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Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 and earlier)

4482 messages,  Last post on Mar 02, 2012 at 10:30 AM

You are in the Hyundai Santa Fe Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Santa Fe, SUV

Messages Page 414 of 449

#4123 of 4482 2002 GLS, 2 years in by minnbill

Jan 15, 2004 (6:34 pm)

I posted here 2 years ago this weekend (#3264 and #3271) regarding my trepidations regarding our first time Hyundai purchase. Now, 26,000 miles later, we continue to be extremely pleased with our Santa Fe. Only problem we have encountered was a continually blown fuse for the power windows and locks (loose wire in drivers door was coming in contact w/metal causing a short). Warranty covered that of course. Other than that just routine oil changes and tire rotations. Service guy at dealership I go to says Hyundai really looks at whether you've had the 30K-60K service if you have to make a warranty claim down the road, otherwise maintenance costs are minimal. Gas mileage for us was poor the first 5k miles or so, now we get 20 or so routinely in the city (Minneapolis area) and mid 20s on the highway. We have the 2.7 V6. We are looking to replace our other vehicle and are considering another GLS, this time with the 3.5 L. My only beef with this car, the 2.7 doesn't have enough ooomph when you need quick acceleration. Otherwise, count us as very satisfied Hyundai owners!

#4124 of 4482 Hyundai customer service by lngtonge18

Jan 21, 2004 (9:13 am)

I just thought I would tell everyone how much Hyundai appears to be concerned with customer service. I've never seen a manufacturer go out of their way as much as Hyundai has to make a dealer follow through on a promise that has nothing to do with Hyundai corporate. Here's the story:
 
My local dealer promises a $100 birddog fee to a customer if they refer another person to the dealer and they buy a Hyundai from them. Well, I bought an 03 Elantra GT for a friend of mine back in May of 03 (I got $100 after a week of hassle). In November, my boss said he was interested in looking at a Sante Fe for his daughter and asked my opinion on Hyundai. I told him I've been happy with 2 Hyundais and had no problem recommending one to him. I referred him to the local Hyundai dealer where he bought a Sante Fe and my name was mentioned as the person who referred him. I talked to the saleslady during the buying process. I even went down to the dealer in person, provided the info she asked from me, and expressed interest in buying an 04 XG350 from them. I purchased an 03 Diamante instead since I got a better deal. My friend then came into town and the new car bug bit him after seeing my Diamante. He was interested in trying to trade up to a Sante Fe. He drove one (same saleslady) and was going to try to buy it. However, since I was disgusted over how the dealer had bs'ed me for over a month now, while we test drove the Sante Fe, I suggested we stop at Mitsubishi and take a look at what deals they were offering. My friend liked the Endeavor better and tried to give the Sante Fe back to the dealer but the saleslady wouldn't accept it back, telling him to drive it longer. Long story short: my friend traded in his Elantra for an 04 Endeavor. The saleslady was furious when the Mitsu dealer returned the Sante Fe to her. It had been at least 6 weeks since my boss bought a Hyundai from the dealer and the saleslady kept coming up with excuses as to why she couldn't get the money. After knowing I bought a Diamante and my friend bought the Endeavor, she definitely wasn't interested in trying to get me the birddog fee anymore and I was going to let it drop since I was tired of dealing with it. Step in Hyundai....
 
The Elantra was serviced for the brake recall the same day my friend bought the Endeavor. Hyundai called me to do a survey... Well, I said I had no problems with the repair service but I did let her know I liked Hyundais, had bought 3 of them, and because my dealer renigged on their $100 promise, Hyundai lost a sale to Mitsubishi. The survey lady appeared very concerned and interested in my story. Not 2 days later, I received a call from the service manager telling me that he and the OWNER of the dealer had heard from Hyundai about my complaint and they wanted to make things right with me. The service manager even asked me to return his call to his personal cell phone because this matter was so "important" to them. They told me that when I receive the JDPower service survey in the mail, to bring that in to them and they would give me my $100 and fill up the tank on my 03 Tiburon. Yes, a little bribery was involved, but, I gave them what they wanted (a perfect service rating on the survey) and yesterday, I got my $100 and a full tank of gas! So apparently these surveys do matter a lot to the dealer.
 
Kudos to Hyundai for caring about something that was really a policy of the dealer not Hyundai corporate and putting the fire under their bad dealer to make me happy. If anything, Hyundai increased my faith in their company and their ability to get things accomplished fast.

#4126 of 4482 AWD vs FWD by extribute

Jan 24, 2004 (5:38 pm)

Has anyone driven the Sante Fe FWD 3.5 engine in snow? I do not live in the snow belt (southern Ohio) but we do get some slippery weather. I am trying to decide on an LX with AWD or FWD. I would appreciate any experience out there.
 
Thanks!

#4127 of 4482 Response to extribute by cjb2486

Jan 26, 2004 (2:26 pm)

I have a 2004 2.7 FWD. I assume that there is virtually no difference between how it does in the snow vs. the 3.5. It's about 3 months old now and it seems to have been snowing here in New Jersey since the day we bought the car in November. This FWD Santa Fe replaced a Jeep Grand Cherokee and has been on the road everyday that it has snowed and so far there have been no problems with its ability to get around. It's also equiped with traction control, so that probably helps. Anyhow, we wanted better gas mileage and better handling, so we went for the FWD. So far, no regrets.

#4128 of 4482 Need some info on TCS on my 2.7L 4WD by jboz29

Jan 30, 2004 (4:19 pm)

I am trying to find out how the TCS works on these Santa Fe's. I went to a hill on my property with snow on it, to try and see how it would do. IF I would get right on the base of the hill and try to go up it, the TCS light would come on and I would hear this clicking sound under the front end. I am wondering if this is normal or not. I got out while trying this and I can only see the front left tire spinning(left side tires only). It never made it up the hill either. Just need a little info on this topic. Thnx Jay

#4129 of 4482 cjb2486 by bigkahunafl

Jan 31, 2004 (8:19 pm)

Thanks for the response. Sorry took me so long to get back to you - been in Thailand for 3 weeks. My wife is too tall for the sunroof - your right, it takes up a lot of head-room. Did you add the anti-lock brakes? I also want to get the trailer hitch - got a bike rack for it.

#4130 of 4482 TCS on AWD by skuuter

Jan 31, 2004 (11:51 pm)

Completely normal sound. The TCS operates using your brakes to prevent wheel spin. It probably would've made it up the hill if you'd been a bit more agressive and gave it a good running start and had the patience to let the TCS do it's job. Besides that, the stock tires aren't all that great for snow traction. The emphasis is on tire wear, not traction, I'm afraid.

#4131 of 4482 Seat Covers? by waynesan1

Feb 02, 2004 (8:55 am)

I have a 2001 Santa Fe with 38,000 miles on it and just yesterday, much to my horror, I noticed the driver side seat is fading at about the area where my back pockets make contact. Does anyone know of a good seat cover that fits well and stays in place that can be purchased? Brand and store would be greatly appreciated.

#4132 of 4482 to bigkahunafla by cjb2486

Feb 04, 2004 (8:51 am)

Thailand sounds like a great trip. I'm envious. Anyhow, yes, my Santa Fe came with package 10 (I think that's what it's called), so it came with ABS and traction control among other things.
 
I added a trailer hitch myself. After I bought the car I called the dealer and got a quote of $650 to put on a hitch. Instead I went to etrailer.com and ordered one for around $130. The wiring harness cost a couple of bucks more. The hitch itself was a piece of cake to install, just bolt it into existing nuts that are welded to the frame. The harness that came from etrailer required me to take apart the interior of the Santa Fe, so I returned it and bought a harness from Pep Boys and spliced it into the rear lights. Everything works great. Yesterday, etrailer sent me an email giving me a discount code of x25y. Supposedly, it's good for a 10% discount. Perhaps it will work for you, too.
Hope this helps.

Messages Page 414 of 449

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