2010 Hyundai Sta Fe: Major Problems Encountered

[djoroge]

I just want to share the sad story of my 2010 Hyundai Sta Fe and hopefully get some positive inputs on what will be the most practical thing to do.

The first problem I encountered: "Annoying sound on the steering" I got my unit last April of 2010, after a week I experienced annoying sound (kumakalog ang steering) every time passing pot holes. After several check-ups and got second opinion from the other dealer, the parts was replaced and the problem was solved but it took five months including the ordering of parts from Korea. The parts is a circle aluminum that holds the steering.

Second Problem encountered: "Transmission" A couple of months ago, I was able to experience "kumakadyot ang sasakyan" if you change gear like Drive or Rear as in nakakatakot kasi parang gustong kumawala ng sasakyan right after you change gear kelangan lang talaga nakaapak ka sa preno. Tumatakbo naman sya pero mabagal ang hatak. I was supposed to bring the car to the dealer for them to see the actual scenario, kaya lang nakapambahay lang ako. So I decided to go home first and change my clothes--I parked the car and turnoff the engine, after changing clothes I turned on the engine and change gear to Rear and then Drive amazingly the problem disappeared! So I decided not to bring the car anymore to the dealer hoping na di na bumalik ang tranny problem. However here's the most weird situation, bumalik ang problema pero intermittent and usually not during office hours, so I cannot bring the car to the dealer whenever the problem occurs. As of now, all I have to do is to turn off the engine and start again and then go to my daily destination every time it happens. However, last week I experienced the same problem several times but always at night! So the next day, I brought it to the dealer and told them the problem. They fixed it but I don't really know what specific job they made to solve the problem because when I asked the service manager/supervisor, he told me that they made some tightening and cleaning on the tranny (parang di solusyon sa problema yun ah). After 5 days being fixed from the casa, bumalik na naman kanina ang problema sa tranny.

Third Problem Encountered: "Power Steering Assembly" When I brought the car to the dealer last week to check my tranny, at that same time they found out that the steering assembly is defective because of the leak of ATF at the engine cover. Since I forgot to get my shades from the compartment of my car, I informed them that I will get it by myself--and surprisingly, I saw a lot of ATF oil at the engine cover. At that time, the service manager/supervisor showed me their request for the steering assembly and told me to refill the oil every day because of his reason na baka daw kasi pumutok while waiting for the parts.

I am very disappointed because these are all MAJOR problems considering that my unit is just one year old. This is really a question of Durability and Workmanship. I've never experienced one of these problems on my Honda City IDSI for five years. It's my wife and I who painstakingly decided to choose this car/brand and I don't want to blame ourselves but instead find a better solution.

I have some question lang sana to my fellow SF owner's:

1. Did anyone experience even one of the problem mentioned above?
2. Is durability and workmanship a question for Hyundai cars not only on SF but also other models?

We got our SF thru bank financing and more or less we already shelled out 800k except for the insurance and the remaining of 33 months for the amortization. Assuming the casa were able to replace all the parts and fixed the unit.
3. Do you think it is still worth it to keep the unit?
4. How about if we let somebody assume the balance & loosed half of 800k to get another car, is it plausible?

Are there any other suggestions you have in mind?


Thanks in advance.....

[asb75]

Try to send this complain to HARI so they will be aware that customer satisfaction is not good at the moment for Santa Fe owner's like you, Which Hyundai Service centre did you send the unit previously? Maybe try other branches.

[djoroge]

*asb75- Yes, maybe that's my next step, sending a letter to HARI. However, i'm planning to bring the car to the dealer first once the problem occurs since its intermittent for them to really experience it. Just want to have a concrete proof before writing a formal complaint. The dealer is Hyundai Global City.

Btw, considering the problem on my tranny, do you think it's reasonable for me to ask for a replacement of the whole transmission?

[asb75]

kindly check your car manual if the transmission is still on the warranty period. then if so, it should be replaced as i remember when i read my car manual for my 2011 accent it saids that the engine, transmission & other part is covered with warranty of a specified time. my 4 tires were replaced because it had found some cracks on it. because my wife found that tire pressure was leaking within everyday.

[sachiel]

Sounds like a lemon unit. Or you can send a letter to Willy Teeten since they own Ford Global. But you can try HARI first since it is their responsibility to ensure quality of Hyundai vehicles. Are the repairs still covered by the warranty?

[asb75]

if Hyundai Global City cant addressed the problem properly try other Hyundai dealers but stay away to other Hyundai dealers with bad feedbacks from our fellow tsikot members. My car is always service at Hyundai QA so far ok naman sila.

[djoroge]

* asb- I think it is still under warranty for the fact that my unit is one year and a month pa lang and they try to fix it without any charge. Based on my knowledge, the warranty is 5 years.

* sachiel- Lemon unit, actually that's the sad thing here. What's makes it more difficult is that di na naman lumabas ang problema (intermittent talaga). I'm just really waiting for it to come out so that the dealer could really see it personally and they could determine whats really the problem on the tranny. At the moment, wait muna ako for the arrival of steering assy. Kumbaga, one at a time.

[Black Hornet]

Your second problem re: Transmission seems not really a problem with the tranny itself. This problem has been encountered by some of the 2010 SF owners and the usual culprit was the brake light switch. Your description of the problem fits exactly the same symptoms of the brake light switch issue. Try to get it replaced by your dealer and see if the problem continues. It's just a cheap device but can cause a lot of trouble.

[djoroge]

*Black Hornet - Really, there's a similarity on the brake switch problem only. Sana nga ganun lang pra minor replacement lang. Confirm ko lang, same din ba na kumakadyot ang sasakyan everytime you shift your gear into Drive or Rear?

Thanks......

[Starex_Gold]

Probably a lemon unit. Or how you use your SF.

Yung SF namin laspag, bought Nov. 2010, 15890km as of today. No major problem so far, wala pa warranty claim. Even skipped the 10000km PMS Yung Tucson ko naman availed earlier than the SF pero lower mileage, mas alaga ko pero rinaratrat ko sa 4500RPM kapag hataw mode. Ganun din walang problem.

Pero sa nakikita ko, more of lemon unit yung SF mo. Don't waste the 5 years engine & tranny warranty, balik mo lang ng ibalik pag may problema pero syempre hassle diba. Kung pagod ka na, sell it tapos buy another Santa Fe or Tucson. Wag ka ma-trauma sa Korean cars, lahat ng kotse may kanya-kanyang flaws. Nagkataon lang talaga lemon unit sa'yo.

2. Is durability and workmanship a question for Hyundai cars not only on SF but also other models?

Nope. 4 Hyundai na nabili namin, wala sa kanila nagbigay ng sakit ng ulo. Everytime I drive nag-eenjoy ako. Comfort + speed + efficiency.

[desert fox]

*asb75- Yes, maybe that's my next step, sending a letter to HARI. However, i'm planning to bring the car to the dealer first once the problem occurs since its intermittent for them to really experience it. Just want to have a concrete proof before writing a formal complaint. The dealer is Hyundai Global City.

Btw, considering the problem on my tranny, do you think it's reasonable for me to ask for a replacement of the whole transmission?

about your tranny, baka kailangan lang ng reflash ng computer nya ito....

sakit din ng KIA yan...nagtry ba sila ireflash Tranny computer ng stafe mo?

[Black Hornet]

Check this out and see if the problems resemble with that of your tranny's...

SF 2010 Transmission Can't Shift to Reverse

[djoroge]

*Black Hornet -Able to view the link but it seems I had different case. Sa akin kc you can change shift but may malakas na kadyot or jerk every change shift. Mawawala naman sya agad if you turn off the engine and start again. Yun lang very alarming kc you can really sense that the tranny has problem.

*Desert Fox - I think di pa na reflash ang tranny ko. According to the service manager they just do some cleaning on the tranny connectors etc... I'll try to ask them if they can do the reflash.

*Starex Gold - I think nataon lang talaga ako sa problematic unit. I've been using an automatic car also and for 5 years no major problems encountered. I think you got a good suggestion kahit nakakapagod man ibalik ko na lang sa casa until they were able to fix it. Hassle lang, after I spent 1.558M pesos for my dream SUV.

I'm planning to go to casa on thursday. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks a lot......

[trackers888]

The link attached is Santa Fe Club Philippines Forum, try to register and drop all your query. Maraming same problem ng sa iyo na solve.
Your 1st problem is identified with your 3rd problem. Ang cause ng noise ay dahil sa defective parts inside your steering assembly. Dahil hindi na address ang problema kaya nag leak nalang ang ATF

Your 2nd problem - Jerking tranny probably needs diagnostic. Whether brake switch lang yan or tranny itself dapat i-replace yan ng HGC dahil under warranty pa.

So lumalabas IMHO hindi yan major, baka hindi lang attentive ang CASA mo to address the problem right away. Baka naghihitay pa ng sign or ebedensya ng sira like ATF leak. Sabi mo intermittent eh so mahirap talaga ma pin point yan agad.

Don't loose your confidence with SF. I have mine 3 years na pero never akong nagkaissue sa mga nabangit mo.

Good luck!

[Starex_Gold]

Another suggestion,

Lumipat ka na ng casa mo.

Daming kasama ko sa Tucson Phils na nag-rereklamo dyan sa Hyundai Global, pulpol na dealer yan mga brader. Kay Hyundai Quezon Avenue mo na ipadala yan. Hanapin mo lang si Luigi or Ien.

[maxhedrum]

Sir SG, ano feedback mo sa Hyundai Dasma in terms of services/PMS?

Another suggestion,

Lumipat ka na ng casa mo.

Daming kasama ko sa Tucson Phils na nag-rereklamo dyan sa Hyundai Global, pulpol na dealer yan mga brader. Kay Hyundai Quezon Avenue mo na ipadala yan. Hanapin mo lang si Luigi or Ien.

[Starex_Gold]

Diba sa Dasma ko binili yung Tucson ko, doon ko dinala for 1000km and 5000km PMS. Ok naman service nila. Attentive yung mga service adviser. Sablay lang yung bagong gumagamit ng GDS nila.

Pero sa Las Pinas na ako ngayon, walang corkage yung mga gamit na dala ko tsaka mahusay yung mechanic na nakilala ko. Or mag Quezon Avenue din ako, may corkage ata pero pwede mapag-usapan. Tsaka mababait din ang mga service adviser kaso medyo mabagal lang ang kilos.

[j@sh]

*Black Hornet -Able to view the link but it seems I had different case. Sa akin kc you can change shift but may malakas na kadyot or jerk every change shift. Mawawala naman sya agad if you turn off the engine and start again. Yun lang very alarming kc you can really sense that the tranny has problem.

*Desert Fox - I think di pa na reflash ang tranny ko. According to the service manager they just do some cleaning on the tranny connectors etc... I'll try to ask them if they can do the reflash.

*Starex Gold - I think nataon lang talaga ako sa problematic unit. I've been using an automatic car also and for 5 years no major problems encountered. I think you got a good suggestion kahit nakakapagod man ibalik ko na lang sa casa until they were able to fix it. Hassle lang, after I spent 1.558M pesos for my dream SUV.

I'm planning to go to casa on thursday. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks a lot......

bro how was yung check up mo, na solve ba yung tranny problem mo, na experience ko sa tucson ko yung kumakadyot pag change ng gear. thanks

[c5075921]

I have exactly the same problem with my 2011 sta fe - automatic. *djoroge - kindly share updates if these issues were addressed. I brought mine to hyundai las pinas and hyundai alabang but they don't seem to zero in on the issue.

Intermittent issues i encountered:
1. can't shift from Park mode
2. Blinking 4wheel indicator when temporarily shifting to P mode while engine is on. Usually encountered during stop-go heavy traffic and need to shift to P at times. I observed that shifting back to drive mode is a bit hard & can hear a 'thud' sound in the tranny area. Car becomes jerky as well so need to make sure brake pedal is firmly pressed. I'm now actually trying to recall if this was the reason of my recent accident when at full stop, i suddenly bumped into another car crossing an intersection,

Stop gap solution that i do everytime i encounter the above: manual reset of the gear. Run the stick shift across all modes while gear manual reset is pressed.

I do hope hyundai will get to fix the problem. I love the performance of my sta fe but i always question workmanship and durability everytime these problems pops up. I'm worried as well everytime the wife drives the car. I reached a point of telling my wife: i'll never buy a korean car in the future.

[peterstarr]

*Djoroge sir. How is your problem number 2? Kasi, na-experience yan exactly the same as my friend's 2011 SF. Pero na-solve na sya. Please refer to this link.
http://tsikot.com/forums/hyundai-car...ml#post2053394
Hope it helps kung di pa na-solve.