2007 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD from North America - Comments

I purchased a Hyundai because I believed that the quality had improved. Unfortunately, I have experienced issues with the steering shaking badly and a water leak from the sun-glass holder. I am very disappointed and will not purchase another Hyundai in the future.

Nice styling and better than in the past, but quality issues remain.

Can't understand the problems you've highlighted. My Santa Fe has exceptional build quality. Perhaps you just need to check wheel alignment or air pressure in the tyres. As for the water coming from the sunglass holder, try putting your drinks in the cup-holders!

Ummm, the poster never said that Hyundai was Japanese. He compared it to his Japanese cars.

We got our SE/ltd AWD in Sept 2007 and after a rocky start and an ongoing problem with the radio, I'd say we are satisfied with our decision to purchase.

DESIGN: Exterior styling is attractive with long lasting potential. Interior is well thought out, but nothing over the top. (room for improvement)

HANDLING: We like it on the highway! Although it does not have a high enough clearance for rougher back roads.

PROBLEMS:

1. Radio sound quality - sound clear one minute, then sounds like your listening through earmuffs. Had the radio replaced (4+ weeks hmmm) New radio hase the same problem, so did the loaner vehicle (Santa- Fe). We were told there was a technical buliten issued and that a solution was pending. (I hope so)

2. We had a trailer hitch installed by the dealership, which was improperly installed, caused electrical problems with ESC and tail lights. I was not happy with the standard loose wire connection cable which would stick out from the raer door jamb. (I can see problems down the road)

3. We also had remote start installed at the dealership. (It was an after-market product "approved by Hyundai" we had problems with it as well, (would not unlock the vehicle)

All these problems have been repaired without cost except for the radio.

Bang for the Buck: Al-in-all, it's not a perfect world, nor is our Santa Fe. But we like it anyway, just hope the radio gets repaired. Sucks to have a $40K broken radio.

Dealership: Sales person was great, not pushy, helped smooth the waves of dis-satisfaction early on. The Service techs did not QC their work, which cost me 4 extra visits at 2 hours each. The service manager held in very well through my state of concern. He earned our on going respect and admiration.

In regards to your radio problems. The radio will only pick the most clearest stations you have chosen. This is a fail safe to insure your speakers will not blow. Due to a crackle from poor reception. Mercedes and BMW offer this as well. The basic design is to insure, the best sound from satelitte radio. Not common FM. Just try to imagine if you where to try to play 300 to 400 watts through you cellphone with interference. It would destroy you ears and you audio system. This is not defective. Most automakers are using this system to incorporate blue tooth in your car.

I think the build quality of my mother's Santa Fe is OK, but not up to par with my Lincoln MXK.

She has had numerous electrical problems, and the brake system was replaced cause of a faulty sensor, which caused her to lose braking power. I just think she got hoodwinked into buying it from that high pressure salesman who lied to her, and eventually got fired along with the general manager, who both agreed to giving her a new car after the problems she had - it might have been a lemon. We have a lawyer working on the case now. Pray for us.

I have the same problem with the sunroof leaking - water comes through the sunglass holder. Previously had an occasional drip, but with a recent heavy downpour, water was streaming through; had to hold wads paper towels to catch the water. If was very distracting trying to drive with water falling onto the console: (Car is scheduled to go into dealer this week although I read on other forums that dealers don't have much of a solution at this time. One issue is why water would be getting past the sunroof gasket, and the other issue is why the drain tubes are not handling the water flow adequately.

I have a question; does anyones car just shake when you come to brake? Mine shakes off and on, not all the time. But when it does is when I brake... and when I'm on the freeway and it happens... I feel like it's dragging scary with my kids in the car. I have gone to the dealership they told me it was the catalytic converter, and exhaust sensors; paid for it.. and then two days later same thing. Took it in they said it was the the cam sensor... got that fixed, and a day later it started shaking again!!!

I have experienced the same shaking problem when braking, with different cars: a 1998 Mazda 323, a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo, and a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. It is usually one of two things: (1) loss of pressure/balance/alignment of tires caused by road bumps; or, (2) some torsion of brake disks due to temperature shocks, for instance when the disks are too hot and water spills from the road.

Take the car to a tire/brake shop. A proper alignment/balance of tires, and probably rectifying the brake disks, should be enough to fix the problem.

Good luck.

Berrymonster1@yahoo.com.

With all respect... I have already 40 K km with my Santa Fe 2.2 crdi, diesel, manual, built last year (2007) and the car is super OK... I drove almost all Europe and touching wood, no problems at all, moreover it's a pleasure to feel the car how is passing through snow, without efforts... she's pushing like a train... the car it's not noisy at all... the fuel consupmtion is more than reasonable for it's weight (7.5 - 11 L/100 km)... strong recommendation... don't use it without parking sensors... as general conclusion... for the ones who have no problems with the badge or could believe that some other people than Germans could build good cars... the car is SUPER!!!

I have a 2007 Santa Fe. Having problem with passenger air bag

being intermittent. Was fine for the first five months and then began malfunctioning. My wife weighs 121Lbs, and with her in the seat the airbag will arm at start up and then disarm while driving. Sometimes it is intermittent, other times it stays disarmed. The dealer tells me that by design you must weigh 120 Lbs for the system to sense an adult passenger. sounds rather high to me. If true they have a serious design problem, because I know a lot of adult women who don't weigh 120 Lbs. Has anyone else experienced this problem. The dealer checked and said there were no trouble codes. so I am presently left with an airbag that works when it feels like it. Not exactly the safety I was looking for.

I have had my Santa Fe for almost 8 months and I am starting to have problems. My rear brake caliper is seizing up and gouging the rotor. I also have a clunking noise in the front end. I am bring the vehicle in this week and will add an update. Other than these problems I have found it an excellent purchase.

Our rear brakes are seized at 30000km, on our "07 Sante Fe, The service department tells me it is not covered under warranty, because we did not bring the vehicle in for regular servicing. Our GM trucks are at 90000km and haven't had a brake job yet. One of our trucks has been in a couple of times to check the brakes and everything was fine.

At 30,000 KM our 2007 Santa Fe also had the rear driver side brake fail. The pad wore down to the metal. My husband is a mechanic and said that the caliper frame is machined wrong and Hyundai is "cramming" the brakes in. With the brakes being wedged in, they seize and lock the whole time you drive, causing a safety issue and probably very poor fuel mileage.

The dealership we go to also would not cover it, as we didn't pull the brakes off at 24,000km and "grind them down to fit", or lube the sliders on the caliper frame.

Has anyone ever had to do this to brakes??? AND it only happened on the one wheel! We bought new brake pads from Hyundai and tried to fit them in but we refuse to wedge them in there and drive around like that, so we need to replace the rotor and wrong-sized caliper frame, or it will not be safe enough to drive.

We are going to the Department of Transportation. We'll post what happens next.

We talked to the department of transportation, safety enforcement regarding our 2007 Santa Fe brake issue. They told us they are going to see how many people may be having that problem and then launch their investigation into the BC dealership. They also advised us to notify the Better Business Bureau, which we have not done. Please post any Santa Fe brake problems you may have, would love to hear about it.

We did purchase new brake pads and we had to modify them in order to install them! We captured the proof... Watch it on You Tube under the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeWj8cpgHTY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hv0fWL5QY