for me, etc., etc. It was such a refreshing experience after we came from North County Hyundai of Carlsbad (you’ll see a separate review from me of them), a dealership considerably closer to us, but the experience was simply awful.
If you’re interested in a Hyundai (the Sonata is a pretty nice car, by the way), do not consider going anywhere but Heller Hyundai. They’re nice people!