“If I’m already leasing the vehicle…”
Gas prices are already frustrating enough, but there’s something especially maddening about a car telling you it’s out of gas when you just filled the tank. And when the faulty gas gauge is on a luxury-level vehicle that tells repair techs nothing is wrong? It’s enough for an aggravated motorist to declare war.
That’s the position social media user Sam (@_samsstoryy_) is in with her leased Genesis, which is also racking up unexpected, seemingly unreasonable maintenance and repair costs. And she’s not afraid to let people know about it.
“I do have warranty. I also have a lease. Why aren’t these things covered?” she asks in a recent clip. “If I’m already leasing the vehicle, [why] am I having to pay like completely out of pocket for everything?”
Sam first noticed the problem after filling her gas tank, only to find the dashboard still registering empty. She tried adding more gas at another station, but the reading didn’t budge.
She suspected a faulty sensor but wasn’t willing to drive any considerable distances without knowing how much fuel she had left.
“Sure, you can kind of guesstimate, but like, I don’t want to play that game,” she said.
The dealership wasn’t much help. According to Sam, the technicians ran a diagnostic test but couldn’t detect any issues with the vehicle, meaning she left without an explanation for the faulty reading and knowing she’d need to track her mileage between fill-ups to have any read on how much fuel was left in her tank.
The service department did have some other recommendations, however, informing her she should get a tire rotation and front-end alignment. The tire rotation alone was priced over $200.
When Sam asked why the work wasn’t covered under her lease terms, she said another service adviser told her that Genesis had stopped offering complimentary maintenance this year. That came as a surprise to someone already making monthly payments on a leased luxury vehicle.
“This just doesn’t seem really like a luxurious experience,” she says.
The explanation Sam said she received at the dealership doesn’t quite square with what Genesis promises its customers. According to the automaker’s official website, new Genesis vehicles come with complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
That coverage includes tire rotations at factory-recommended intervals, along with oil changes and other scheduled services. Genesis also lists original lessees among those eligible for its complimentary maintenance program.
There are some unanswered questions about Sam’s situation, including the model and age of her vehicle, its mileage, and whether she has exhausted her complimentary services. But Genesis’ published policies don’t support the broad claim that the company eliminated complimentary maintenance this year.
The $200-plus tire rotation quote also deserves some scrutiny. Consumer Reports estimates the service typically costs about $60, although prices vary by vehicle and shop.
That’s separate from a wheel alignment, which involves adjusting suspension angles to keep the tires properly positioned and isn’t necessarily included in complimentary maintenance.
It’s important to note that a lease agreement doesn’t automatically make every service free. Manufacturer warranties generally cover defects in materials or workmanship, while routine maintenance is handled separately.
Genesis offers a five-year/60,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty, meaning a confirmed defect in the fuel gauge system could potentially qualify for repair. Other Genesis drivers were quick to challenge parts of Sam’s experience.
“If your genesis is a newer model it includes 3 years of maintenance which does include tire rotation. How old is the car?” one commenter asked.
Another commenter thought Sam was conflating ordinary maintenance with warranty repairs but agreed the malfunctioning fuel gauge was more concerning.
“Those are basic maintenance, and usually not covered by the manufacturer unless crazily advertised at the time of sale,” they wrote. “But the gas sensor problem…. Yikes. That is a warranty issue.”
A Volvo owner offered a comparison: “Volvo would never have me leaving with the gas gauge not working on a new vehicle. However tire rotation is regular maintenance and I do pay for that.”
The contrasting responses suggest Sam’s frustration isn’t necessarily misplaced, even if some of her assumptions about leasing and warranties are. Depending on her vehicle’s eligibility, the tire rotation may well be something Genesis should cover. The alignment is a separate question.
But the fuel gauge remains the bigger concern that can come from a faulty fuel-level sending unit, wiring problem, or instrument display malfunction. Without knowing what technicians checked, there’s no way to determine what’s causing the issue.
Motor1 reached out to Sam via direct message and comment on the clip. We’ll update this story if she responds.
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