Hyundai XG300 and XG350

lngtonge18 · September 2003

I would have the dealer adjust the fit of your doors. I have an 03 Tiburon which also uses frameless windows and have no leaks. The seal does show moisture in the top right corner of the window hours after a car wash but no water has actually ever leaked into the car. A simple adjustment ought to stop water from coming in.

coalcracker · September 2003

Thank you for the input. That kind of info is not available. As a matter of fact I have not found any reliability data for the XG. I sure hope they have fixed some if not all those defects you noted. I have an'03.

specialdoc2002 · September 2003

At 17 months and 22,500 miles, we have not experienced ANY "failures" in our 2002 XG350L.

Yes, a couple of built-in quirks that have been satisfactorily rectified, but no failures that would imply a lack of reliability.

lrain1 · September 2003

One week ago I went to my local dealer and arranged for a trade of my 2001 XG300L for a 2004 XG350L. They did not have the vehicle that I wanted, but they told me that one would arrive within four days. It did, but was damaged!!!! Then the dealer arranged for a dealer-trade and had a vehicle driven to the other location, 250 miles away. My vehicle was driven back and I was called to come in and pick it up. When I arrived I was told that the car was being cleaned up, so I waited for about an hour. I was then told that the clean-up was delayed because other vehicle work was ahead of mine. After two hours I began to ask questions and was told that a defective brake module needed to be replaced and that they had removed one from another vehicle. They told me that the work was done and that a driver took the car to a gas station to fill up the tank. After another half-hour I was told that the "Check Engine" light came on and that they wanted to keep the car for another day to correct the problem.
So the 2004 XG350 is supposed to be improved, relative to defects, over the 2001 XG300? Consumer Reports says that the 2004 XG350 reliability is as good as Honda! Problem with that is that I have driven Hondas too long to believe it! I now have a 2000 Honda Accord EXL with 58M miles on it.

jimbeaumi · September 2003

Where and when did Consumer Reports say this?

acco20 · September 2003

tell me that you did not accept ownership of that particular vehicle.

lrain1 · September 2003

I was shown an article in a Hyundai Sales Promotional, citing a Consumer Report article comparing Hyundai reliability to that of Honda. I didn't take the time to read it, simply because I didn't believe it. I am sure that this Hyundai sales promotional is available at every Hyundai Sales Showroom.
I actually did actually purchase the new XG350L! First I discussed the problems with the Service Manager and the Shop Foreman who diagnosed the problems. The Shop Foreman told me that he was responsible for the "Check-Engine" light problem. Also, he claimed that the defective ABS Module was the first that he had ever encountered.
My wife does like the XG vehicle and we decided to purchase another one for her with the expectation that Hyundai has, indeed, made significant improvements since the 2001 model. I was positively influnced by several posts here which tended to support that expectation.

john115 · September 2003

IRAIN 1,could you tell me what kind of trade they
gave you for your '01? I also might be interested
but they want too much.$9,000.00,plus my '01 300XG.I only have 14,000
miles on it.

lrain1 · October 2003

The 2004 listed at $26,600. They gave me $8,700 for my 2001 with 62M miles on it; it needed a new rear bumper cover and a new passenger-side door mirror. It also needed a new transmission, but my warranty covered that item. After a couple of discounts worth $2,000, I paid $15,900 difference.

coalcracker · October 2003

Just came back from a 1600 mile trip with my 350 L. My overall MPG for the trip was 26.6. Most of the driving was on the Interstate with the air on and off, and speeds from 55 MPH to 70 MPH. On one tankful with the air off and speeds mostly in the 65-70 MPH netted an MPG of 28.6. The terrain was mostly flat with some rolling hills. One response I did not like about the car was when using the cruise control at a set speed of say 60 MPH you went to pass someone by accelerating to 70 MPH(without touching the brake pedal) and then taking your foot off the gas pedal to allow the car to go back to the set speed of 60 MPH, the transmission would shift down to a lower gear with a very noticeable jolt. It was an irritating experience which I have not noticed on some of my other cars that I have owned. I corrected this problem by easing up on the gas pedal slowly until the speed approached the 60 MPH mark and this annoying shift and jolt did not occur.

stressdetector · October 2003

Does anyone change the XG350L spark plugs? I need instruction how to do it. When look at those I'm not sure of how to remove three spark plugs under intake manifold. Do I need to remove intake manifold? If yes, do I need to have any new gaskets?
Thank you very much,

gjkam · October 2003

We were in the process of buying a XG350 when we opened the hood of the car an noticed 'considerable' rust on the bottom part of the front grille. the sales person was quite schocked as you can guess when this started his sale to go down hill. We loked at the only other GX350 on the lot and it had rust in also in the same spot. (The black lower support for the front grille.) Two cars both with rust. They of course said the grill would be replaced - my reply was and them 4 months later come back and get that grill replaced. Has anyone else seen this problem?

jimbeaumi · October 2003

A metal grille? I thought every manufacturer had switched to chromed plastic.

coalcracker · October 2003

Not only does the XG350 have a metal grill but it has many other parts that are metal where American cars have plastic.

cwalton333 · October 2003

I just bought my car a couple of months ago and I must admit I really like it. I hope the problems some people are having are isolated but if not my 10 year/100,000 mile warranty should help me out. The way I see it, I bought a Hyundai not a Jaguar and for the money I paid and all the car has to offer I have no complaints. It's great looking inside and out and I enjoy driving it everyday. In my opinion the XG350L is a great buy!
Curt...

coalcracker · October 2003

Ditto! I feel the same way. I think I got a great car with all the features and quality that I need. Some of the features on this car are only available on $30,000+ cars. And it came at a great price. I also have the bumper-to-bumper warranty for 10 years.

kascam · October 2003

Has anyone had problems with the electronics in thier 2002 XG350L. My alarm would repeatedly go off when I opened my trunk with the remote. The car would also excelerate on its own while driving sometimes. We took it in three time for service. They said there was nothing wrong. Last week while pulling into a parking space the car excelated, lurching forward, and taking out two other cars. Now I have $9,000 worth of damage to my car, and at least two lawsuite coming my way! But the Hyundai dealer ship still says there was nothing wrong with my car.

auburn1112 · October 2003

I just agreed to purchase a 2004 XG350L but haven't taken delivery of it yet. I paid $21,000 for it. Does this sound like a fair price? Also, does anyone know if you have to do anything special to make the side mirrors tilt down in reverse or should they do so automatically. The car I test drove didn't do it when I backed up and the saleman was clueless as to why not. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

coalcracker · October 2003

That is a good price. Before you put your car into reverse push the side view mirror switch all the way over to the left. Then put the car in reverse and the mirrors should tilt. When you put the car into drive the mirrors will go to their original set position. That salesman should get on the ball and learn about the product he is selling.

dbronzo · October 2003

Also if you put the switch all the way to the right, only the right mirror will tilt.
And, it wasn't in my manual but in order for my 2002 to have the drivers seat automatically go back after shutting of the car, you have to engage the emergency brake.

gjkam · October 2003

Sorry folks, there is no 10 year / 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty for Hyundai. It's 6 year / 60,000 miles on 500 PARTS! You can buy a Hyundai extended warranty that will make that 1700 parts if you want. Take a look, if your air conditioner breaks in 3 + years you will be paying to have it repaired! The devil is in the details.

shepsvette · October 2003

Just got my XG 350. A couple of questions. Is there no underhood light? And can the door locks be programed for autolock feature like other manufactures? Thanks.

lngtonge18 · October 2003

No underhood light. I've never seen one on anything other then American cars and maybe high end European cars.

specialdoc2002 · October 2003

The door locks on the XG are different from many other cars in two respects. First, there is no autolock feature and, second, the first push of button remote unlocks ALL of the doors.

I think that Hyundai has made excellent design decisions in both instances. I have had other cars that were designed the other way, and I disliked it in both respects.

xgfan · November 2003

Hi folks, are any XG owners experiencing poor paint quality and if so, has anyone opted for a paint shop clear coat? If so, what has been your experience?

idfored · November 2003

Yes, 10 year/100,000 mile warranty is mostly for the engine and transmission. It is not for all parts but it does give Hyundai owners little comfort. Even without it, XG is still a good value, I think. I did not care warranty too much when I bought mine because I put about 25000 miles/year. I will use it up in 5 years.

cambrea · November 2003

I have 2001 XG300L with 29K miles on it. In the last few months, I noticed steering wheel vibration at various speed. I took it to the dealership and balance, tire rotation, and so on. After few attempts, while vibration still exist, the dealership is saying that I need new set of tires and wheel alignment....After all, I replaced front tires, which worn out inner sides and had wheel alignment done in a independent tire shop. HOWEVER, the vibration still existed.
(It is nociceable around 60MPH, and getting worse if brake appied...) I took it back to the tire shop and re-balance and re-check alignment. Those were OK. The tire shop guy is saying that there are strange noise from front wheel, when shaked in the air. Anyone has similar problem?

lngtonge18 · December 2003

Can anyone who has an 02-04 XG350 let me know what color the gauges are at night? Are they green or white? What about the center console lighting? Thanks!

bucketeer · December 2003

I purchased my XG 350 L in Feb. of 2002. I love the car, but have had strange issues on and off - has anyone else experienced any of the following issues, or have suggestions on how to correct them? I'm just over 60,000 mi, nearly all highway.
1) Check Engine light - had a real issue at about 10,000 mi ongoing through 30,000, and was difficult to pinpoint - the service tech told me to "stop overfilling the gas", which I NEVER did - they replaced some canister a couple of times, and that helped, and now the only thing I can attribute the occasional daylong flicker of the light to is going through the car wash(?). It seems to shut itself off.
2) Strange high-pitched whine on deceleration/coasting... the car has always done this, since it was brand new, and the mechanics never seem to "hear" it - what is it?? Do they all make this noise?
3) Weird "bubbly" or frothy noise when rainwater is on the moonroof. I asked the dealership to check the seals, which they've said are fine. It hasn't leaked, but will it? Just wind noise?
4)More weirdness - a very strange rattle on slow accelerations - barely heard it a couple of times, a sound just like my old Volvo 4 speed used to make when I tried to drive it in too high a gear. This morning - heard it very distinctly on a gradual incline, and brought it to my own service guy (no more Hyundai dealerships unless absolutely necessary - this guy does it right the first time, and now that I'm at 62,000 mi.. I'd rather go to him)... anyway, he couldn't get the car to reproduce the noise, but I had him do the 60,000 tune up and timing belt change I'm due for(a possibilty for the noise, according to him) to the tune of - ack - $1000. I'll drive it tonight and see if the noise is gone - knock on wood, it is.
5) Vibrating brakes?? Tires checked out okay, and the Hyundai guy "resurfaced" the brakes which worked great for about 2-3 weeks, but then the vibes started again. Is this some sort of design flaw? Do I need a realignment/totally new brakes?

Any similar experiences out there? I really depend on this car - long-distance commuting. I don't want to hear it's a death rattle I heard!!

cwalton333 · December 2003

On the 2004 XG350 the gauge lighting is white and the center console lighting is green. Hope this helps.

lngtonge18 · December 2003

I don't have an XG, but I do have an 03 Tiburon with the V6. My automatic also makes a high pitched whine when decelerating/coasting, and this has been mentioned by other owners (Tiburon, Sonata, and Santa Fe), so I think its just a Hyundai tranny noise. The bubbly noise you mention could be the rainwater going down a slightly clogged built in drain tube. As for the vibrating brakes, the only cure would be to get new rotors. Everytime you have the rotors turned, you take away some of the metal and make them more susceptible to warping from heat or sudden temp changes (cold water splashing on very hot rotors). I would suggest you upgrade to the 04's larger brake rotors, which should greatly reduce the chances of rotor warpage.

lngtonge18 · December 2003

Thanks for the quick reply!

capttv01 · December 2003

I just purchased a 2004 XG350L and it seems to be a great car. I have one small problem though. No matter what I do I cannot seem to get any air through the vents at the back part of the center console after depressing the rear ventilator switch (located to the right in the climate control cluster). I have tried all modes of airflow and rotated the air flow control knob for these rear vents --- all to no avail. I called the dealer but he just said "it should come on but don't expect much air out of there". I feel just about nothing at all. I've found there can be "tricks" with this car that are not in the manual such as needing to have engaged the parking brake for the driver's seat to automatically go back when the key is removed from the ignition.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get that rear air flowing?

cwalton333 · December 2003

I have the same car and I can feel air blowing out of the rear vent, it is not a strong as the front vents but it does do the job. If you feel nothing I think you should bring the car in for repair. Again you should feel something but not like the front vents.

idfored · December 2003

Yes, mine is XG350 2002, 25000mile for a year. I noticed whining from the day one. I first thought it was siren. Tried at two dealers for a couple of times without success. Now I gave up and does not bother much. At one dealer, I and mechanic test- drove one and heard same whine. So, its Hyundai's "characteristic" so called? Now a days, I'm busy turning off A/C whenever it comes "on" for whatever reasons. Other than those, I'm enjoying driving my XG.
Hope you would have good luck with yours.

andysmth · December 2003

Like in # 1539 I had the same problem whith the "engine light" twice about 18600 mi and got the same "stop overfilling the gas".On first time it shows only one wrong code,on second visit(2 houres later) computer show 4 wrong codes.My tank was only 3/4 full.They replaced some canister a couple of times and some filter (it was soak with gas).
So its look like gas spilled out of the tank to inside.

bucketeer · December 2003

A little advice to all the high mileage XG owners out there - remember to have your timing belt replaced at or before 60,000. My acceleration "knock" immediately stopped after I had it replaced, and the car is back to like-new condition.
I also just purchased some new tires for this car - in my opinion they are head and shoulders above the original equipment Michelins in quality and performance, and much less expensive. If you've been annoyed by the sloshy handling of your XG on the Michelins, go out right now and get yourself a set of Falken ZE-512's. They're H-rated performance tires, just rated tops by Consumer Reports, and they are (for now anyway) a steal - less than $70 a piece. I'm in my fourth day on them, and am completely enamored. What a huge difference!!

777jag · December 2003

Are the Falkens as quiet as the Michelins?

bucketeer · December 2003

Are comparable in terms of road noise levels to the Michelins - perhaps a bit quieter.

mikewesq · December 2003

Recently I replaced my XG300's floor mats. The mats that came with the car allways struck me as rathery tin and flimsy. In particular, the mats in the rear passenger area would allways bunch up when my 13 year old son would ride back there. After 45,000 miles, the mats were loosing the "XG300" labels and looking tired. I wanted a different look, so I did a Google search for coco mats, which I remembered from the 70's as a rugged, attractive alternative to carpet mats. I found the site www.cocomats.com, and found what I was looking for. The price put me off for a few months, but I finally decided to invest in a set. I'm glad that I did! They fit great and look really good. They are layered on top of really thick natural rubber with a non-slip surface. These mats dod not bunch up, and they do not show dirt and other debris they was the black carpet mats did.

I wholeheartedly recommend Coco Mats from this particular vendor as an upgrade from Hyundai's mats or from anything you would find in a auto parts store.

gopherm · December 2003

I bought my wife the XG350L with the Infinity sound system and the multi-disc CD Changer. Does anyone know of any way to cause the changer to play the CDs and tracks randomly? It's pretty much a linear world and I like to use the cd changer more like a radio where we have picked the artists, but like to have them mixed up.

mort7 · January 2004

I spent yesterday looking at the car, hate shopping and having to work the price which when given is not realistic.

The main thing is in looking at things via Edmunds from owners.

One area they are very good, then I read about CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON

THEN ABOUT VIBRATING BRAKES

THEN AND THIS IS THE WORST, ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN, I WILL BE 80 IN APRIL AND I HAVE NEVER CHANGED TIMING CHAINS.

I have only had big cars, this XG350 has everything but a comfortable rear seat, it is beautiful but I am worried about getting aggravation and problems.

If you answer here fine, but also I am always on n4ett2@juno.com

Do I buy or look elsewhere ?

Mort

lngtonge18 · January 2004

The XG350 does have a timing belt, not a timing chain. This means you will need to replace it every 60,000 miles. If you don't plan on driving that far, then don't worry about it. If you do, then it will cost about $600 when it needs to be changed. Not a big deal at all. The check engine light can occur to any car, and most are caused by a loose gas cap or a bad oxygen sensor. The XG doesn't have a higher instance of it then other cars. As for the vibrating brakes, this problem has been limited to the 01-03 XG, thanks to undersized front rotors. The 04 XG350 received larger front rotors, which should alleviate the problem. Vibrating brakes is a common complaint on many new cars due to the thinner and more fragile rotors that are being used today.
If you like everything about the car, then I would buy it. Most Hyundai owners are quite happy and rarely visit the dealer. I'm on my second one and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

lngtonge18 · January 2004

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.

lkydf · January 2004

I have an '04 350L. The shifting is more than a little bit sluggish, particularly from first to second gear and when downshifting for passing. Shifting manually produces the same sluggish transition.This has been the case from day one. Dealer says it's normal. Is this a charachteristic I'll just have to live with or can it be fixed?

beer47 · February 2004

just a dressed up Sonata or is it a different platform? I know it has 3.5L motor. Do they share same A/T? Other components? Is it worth the large price difference? (I know, to each his own). It seems like a lot of car for the $. But if it is on the same platform as Sonata, then the Sonata would seem to be the screaming buy. Thanks.

gopherm · February 2004

Though they may seem similar, the Sonata is definitely not in the same class as the XG350. We purchased our 2004 XG350 this past August and spent considerable time driving both it and the Sonata before selecting the XG350L. The ride, standard features and comfort are definitely a cut above for the XG. My wife was pretty well convinced that she wanted the Sonata when we got to the car lot. We had done months of research and checking the Sonata out and when it got right down to it...the XG350L won hands down. We have taken it on several trips (one from Maryland to Florida and back) and the ride is wonderful. It is her car and it was her choice and she loves it. I get to drive it on the long trips and I can't find anything about it I don't like. The Sonata is a very fine car and I can't think of a single reason not to seriously consider it especially for the price break, but the XG350 is definitely a different car.

lngtonge18 · February 2004

The XG350 and the Sonata is not like the Camry and ES330. The XG is a bigger car and uses a different engine and transmission, larger brakes, and different suspension tuning. The platform is loosely based on the Sonata, but it was made longer and wider.

bucketeer · February 2004

A '97 with the Sonata and an '02 XG... and they're apples and oranges. No comparison can really be made. The XG is head and shoulders over that old Sonata. I never drove a newer version of the Sonata when I went to trade my '97 in due to the fact that they didn't have it in a stick (which was all I would consider until I drove the XG, and I fell in love despite the blasphemy of me driving an automatic). The two models might be more comparable in the newer versions, but I'd still put a wager on the new XG as a better overall value (and a much nicer vehicle).

pat · March 2004

Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2004 Survey is posted and ready for your input!

Hyundai XG300 and XG350

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