Great vehicle when it works - Prone to severe rust issues and poor reliability
This is a challenging vehicle to review because I really like this SUV but just cannot recommend it to anyone to purchase used.
First the pros:
I really like my Santa Fe for its smooth ride and excellent visibility. It is easy to park and has an attractive body shape. It can carry a ton of cargo and has sufficient power to go fast if needed. It is great in the snow.
Now the cons: Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the first generation Santa Fe to anyone due to terrible paint/clear coat, unacceptable subframe rusting (dangerous) and poor reliability overall. I have replaced nearly all of the front suspension parts, full brakes, master cylinder, crankshaft sensor, starter, fuel pump, and a slew of other expensive parts. The radio is possessed and turns on when it feels like it. I have been towed more times in this vehicle in two years than I have across three prior vehicles over 20 years. Overall reliability is just terrible for various unrelated (and critical) parts.
In sum, avoid this old vehicle unless you want a money pit that could become a safety hazard without active maintenance. I am only maintaining mine because I invested too much into it already. I would be surprised it if lasts me 2 years before needing to be scrapped due to safety concerns.
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