Hyundai Santa Fe 2007+

arumage

Actually you can't get a 2wd Outlander that will tow 3500lbs (the awd tow package adds a larger radiator). The nav system in the Santa Fe comes out Spring 2007. The Santa Fe has keyless entry standard. Paddle shifters... who cares? The Santa Fe has it on the shifter. I've had in on my Intrepid and used it twice since I bought the car. Xenon headlights are nice... I wish the Santa Fe had them. The Santa Fe has a 605 watt Infinity sound system as well. In 2 row form, the Santa Fe has about 10 cu. ft. more under the floor in bins and compartments.

I've had friends with Mitsubishi products. Their mechanics are very happy guys.

The two JD Power studies I mentioned are based on numbers of reported problems.

dmutt

I really like what Hyundai has done on the Santa Fe rear passenger side pillar air ducts. Just curious, for those that has sat in the rear seat, just how effective are they. I would think they would be much better than the floor design.

Also, I too am comparing this SUV to the Outlander. But, as some have stated, I do believe, the Santa Fe and the Mitsubishi Endeavor are the same class of vehicle. The Outlander and the Tucson are in the same class. So, when we all make the comparisons, me included, we sometimes are not comparing class to class.

If you price compare between classes, the Hyundai products win in both cases. Just my 2 cents worth.

arumage

I didn't really use the air when I sat in the 3rd row, but I thought the seat itself was pretty comfortable for short trips, and I'm 6'3". Personally, I wouldn't want to be back there on a very long trip, but for someone 5'11" or shorter, it wouldn't be too bad at all on a long trip. The Hyundai has side curtain airbags for all 3 rows. The Outlander only has them for the first 2.

sampowers

I guess my question is.....Have you sat in and driven both vehicles?

markhoot1

Well, I drove the Santa Fe again today at another dealer. Yes, the Murano is a bit bigger and more comfortable in the rear, but not as bad as I first thought. Plus, I'm not sitting there, my kids are!

The Murano's CVT issues get me nervous. I really like the Santa Fe, and I like spending $7000.00 less!

One question I have not seen addressed or answered anywhere, including the brochure: Do the head curtain airbags have a roll-over sensor, or are they only activated in a side crash?

I think I'm back to buying a Santa Fe!

I wonder where in the dash the navigation system will be in the spring? Might be worth the wait....

Thanks in advance.

Mark

mpuzach

"Yes - I had this exact same problem! It turned out that the front 2 bolts on the seat mounts needed tightening. I just did it myself and the problem hasn't come back. The bolts are under little plastic covers that slide forward to pop out. You need to put a LOT of torque on them to make the creaks go away."

Was your sound coming from the area of those bolts? Mine is definitely coming from the seat back. (See my post immediately above.)

arumage

The Santa Fe is supposed to have sensors telling it where people are sitting, where it's been hit, and which airbags it needs to inflate, but I've never seen it work. I think the 2nd row is a little smaller to make a 3rd row work (The 3rd row is fairly comfortable). There are storage compartments under the floor where the 3rd row would tuck away.

Nissan's CVT only scare me because it is belt driven rather than using a chain with a master link like Ford's CVT. I don't think alot of places know how to work on them so you might have to shell out a fortune if you are out of warranty.

joe97

Quick note, Outlander's 3.0 splits (220) Hyundai's two engines for the SF, 185 and 242, respectively. Also, Fuel economy is very competitve for the Santa Fe, even stepping up to the top trim (19/24).

markhoot1

In driving the truck today, I noticed that there was 110 miles on it, with an average of 15.3 MPG on it's trip computer. I know gas mileage is not it's best point, but would it go up after break-in? Some say yes, some agree that theory is BS. Of course, my 4.0L Jeep only gets about 12 MPG around town, so I guess the 15 figure isn't too bad, considering The Santa Fe weighs in at 4,200 lbs.....The Jeep Grand Cherokee's window sticker read 15 city, and 20 trip back in 1996.

Have they come up with a TSB on the outside temp. gauge problem? I read somewhere that the temp gauge is not accurate, and it has to be re-wired at the fuse box.

How about the lack of front interior dome lights when the doors are opened? The map lights should turn on with the rear dome. You would think that fix would be an easy one, even if the truck was not designed that way.

I did notice a slight alternator type whine through the radio. When the radio was turned off or down, the whine was absent.

It did ride nice and was comfortable up front. I love the interior touches and blue back lighting. Being a car nut, I am very impressed with the truck. Who would ever have thought that a Hyundai product would be impressive???!!!

Competition is a wonderful thing! And speaking of competition, I checked out an Outlander yesterday. Nice job, but I didn't like the front or rear styling. The front seats did not have as much leg room as the Santa Fe, but the rear leg room seems to be more. But that might be because the front seats don't go back as much as they do in the Santa Fe. But since styling is subjective, some might like it. But the Santa Fe seems to have a much more upscale feel and look to it. My 2 cents.

Mark

arumage

It seems like I saw something in one of the other Santa Fe forums here saying that there was an easier fix that Hyundai came up with. The whine on the radio is most likely a bad ground to the stereo. You might have to get someone to check the integry of the ground wire or the ground itself. It is very easy for engine noise to enter the stereo. I had that happen because I had a loose solder in an aftermarket amplifier. Corvettes are notorious for audio glitches because of all the fiberglass rather than metal.

lulu585

I have the AWD Limited Santa Fe and I'm consistenly getting 18.9 mpg (from trip computer) and I'm at 515 miles. I was hoping for a bit better but it's not as bad as my old Explorer.

No interior dome lights which I thought was weird but I have a sunroof so I thought that was why.

No problems at all with the radio. I do not detect any kind of whine and I am very sensitive to sound. If you buy a Santa Fe make sure the service dept. engages the auto locks--I have to go have mine done.

I have to say that so far I love love love this car and we test drove everything! My husband is a BMW nut so he was trying to talk me into the X3 (which doesn't even have a 3nd row option--I got the 3nd row) but with everything that the Santa Fe has that car is $20,000 more!!!! My husband now loves the Sante Fe as much as I do!

piast

Actually you are still off, but getting closer. For the record, I like both cars equally, still can't decide which one to buy (CX7 is on my short list to). Here, we just comparing them, so no need to bend facts or numbers. So for the last time:
-AWD Outlander will tow 3500lbs, Santa Fe - according to Hyundai brochure - 2000 lbs(with trailer brakes, 1650 lbs without.
-Keyless system FAST-Key in Mitsubishi allows you to unlock all doors and start the car with key in your pocket or purse, think when you cary your baby or bags.
-Leave under the floor and glovebox compartments alone. Cargo volume is 39 cu ft in Mitsubishi and 34.2 cu ft in Hyundai behind second row(*again Santa Fe brochure), but total cargo (with second row down) in Hyundai is 78.2 cu ft
and 72.6 in Outlander.
And don't start with I' have friends with Mitsubishi products. My wife owned 97 Mirage for seven years, no single problem (it was made in Japan like the Outlander is)
JD Powers again is based on reported problems people have, not always mechanical. One more example - I can't figure out how to operate I-DRIVE in BMW, so it is a bad car.
Sory for the long post.

piast

Yes, and I liked both of them. Hyundai is tuned more soft (Toyota has been inspiration?), Mitsubishi is more sporty (future Lancer platform shines thru). Still can't make up my mind.

arumage

I'm not bending any facts. I have Hyundai's brochure for the Santa Fe. Maximum tow capacity is 3500 lbs (straight from Hyundai's website). I am just relying on my experiences with Mitsubishi. I'm glad you've had good luck with them. I'm sure you're not alone in that, but I haven't seen to many people in my area have that kind of luck. The Outlander looks like a wonderful vehicle on paper. I just don't want to put trust in a manufacturer that has to rely on Chrysler to bail them out time and again. This last time Chrysler said no. I also want something with a 3rd row. The Outlander has one, but it wasn't really even worth the tooling costs of putting one in it. It looks terrible and they don't even list the specs on it in their website. I definitely agree that Hyundai's are pretty soft in the handling department, but they're comfortable and I don't really need a sports car.

davesuv

The outside temp gauge problem that has (or will soon have) a TSB is on the Limited trim line. It's a simple fix that bypasses some faulty wiring in the fuse box. If your fuse box is OK, you won't need the fix.

I don't see why the front map lights need to come on when I open the door. The rear dome light provides more than enough light when entering the vehicle. If I ever have a reason, I can easily reach up and press the map light on (so far I've never felt the need). Incidentally, the Lexus RX350 lighting is set up identically to the Santa Fe (rear dome light only).

I have absolutely no static or whine in my radio. In fact I love the quality of the standard Santa Fe radio. Great sound quality both with FM and with CDs. I can't really tell any difference from our RX350.

piast

See, now we talking. They made mistake somewhere, printed brochure shows 2000/1650 lbs. for both engines.
It is hard to be a small player in this world. When Chrysler needed their engines and small cars, back in 90', everyone was happy. Now they hang out with Mercedes. Guess Mazda has more luck. 3rd row seat in Outlander is a joke, but I don't need one anyway. Decisions, decisions...

davesuv

I've seen several posts with widely different reported gas mileages on the Santa Fe. After putting nearly 700 miles on mine, I can see why. My gas mileage can vary quite a bit.

When the engine's cold, the mileage is much worse, usually in the 15 to 16 mpg range for city stop and go driving. It takes at least 10 to 15 minutes of driving to thoroughly warm the engine and exhaust system. The mileage then gradually creeps up to 18 to 19 mpg in city driving. So if you only do short trips in your Santa Fe, expect worse gas mileage.

Similarly, if I go onto the expressway, with the engine warm, my mileage will increase to 24 to 27 depending on speed and which way the wind's blowing. So how much stop and go you do vs. non-stop cruising will radically alter the gas mileage. 4000 pounds takes a lot of energy to get moving.

Finally, I find I can squeeze an extra mpg out of my Santa Fe just by driving with a light touch on the pedal. Accelerating slowly and coasting up to the red lights. I'm sure I could easily drop the mileage 1 or 2 mpg by driving with a lead foot. I have never driven that way so am not about to test it out.

I'm happy with my mileage, which has gotten a little better than when I first purchased the vehicle. I'll see if it keeps getting better as I put more miles on it.

2007 Santa Fe AWD Limited with touring and premium packages
Dark Cherry Red with beige leather interior :shades:

leeh2

I have 8000 miles on my 07 Sante Fe Limited and get 21.7 mpg in overall driving. On the highway it stayed at 25 for over 3000 miles and in Chicago city driving it dropped to 16. I'm confused with the different postings on towing. My understanding is 3000 lbs with the 3.3 engine. Lee

pelican19

Not sure if this is an issue. When I start the vehicle the TPMS system lights up for a second. I guess it is going through its testing stage then goes out completely. Does anyone know if this is normal? I also own the 2007 Entourage SE and it also lights for a moment then the tire and indicator lights go out only showing a small outline of the vehicle. On the Santa fe the outline of the truck goes out.

davesuv

Check your manual under section 1 (Features of Your Hyundai) page 64 and 65. It is normal for these lights to illuminate for about 3 seconds after turning the ignition key to the "on" position and then go out as a bulb check. If they stay on, something is wrong. If they don't go on at all something is wrong.

markhoot1

Does anyone know if the new Santa Fe has a roll-over sensor for the side curtain air bags? Nothing is mentioned on the sticker, brochure, or any informational forums I have seen.

Thanks!

Mark

gxm

Winter is coming on the eastern side of Canada. I am thinking of doing rust proof for my new 2007 Santa Fe.

Reading some thread about rust proof, and I am more confused with the following points of view.

- Today's car is well made. There is no need for rust proof. All you need is to wax the car and wash the car regularly in winter.

- Drilling hole on car for rust proof will cause more rust eventually.

- If you want to keep your car for 10 yrs +, take the car for rust proof.

Also, when I was signing the paper at my dealer, the dealer was pushing me hard to install a device that would stop car from rusting for $900 CAD. A similar device in Canadian Tire cost $350. Not sure about its effectiveness.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Mark

arumage

Sometimes rustproofing can be effective. Other times it can be counterproductive. If you have a particular place that you trust and know will do a wonderful job, it can be great. Some of the undercoatings that deter against rust can actually trap water if they miss a spot, causing the car to rust worse. Washing the salt and corosive chemicals off of your car can certainly be helpful in keeping your car rust free. I don't think there is really any guarantees against mother nature though.

mrmagoo1

Purchased 07 Santa Fe, 6 cyc, AWD.
I find slight hesitation upon moderate acceleration frm stop. Similar to "turbo lag", anyone else?
Also, headlight don't seem to "go" far enought donw the road, go to high beams alot.
Lastly, is the oil capacity correct in manual? Have a 02 Elantra that manual read 4.5 qts., actually takes 3.5 qts.
Thanks for your time.

arumage

I thought it had the little bit of hesitation too. You might want to check the level of the headlights. You can upgrade the bulbs pretty cheaply too.

pelican19

I have the 07 Santa Fe Limited AWD. My truck jumps off the line and provides a tiny bit of wheel chirp. Going from the 2.7 in my 03 Santa to the 3.3 in my 07 there is more torque. I would seriously have that looked at by the dealer.

As for the headlights I had the same issue. Dealer adjusted them. Much better now...Good luck.

mrmagoo1

I have 2001 S.F., when changing oil & filter I must remove the "shield" covering drain & filter.
I just got 2007, the drain is easy but I assume that the "sheild" must be removed to get to filter. Has anyone changed O & F? Also, is manual correct on amt of oil needed?

Thanks again.

cellolover

I have to ask a very simple question; who really needs an AWD? I have noticed that a AWD is at least 2K more expensive than a FWD. Doesn't an AWD have more repair issue as well? Thanks.

arumage

The Borg Warner system is fairly simple and doesn't kick in unless you absolutely need it. It is pretty much 100% FWD unless the system feels any slippage, then the rear wheels kick in to assist. It's a very efficient system, reminicent of Volvo's AWD system. That is why there isn't as big of an issue with gas mileage difference. AWD can certainly help out if you live in a very cold climate where snow can be prevalent in the winter or if you have a farm or something you have to drive through, but with ESC standard on FWD models, I wouldn't think it would be necessary unless you meet the above criteria.

chilidog

I have experienced erratic and inaccurate ambient (outside) temp. measurements on my trip computer (2007 Santa Fe). This problem is addressed by a new Hyundai Service Bulletin 06-20-003, Nov 22, 2006. I have a manual a.c. but the problem also exists in vehicles with auto a.c. according to the TSB.

sfnny

Just purchased an SE AWD w/premium pkg (includes sunroof). I am 6' 2", and have discovered that there is very little headroom no matter how I position the power seat, due to the sunroof. Anyone know whether the seats can be lowered somehow (without voiding the warranty)?

arumage

Hmmm... I drove a Limited and had no problem. I'm 6'3". It has the power driver's seat with lumbar support though. I didn't drive an SE. Does it not have a power seat?

sfnny

Yes, this SE does have a power seat. I find that no matter how I adjust the seat though, my head grazes the ceiling of the car. I need to "scrunch down" just a notch so that my head doesn't touch. I can't sit totally upright as I like to. Folks are differently built, so perhaps my torso is longer than yours which might be why your head doesn't touch. Or maybe you've got the seat leaning back a bit. Or maybe you just sit lower. Anyway, any ideas on what I can do, other than adjust the way I sit?

dunde71

I test drove the Santa Fe Limited with AWD. I was very impressed with the vehicle. But I dont understand how they have packaged some of the options. To get a 6 CD Changer I have to get a $4800 DVD entertainment system. That is crazy.

The other thing I noticed in the test drive is that I kept the driver side temp at 72 dgrees but it was still blowing cold air even though the outside temp was 53 degrees. I asked the salesman about it and he was also not sure why it was doing that. But after setting the temp at 74 degrees it started blowing warm air. Anyone noticed this ?

taipan1

I called 5 dealers in houston today and got 5 different answers when the 07 Santa Fe with the standard xm radios would be on the lots in h-town, earliest estimate any day, latest estimate not till feb/mar 07 time frame.I was wondering if anyone has any real info on this matter?I did see the press release saying that on 4 oct 06 the first one came off the line with the standard xm?

arumage

I do sit with the seatback angled a bit, but I do have short legs for my height (6'3") too (32" inseam). I'm not really sure what to do unless the seat is just not adjusted properly. It might be something to check out. Does it adjust up and down a couple of inches?

arumage

I was hearing that it would happen in the Spring when the navigation system is close to being in the Santa Fe, but that's just hearsay too. I don't know for sure.

taipan1

Well for what its worth hyundai consumer affairs told me starting in early oct production all santa fes would have standard xm with these showing up on the lots in Dec 06?

lovesf

I am a new SE AWD owner and will make frequent ski trips to Lake Tahoe area. Does anybody know whether I should equip all 4 wheeels or just 2 front wheels with snow chains when they are required. Please give me some good advice. Thank you in advance.

arumage

The AWD system on the Santa Fe is FWD biased. The rear wheels only really kick in when slippage is detected. It might help to have them on the rear wheels if the terrain is really bad, but it is most important to have them on the front.

davesuv

I find the automatic temperature control on my Santa Fe Limited to be one of the best I've ever used. It regulates the temperature far better than my previous Avalon and I think it's slightly better than our RX350. I set the temperature and it keeps it there, regardless of the outside temp or solar load. I do notice that it will blow air on the windshield when I first start up, probably to get rid of any fog. Of course, this is before the air has a chance to warm up.

I also find the blower fan to be extremely quiet. Overall, I'm very pleased with the system (as well as the rest of the vehicle)

davesuv

By my crude estimation, they had made approximately 30,000 Santa Fe's prior to October 4, when the XM was made standard. If you check the VIN, you should be able to figure out if a vehicle has it or not based on the serial number. Maybe someone out there knows the exact serial number when they switched over.

jburd

I have been debating on whether to purchase a new vehicle for my wife for christmas. I test drove a new Sante Fe (limited) and enjoyed the ride, safety features, and appearance. Upon doing additional research, I have found that many Sante Fe owners have lost satisfaction with their purchase due to mechanical problems and difficulties with the warranty. It appeared most of the problems were from models 2005 and older. I was hoping to gain incite on this matter and any input would be greatly appreciated.

dunde71

What about the CD Changer ? Is there a way to get a CD Changer without having to buy the DVD entertaintment package. Is everyone settling for a single disc CD player ? I heard that Hyundai was having trouble with 6 CD Changer. Is that true ?

carfreak8

It is true, just up until last year when many of the cars were redesigned, hyundai's cars were what were looking to be pretty unreliable. Now, hyundai has made big strides in quality, but it is still unknown about long term quality. For there sake, lets home, but in reality, it may not happen. I may not be willing to take that chance. There are other options, such as the Rav4, or the CR-V. Those options have a history of long term dependability, that no hyundai has ever shown. yes maybe the new models have been fairly good for a year or two, but hyundai still has a ways to got to get up the quality and resale values.

joe97

Actually, the Santa Fe, even in previous generation (1st), has had good resale value so expect this to continue rising.

I would recommend the new Santa Fe. As a matter of fact, I would want one myself

pelican19

I traded in my 2003 Santa Fe GLS 2.7 4WD for my new ride, the 2007 3.3l Santa Fe Limited AWD in July and have never looked back. I had a few issues with my 2003 but ALL were corrected by my dealer within 48 hours. Most of the horror stories come from dealers who just plain stink. Find me any car with no issues and I will buy ten of them. My 2007 runs like a champ and I beat on it. 6k already on the clock. Your getting one of the best warranty in the business, the price is great, the roadside assistance is awesome, the safety features and the technology ( ESC/TC/AWD/ABS ) are killers. The AWD coupled with the Electronic Stability Control is a real trip. I have taken my Santa off-road ( light to medium duty ) with lots of mud and winding turns. It handles great. When cleaned up its a looker at a wedding. Go for it dude, you will not be disappointed. Merry Christmas! ( Hey, Hyundai should be paying me for this stuff, I sound like a commercial)

pelican19

I agree. I traded in my 2003 GLS with 37k. The dealer gave me $12,500. Dropped it on my new 2007 Santa AWD Limited...

Dude, what are you waiting for, Go get one....

sirvagabond

I'd whole-heartedly agree. I was just like you. I did all my research before I even considered Hyndai as an option. 3 days on the Forums reading through SF's history. I also 100% agree that warranty nightmares are dealer specific. I took the time to sift out my dealer, established a relationship and he treats me like a king. I fielded off calls from other local dealers that were just plain jerks. I'd say a good 80% of the car buying experience is dealer relations. Don't let that paint a bad picture of this vehicle. Warranty's supberb, engineering well thought, saftey 5 star. Even look at their stocks. These Koreans have upped the level and WANT to be a competative company. It shows. And I believe the SF is of the first generations of hyndai's new breed in a niche market needing a fill. Let me tell you, evolution has caught up. And I am fully confident that it will last the long run with flying colors. I love my FWD Limited. Damn nice car. Go drive one, man and tell me it doesn't feel like a luxury auto.

Best of Luck tooya.

sampowers

Hey I had on for 3 days and I LOVED IT. Ask for an extended test drive. You won't be dissapointed. You might even be shocked!