Transmission in '08 Santa Fe ?

I'll quote a few posts from edmunds.com readers saying the transmission on
the 3.3L V6 for the '08 Santa Fe is 'garbage' and claims it should be
declared a lemon.

I guess if anyone who has a '08 Santa Fe SE or Limited could you let me know
what you think they are talking about? I only test drove the car twice, and
don't recall anything like this, but, I'm just checking nonetheless...

Plus, there are quite a bit more reviews saying they absolutely LOVE the
car, period. And, having test drove it twice, I think it is awesome, and
can't wait to get a job and get one!

Thanks!
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The transmission stinks... period. Going from first to second gear is
whatever you want to call it, a slip, hesitation, pause, delay but it is not
normal and Hyundai knows about and continues to put a vehicle on the market
with this transmission. It ruins the entire driving experience because when
its cold, the hesitation is horrible from first to second gear and
continues, at a milder rate, even when its warms up. Shame on you Hyundai
this is a lemon law issue.
Favorite Features
NONE because of the transmission.
Suggested Improvements
Revamp the transmission and replace it in every 2007 & 2008 as you really
did rip off consumers by using a faulty transmission. Hyundai also
fabricated its mileage numbers. This car gets an average of 14.
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This vehicle has the absolute worse transmission I have ever experienced. It
is defective between 1st and 2nd gear. What makes this more aggravating is
that the dealers "acts" like nothing is wrong when the mechanics clearly
experience the problem. They "allege" all the codes check out but this
transmission has a slippage problem. I think Hyundai is out to screw the
consumer and knows about his problem but will not acknowledge it. I am
hoping that the government investigates some of the transmission complaints.
This is a horrible vehicle.
Favorite Features
None, I agree with the poster of 3/18/08. Nobody wants to drive a vehicle
with a faulty transmission.
Suggested Improvements
Hyundai should be obligated to service the consumer and fix the problems
with their products. They know the transmissions in the Santa Fe's are
faulty and still ignore the problems and their customers. I would NEVER buy
another Hyundai and can't wait to unload this one even for a loss.
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As it ruined my experience. There is no doubt it slips and hesitates between
first and second gear. Hyundai will not do anything about it. This is
definitely a problem that will come to haunt as more consumers experience
it. Horrible gas mileage at 15 combined.
Favorite Features
None as the transmission experience eroded my view of this vehicle.
Suggested Improvements
A new transmission as this one is unacceptable and defective. Increase the
mileage as this suv is a guzzler. Do not believe that sticker of 17 city and
24 highway.... You will never see those figures.

 

There will always be a couple of people that either really do have a problem
or perceive to have one when it does not exist. Obviously, the ones you
quoted are very unhappy and will not allow themselves to have any joy
because of it.

I don't know for a fact if the Santa Fe uses the same transmission as the
Sonata, but it may be. I have a Sonata Limited with the five speed. When I
pull out of my driveway I make a turn to go up a hill. On a cold winter
day, the first shift from 1 to 2 is a little slow. After that it is fine and
the rest of the shifting is positive and smooth. I don't notice it in warm
weather.

 

Consider this -- of the thousands of Santa Fes sold, you read about a
few people who we assume to be legitimate, truthful and intelligent,
relaying such testimonies. That hardly constitutes a systemic problem
with the vehicle or its transmission. Even if all these testimonies
were legitimate, that is a very low rate of issues.

We don't know how they drive, how they maintain the car or whether
they are anonymously posting this stuff on behalf of some other
manufacturer hoping to boost their own sales by inciting fear of
Hyundais.

The Internet can be a source of great information while at the same
time being the biggest source of garbage.

Regards,
Wayne Moses,
2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited

 

I don't have any significant driving experience in the 2008 Santa Fe, bu
this transmission is indeed the same one (give or take some gear rati
differences or a 4WD attachment) that's in the Azera and 3.3 Sonata. So
see no reason to believe it's in the transmission itself. It's possibl
that there's an actual or percieved problem in the programming, but i
this is a new programming release, it'll take some time to issue a
update, even if Hyundai thinks there's a problem. I haven't experience
any complaints, so I haven't personally investigated whether Hyundai i
planning on taking any sort of action on this issue