2004 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.7 V6 gas
Summary:
I initially hated SUVs and Hyundais, but read this...
Faults:
- Passenger side lower control arm ball joint replaced.
- Rust on rear passenger door on the inside of the vehicle below the door gasket.
- Oxygen sensor troubles, fixed with fuel treatments.
General Comments:
Love it, no regrets at all. Out of the 150,000km, the majority of it is city km. Which is harder on vehicles, and it is holding up really well for a 2004.
I can tow 3500lb, easily move my dog or family around, tons of room in the trunk, can sleep in it with seats down, better gas mileage than a truck, but holds more than a car. What more can you ask for? I will be keeping this SUV till it stops rolling.
I have done the maintenance on this vehicle since its purchase date. It is easy and a low cost to maintain. Where I live you can pick these up for a very reasonable price. If you do your own wrenching, the parts are very cheap to buy used or new, which are plentiful.
It's bulletproof. Get the 2.7 V6 front wheel drive. It is the most reliable out of all the engines (not sure if better than the diesel). The 2.7 gets the same mileage as the 4 cylinder gas model and has a higher towing capacity than the 3.5 V6. Amazing right? It's a no brainer.
I live in -30°C and the Santa Fe has no issues starting whatsoever. For winter it handles really well at high speeds >60kph, but not so well at low speeds <30kph. Below 30kph in sharp turns it understeers a lot. This is winter conditions only. But I can only speak for the FWD models.
One thing to note is that the quality of paint was garbage for this generation. If you don't mind touching up rock chips with a $10 paint pen, then go for it. Rust is starting to form on the inside of the passenger door near the weather stripping. Not worried at all. From my understanding of their commercials, they have stepped up their paint game since then.
I favor reliability and low operating costs more than anything for my daily drivers, and I would highly recommend this vehicle for that. It has surprised me and has given me a different outlook on Hyundai. Please try it if you're curious!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd December, 2017
20th Aug 2013, 11:10
I wouldn't worry about a little bit of sludge - just run some higher octane gas in there, and that'll flush it out. Check engine light is probably just a loose gas cap or something. Just give it a really strong crank next time you fill up, and that should help set that sensor straight. Was the CD really scratched up that you were trying to play? If it was an electrical problem, how could it just fix itself randomly? You got ripped off on the timing belt and water pump, unfortunately.