2004 Hyundai Santa Fe from North America - Comments

The alarm never worked and one week after I got it, the transmission went out. I had the car for 5 days and then it was in the shop and has been there since. The transmission has to be replaced after one week!!

I read the great reviews and wonder if I'm the only one who has had these problems. I was going to buy a Toyota RAV4 and now regret that I didn't do that - unfortunately, its too late for me now.

I would venture to say that you are DEFINITELY one of those people who got a lemon. YOu REALLY need to check out the lemon law and how you can make it work for you!

You are not the only one this has happened to. I to had to have a transmission replaced during the first week of ownership. I have owned the car since June and it has been in the shop 3 times for the same problem. I have received no satisfaction from anyone. It is still making the same noise that it did the first time I took it and they thought it was the transmission. I understand your frustration.

Yes, very annoying! Yet perhaps North Americans should think about MANUAL gearboxes? Everybody else knows they're real driving and they don't cause problems.

My friend's RAV4 did the same thing. His transmission went out the third day he had it. Had to help him take it back to the dealer. My old 93 Ford Probe GT (before I bought a 05 Tuscon) out performed and outlasted my mom's 95 Honda Accord and my sister 96 Altima. From my experience, it really doesn't matter which car brand you go with. Sometimes you end up with a crappy car or sometimes you get a good one.

I have a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, 16,000 miles on it. The clutch went out and destroyed the flywheel. The service department said it wouldn't be covered under Hyundai's warranty because it was my fault. They call it abusive driving. I had never experienced any slipping or clutch noise. I don't race. I notice the web is filled with Hyundai clutch horror stories. It's a pity Hyundai doesn't fess up to an obvious problem with its clutchs. They've lost a future customer.

Back in 1998 we bought the hyundai Excel and it did the same thing. We went to the store and ended up pushing it to the shop. After that the engine started acting up. After that we just sold it to buy something that will be reliable enough to get us to the store and around town.

I have not had problems with the transmission...yet. I purchased a new 2004 Santa Fe, after weeks of research with rave reviews, a little over a year ago and have had it in for service numerous times with other problems... from electrical to window/door seals. The problems are still not corrected and the vehicle is already rough starting and driving. The interior is noisy, but can be drowned out with the radio. The dealer is unwilling to stand behind the vehicle and credits the blame to Hyundai assembling it on a Friday afternoon at closing. I am now making double payments to receive a decent trade in for a quality vehicle. Hyundai and my local dealer has lost a customer!

We bought a 1997 Hyundai Accent when it was new. We now have 106,000 miles on it. We haven't had any problems with the clutch until recently. It doesn't seem to fully disengage every time its depressed now, but I'm sure it's a minor adjustment.

Sorry everyone seems to be having problems with theirs.

I have a 2002 Santa Fe and after 2 years of having it, my clutch went out and the flywheel needed replaced as well! They also called it "abusive driving" even though at the time, I was a stay at home mom of 2 babies and I never went anywhere! I've had this car for almost 5 years now and am finally getting rid of it. It has been nothing, but a piece of junk and I will not buy a Hyundai again.

I generally have a very positive view of Hyundais, and some of my friends have had great service out of theirs. I was literally on the verge of buying one when I started reading all the postings about Hyundai refusing to fix clutches and transmissions under warranty. I flatly refuse to buy from a manufacturer who does not honor their warranty. I am now the proud owner of a 2006 Ford Ranger. In all honesty I really don't know how Ford is about honoring their warranty Because of the 12 Fords we've owned in the past 30 years none has ever required a repair, but I'll stick with a known quantity.

I bought a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe in May of 2006 and it has only been 5 months and they have to replace the whole transmission. The car has been to the dealer 3 times. The first time after a leak in the transfer case seal was discovered by my mechanic at a routine first oil change I took the car to the dealer and they said they didn't see anything and that it must have just been some sealant stuff they put on the cars while they are sitting in the lot and that it must have all burned off. The second time again after my mechanic (during my 2nd oil change) told me it is still leaking they said they replaced a seal on the outside of the transfer case somewhere I put cardboard under the car where it was leaking and sure enough it was still leaking. Now on the third time they are telling me the whole transmission needs to be replaced. So after 3 trips and a week each of the two times of driving a loaner (which was not even comparable to the vehicle I own) maybe my car might actually get fixed. I've found the service department to be very unhelpful and uncaring. I am now telling anyone I know to never buy a hyundai unless they have time to keep running to a dealer for repairs. They give you a 10 year warranty, but who wants to keep running to a dealership for 10 years to get poor workmanship repaired!

The dealer is unwilling to stand behind the vehicle and credits the blame to Hyundai assembling it on a Friday afternoon at closing.

And why is that your fault? it shouldn't. if the product is bad, they should give you a discount on the payments.

I bought a 2004 Santa Fe and it went to the shop on the 3rd day after I bought and was in the shop for 2 weeks and NOTHING.

It has been the shop numerous times and I'm on my 6th transmission, but other than that I love it and would buy another one. I did use the lemon law and settled with the company and then it went out again

and now I find out that at 60000 miles I have to have the timing belt changed out because at 60000 miles, and if I don't it voids my warranty out.