Hyundai Santa Fe SM (2000-2006)

My Santa Fe Diesel 2015, has only 32,000kms on the clock, always been an excellent car, just love it, always serviced and looked after. As for the new Santa Fe 2025 model, what have they done, so utterly ugly, what are they thinking, omg.... Show details

Good concept ruined by lousy transmission – I liked driving this car when it was going. The engine was good, the ride was comfortable. It had a terrible fuel tank which you couldn't easily fill and was way too small for the car, but the worst thing about it has been the auto transmission. This has been a problem since I have had the car and has now led to its demise. I bought the car… Read more

with 60,000 km on the clock and it still had over a years worth of warranty. at about 70,000 km cruising down the freeway, it suddenly shifted down to third and stayed there. Limp home mode. Its OK when you're on the main road, but useless when you're trying to take off at an intersection or go up a hill. The dealer changed the input speed sensor and all was well for another 5000 km then it did it again. This time the output speed sensor was changed. It did this 4 or 5 times over the next 50,000 km. Harsh words to the dealer and letters to Hyundai did nothing. I had a brief period where all was well for 40,000 km then the transmission went Kaplooie and stuck in third for good. I had a second hand one fitted which lasted 30,000 km without problems until it went kaplooie as well only this time with no drive at all. The car has 180,000 km, the body, engine, everything else is fine, but I am not going to throw good money after bad on what is obviously an unresolved design fault with the car. It's going to the wreckers instead.

Best car ever owned – Bought my Santa Fe new in 2005 with the V6 2.7 motor. It has now done 135,000 klm and going better than ever. Have not spent a cent on repairs only regular servicing, 1 set of brake pads and tyres. Not real good in soft sand as it is only all wheel drive, but have done a lot of dirt road driving and is very stable. Have towed a 16 ft caravan… Read more ·  3

from Port Lincoln (God's country) to Augusta WA, up to Broome, Darwin, Kakadu, the Rock and home - 22,000klm. No problems at all. About to hook up again and go to Queensland. Hopefully everything will go well. A top little car. A bit thirsty at the pump with towing, but hey, it is only money. Not a thing

Poor Quality – My 2006 Santa Fe has been in the shop more times than in my garage. Drive shaft replacement, fluid leak, and most recently (over 8 months ago) have a rumbling noise coming from the vacinity of the fuel tank. The noise occurs after the car has been driven and the engine is warm, and the vehicle sits for about 20 minutes. It happens when the key… Read more

is turned on before and after the car is started. I have visited the dealer 10 times on this problem (Tim's Auto Group, Prescott Arizona), leaving the car overnight several times. The dealer replaced the fuel pump twice, and a regulator, and the noise is worse. Now the dealer says the noise is "normal" and refuses to do anything else to fix the problem. I now have a vehicle that I can't sell because in has a problem. Tim's Auto Group sucks..

Terrible – I was sold the biggest lemon in the car yard and now that the warrantee is finish the only option is to have it put down. The resale value is now only $17,000, and the repairs would be over $5,000. A big issue with these so called 4WD cars, that are street bound are the tyre tread patterns. If all 4 tyres are not matched, then your transfer case… Read more

seizes.

This gives you a lot of confidence if you ever decided to go 4 wheel driving. The rolling diameter of different brand tyres with different tread patterns are

the same, so why would it destroy your transfer case. Imagine if your 4 wheel driving on a dirt road and there is loose gravel and the front tyre turn different to the back, prepare to be towed home.

If Hyundai was serious about the reputation of their vehicles, my ongoing problems would have picked up at the Tynan Hyundai Dealer at Kirrawee and referred to Hyundai's head office. Could someone come up with a solution.

Ken Dures 0416 223 698. The only thing good is the comfort and style. My 2001 Santa Fe GL 3.6 Auto was a lemon from the start. I paid $45,000 which included a few extras.

In 6 years and only 135,000 klms this car has had the following items replaced:-

New complete Auto transmission and transfer case. The car stopped in the middle of an intersection and had to be towed away.

Two front disc rotors and calipers. This was a major fault and very dangerous.

New starter motor.The car stopped and had to be towed to dealer.

New power steering pump. Steering became very stiff and noisy on turning.

Twice the auto key entry solenoid failed,and continues to fail.

The transfer box seized and locked all wheels. The car blocked Westfeild Miranda carpark exit ramp for 2 hours. Car removed on jocky wheels down ramps and loaded onto a tilt tray and taken to dealer.

The newest failure this month is the nearside rear wheel bearing is seizing up.

The motor has developed a loud nock which sounds like the big end bearings are gone and possible damage in the overhead cam area.

The gearbox jumps out of gear sometimes.

This car has NEVER touch an ounce of dirt, just to and from the shops and a couple of small trips.

If you don't mind not driving, it's nice to sit in while you wait for a tow truck.

Terrible – Whilst our Sante Fe has been reliable the paint job is rubbish and is crazing and fading in five different places. Hyundai put it down to bird droppings but I saw another Sante Fe yesterday and they have the same problem in exactly the same places. All for a car that has never been off road and had paint protection on it from new. The bars that… Read more

divide the back window are also rusting. NEVER buy another. Reliable, comfortable The paint! It is fading and crazing in five different places.

Good – I owned the upgraded 2005 model and was extremely happy with it. As the last version of the old shape there was only one model and it came with tilt and slide sunroof, climate control airconditioning and side and curtain airbags. I originally leased it for 3 years but was so happy with it (and couldn't find anything as good for a similar price)… Read more ·  1

that I extended the lease to 4 years. At the end of 4 years I paid out the lease. I traded it in after 4 1/2 years before the warranty expired.

My wife loved the Santa Fe, felt very safe in it and was not keen on selling it.

We only had one real problem with it and that was a broken catch in the rear seat backrest. This was fixed under warranty but did take a week because the part had to come from Korea. The heater also turned cold after 15 mins and the service people couldn't find a problem. We didn't bother pursuing it, we simply turned it off for a minute and then back on and it was fine.

The Santa Fe was a good reliable car. I even took it on a (soft) outback trip where it performed fine. The kids loved it too. Extremely reliable and robust. Great medium sized 4WD with good interior room.

Has permanent all wheel drive so it is good in wet weather. Attractive design and good features. Good safety rating.

Liked the separate glass opening in the tailgate. Head room for tall drivers (if ftted with sunroof), seat is also a little small for larger drivers, fuel consumption (2.7L V6). Could do with more power as using the cruise control results in constant down shifts at the slightest incline.

Excellent – the is Car comfortable. For the fuel i spent of 10 dollars every three days. after distance of 132 000 miles in six years started to show a range of problems - the air conditioner working without pressing the play button, - the voice sounds strange when you drop or raise glass for all the doors, - But still the car that far exceeds other… Read more

types my snta fe 2004 2.4 comfortable and Smooth in libya i bought it by 5000 $ and spent 300 $ a year for Maintenance so its poor friend car the front key panel is old fashion,

Good – A great car if you're not in a rush and don't mind paying a little more on petrol. Plenty of passenger room and driver comfort is great. Smooth, quiet drive. PLenty of drink holders and rear seat adjustments a plus. Loads of storage space with the seats folded up. A little slow to get moving and a little thirsty, perhaps underpowered. Show reply