Used Hyundai Verna Buyer's Guide

Back in 2006, Hyundai Motors India was getting commendable levels of success with their small cars but their efforts in the sedan market were banking solely on the Accent. The year of 2006 witnessed the launch of the model that would pave their way into the C-segment sedan class with an iron fist, the Verna. Despite being a somewhat simple and plain looker back then, the car still did great in the market. Fast forward to 2011 and the Verna got the trademark ‘fluidic’ makeover. The Verna was immediately the hottest seller of the year in the C2 segment averaging around 4000-5000 units a month. With an all-new iteration launched in 2017, older Vernas started to gather up in large numbers in the used car market. So here, we’ll take a look at some of the key areas you should pay attention to if you intend to purchase a used Hyundai Verna.

Used Hyundai Verna Buyer’s Checklist

Rapid Clutch Wear

This is a problem that plagues almost all Hyundai models in India. These cars are prone to a very high level of clutch wear. While clutch plates normally last at least 30,000-50,000 km before requiring replacement, some Hyundai’s could require replacement within the 15,000 km mark. This is caused due to poor driving habits. While most other cars won’t suffer to this extent for the same level of load on the clutch, Hyundai clutch systems are very sensitive to the same.

There have been several reports of clutch plates on used Hyundai Vernas wearing out in a mere 8000 km of usage! So when you intend to purchase a used Hyundai Verna, be sure to keep a keen eye on the working and ease of usage of the clutch. If you feel the lever is resisting your effort or the clutch is slipping, it could very well be the sign of worn out plates.

Suspension Noises

This particular issue is most commonly seen in the first generation models of the Fluidic Verna. When you drive the car over uneven roads or even mediocrely deep potholes, you will hear a loud ‘thud’. You would freak out in such a situation and assume it’s under body of the car hitting the ground below you but you need not worry.  It is actually caused due to a loose front lower control arm.

The bolts holding the control arm in place have a tendency to loosen up when driven our bumpy surfaces frequently. It’s a very quick fix which will require the removal of the bolt, application of grease and retightening as per the correct torque. So when you are test riding the used Hyundai Verna you intend to purchase, look out for this peculiar sound when you are driving over rough roads.

Sudden Lack of Acceleration

This issue is more commonly observed on the pre-Fluidic diesel CRDi Verna models. Several owners have reported that the car refuses to climb over a certain level of RPM at times. They say that after a few minutes of driving the car, it will simply refuse to climb over 3000-3500 RPM no matter how much throttle you give it. As per the Hyundai service personnel, this problem is caused due to certain faulty sensors in the engine.

The most common suspects are the turbocharger air volume sensor or the fuel float sensor. When these sensors malfunction, the ECU isn’t able to compute the output it should give up on the throttle and basically goes into safe mode. And during safe mode, it restricts the operating RPM so that the car doesn’t incur further damage. So, be sure to take the used Hyundai Verna you intend to purchase for a sufficiently long test drive and explore the RPM range thoroughly.

Engine Shaking Excessively

This is again an issue commonly reported with the pre-Fluidic Verna models. Owners have reported that when they start the car up or turn it off, the engine seems to rock in its position aggressively. This problem was also observed when the car is engaged into gear from a standstill. The source of this problem was diagnosed as worn out bushes holding the engine bed in place.

This issue is often reported after the vehicle crosses 20000 kilometers. The fix is simple and only requires the bushes to be replaced. But owners often tend to skip replacing them since these are rubber parts which are not covered in the warranty and need to be replaced at the owner’s cost. So, be sure to observe the engine starting up with the bonnet open on the used Hyundai Verna you intend to purchase.

Resistance During Gearshifts

This problem is observed on both Verna models but it is more common on the Fluidic models.  Both these models are equipped with a hydraulic clutch system which has its own fluid channel. It is often observed that over a period of time, the gearbox begins to resist gear changes. The gear knob will either require a lot of effort to slot correctly and several cases have been reported where the lever simply refuses to budge. This issue is again caused due to malfunctions in the clutch.

It is either caused due to a defective clutch master cylinder or due to worn out clutch plates. In most cases, it is the master cylinder which is the source of the problem. If it is due to the master cylinder, it is highly likely that air will also be trapped in the fluid channel. This will have to be bled out separately after changing the master cylinder. Hence, ensure that you are able to shift gears with ease when you are test riding the used Hyundai Verna you intend to purchase. Also, ensure that no gear is slipping or engaging incorrectly as that can also be attributed to the same clutch problems.