MajorVery commonElectrical

Hyundai Getz: Ignition coil failure — a misfire that arrives with no warning and can stop the car

Ignition coil failure — a misfire that arrives with no warning and can stop the car is a very common electrical fault on the Hyundai Getz on the 2002–2011 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $150 to $800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Hyundai Getz.

Vehicle: Hyundai Getz
Years: 2002–2011
Fuel: petrol
System: Electrical

This page covers the Hyundai Getz as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Hyundai Getz faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The ignition coils on these have a limited life and tend to fail outright rather than fading, so the first sign is often a car that suddenly runs on three cylinders or will not start at all. It is one of the most frequently reported Getz faults and it typically shows up somewhere past eighty thousand kilometres, more readily in cold weather. Driving on a misfire pushes unburnt fuel into the exhaust and will damage the catalytic converter, which turns a modest bill into a much larger one, so it is not something to run on for a few weeks.

What you would notice

Engine shaking or juddering at idle
Flashing or steady check-engine light
Noticeable loss of power and a sharp jump in fuel use
Cranks but will not start, especially on a cold morning
Hesitation or stumble when you accelerate

How to check it

Where to look. Ignition coils on top of the engine, one per cylinder or a coil pack

Ask for a cold first start rather than arriving to a warm engine, since this fault shows itself worst from cold.
Sit with the engine idling and put your hand lightly on the top of the dashboard or watch the bonnet — a healthy small four-cylinder idles almost still, and a shake or an uneven beat is the misfire.
Watch the check-engine light as you start: it should come on with the ignition and go out once running, and a light that stays on or flashes is the answer.
On the drive, accelerate hard from low revs in a high gear and feel for a stumble.
Ask when the plugs and coils were last replaced, and treat a recent set as a genuine positive on this model.

Parts involved: Ignition coil.

What it costs to put right

$150 to $800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the ignition coils or spark plugs been replaced, and when?”
“Has the check-engine light ever come on?”
“Does it ever misfire or shake when cold?”

Now check the Hyundai Getz you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

AUTODOC — 'Hyundai Getz: common problems and faults'
MyCarly — 'Top 10 common Hyundai Getz problems'
AutoPartsPro — Problems with the Hyundai Getz

Hyundai Getz buyer questions

Is ignition coil failure — a misfire that arrives with no warning and can stop the car serious on a Hyundai Getz?

We rate it major and very common on the Hyundai Getz. The ignition coils on these have a limited life and tend to fail outright rather than fading, so the first sign is often a car that suddenly runs on three cylinders or will not start at all. It is one of the most frequently reported Getz faults and it typically shows up somewhere past eighty thousand kilometres, more readily in cold weather. Driving on a misfire pushes unburnt fuel into the exhaust and will damage the catalytic converter, which turns a modest bill into a much larger one, so it is not something to run on for a few weeks.

How much does it cost to fix on a Hyundai Getz?

$150 to $800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Hyundai Getz years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2011 Hyundai Getz. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Ask for a cold first start rather than arriving to a warm engine, since this fault shows itself worst from cold. Sit with the engine idling and put your hand lightly on the top of the dashboard or watch the bonnet — a healthy small four-cylinder idles almost still, and a shake or an uneven beat is the misfire. Watch the check-engine light as you start: it should come on with the ignition and go out once running, and a light that stays on or flashes is the answer. On the drive, accelerate hard from low revs in a high gear and feel for a stumble. Ask when the plugs and coils were last replaced, and treat a recent set as a genuine positive on this model. Look here: Ignition coils on top of the engine, one per cylinder or a coil pack