2001 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

The entire under carriage is completely rusted. Lost my steering 2 days ago while driving 20 mph over a bridge. The entire rear suspension has to be replaced due to rust and corrosion. I owe 3000 on the car, and it will cost more than that to have everything replaced.

I have read all over the web about Hyundai's rust problems. Nobody from Hyundai is doing anything about it. I only have 88,000 miles on this car. I live in Massachusetts, and they consider it a high salt area. Which it is. Then why doesn't everyone's auto rot out?

I haven't had much go wrong with this car at all, even with the amount of mileage that I have on it.

- I had a problem with a rattle in the rear hatch area, and it took two visits to the dealership for them to correct it.

- The radio was replaced under warranty at 30000 miles, but it was probably my fault, because I listen to my music pretty loud. I have since replaced it with a Blaupunkt receiver, which is awesome!

- A bulb burnt out in my HVAC control and was replaced.

- Water pump failed at around 140K.

- Headlamps burnt out at 40K, which seems a bit early, but I have since replaced them with Osram SilverStars from www.powerbulbs.co.uk. I had Sylvania Silverstars, but they burnt out constantly; the Osrams are a better design. Osram is the European division of Sylvania.

The motor is very smooth and quiet, I get pretty decent fuel mileage with it, but it could be better. Acceleration is decent for a car of this size, and for the amount of horsepower it has.

I love the leather seats, they are very comfortable and the leather looks new. (I condition them with Lexol every 6 months)

The tires that it came with lasted for 75K, and I replaced them with the same tires; they are fantastic.

AWD system works very well, and I have driven in MANY serious snow storms, and I ski frequently up in PA.

The paint is a bit thin, and could be a bit better, but it still looks great. I wax it three times a year with Griot Garage "Best of Show" wax, and it still shines like new!

Dealer support could be better. I have since found my favorite dealership in Fairfax, VA.

I am a pharmaceutical sales rep, and I drive like there is no tomorrow. This vehicle has served me well, and I love it to death! It is my second favorite SUV I have owned (favorite was my 1987 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer). When the time comes for me to replace this vehicle, it will certainly be another Santa Fe!!!

Nothing has gone wrong!

Did make a noise, like worn CV joints, around 90,000km, which disappeared about 93,000km.

Excellent reliable vehicle, which has been a great all-rounder vehicle for us. Does everything well. Intend to keep it for at least the next 5 years.

Expensive to change the cam belt, as the water pump is changed at the same time for preventative maintenance.

Multiple complete electronic failure. Speedometer, tachometer, gauges, cruise control failure.

Eventually, radio began spontaneously turning on and off.

Of the approximate six months we had the car, well over half the time was back at the shop. First, speed sensor was replaced and eventually, the entire vehicle was rewired. Even after all of this, the problem remained.

Eventually, Hyundai took it back under the Lemon Law and we got a Hyundai Sonata in replacement.

Air Bag Light has broken 2 times and each time they fix it, it breaks on a hard right turn again.

Timing Belt broke at 50,000 miles and destroyed the coil pack and the valves. the Timing Belt, Engine, Coil Pack, and Balance Belt had to be replaced completely. It was under manufacturer warranty. I was without car for a week.

Overall, this SUV was affordable, but I spent a fortune on gas to fill it because of the small gas tank. The gas mileage dropped significantly with A/C turned on. It had a constant whizzing from the back window even when it was closed. The CD Player skipped even on smooth surfaces. I would highly recommend against purchasing a Santa-FE from this year's model.