With decades of combined experience covering the latest news, reviewing the best equipment and advising you on your next car purchase, The Drive is the leading authority on everything automotive. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you buy a product through one of our links. So you want to buy a Hyundai but are not sure about the reliability of the Korean brand? Well, you've come to the right place. The excellent information team at The Drive is well versed in everything related to Hyundai's reliability, and we're here to share that information.
Although you may not be familiar with the history of Hyundai, the brand dates back to the late 1960s. After initially partnering with Ford, Hyundai has become a global powerhouse and sells more than a million vehicles worldwide every year, of which more than 700,000 are sold in the United States. Part of that success is because the company has taken advantage of affordability across its entire range. The other part comes down to the reliability and engineering of every car, crossover, and SUV.
As with all manufacturers, there are some bad apples and customers may consider them to be widespread problems that ruin the brand's reputation. To dispel those myths, The Drive team explains the Hyundai lineup. Reliability depends on a number of variables, but the two most important structural supports are the development and manufacture of a vehicle. When automakers spend time and money developing a car and its manufacturing line, a car tends to last longer.
Hastily designed, poorly manufactured and cheaply manufactured materials will reduce the longevity and reliability of the car. There is also a work ethics variable that cannot be ignored. The reliability cultures of Honda and Toyota, in general, embody that ethic and, therefore, have kept each other's legendary reliability in the minds of consumers for decades. Add in longer-than-normal warranties and good customer service, and it's easy to see why these Japanese companies have enjoyed a strong position for so long.
However, once a car leaves the dealership parking lot, external factors affect the car's durability. The longer answer is that the reliability and longevity of a car are inextricably linked to how you care for it, your maintenance program, your conservative or reckless driving habits, and whether or not you live in climates where extreme weather conditions could affect the construction of the car. Preventive maintenance, such as regular oil changes, fluid discharge, tire rotation and fuel system cleaners, in addition to keeping the exterior and bottom of the car clean, will increase the life expectancy of the car. Keeping it away from the harsh tropical or desert sun, as well as salty roads that cause winter rust, will also extend its lifespan.
Here at The Drive, we've driven almost every model in Hyundai's ever-expanding range. We've also had experiences with previous Hyundai models, some of which weren't great. Here's a brief overview of the most reliable Hyundai models from the past 10 years. As one of Hyundai's best-selling offerings, the Santa Fe is also one of the most reliable crossovers, according to RepairPal.
With a rating of four out of five, the Santa Fe ranks second among 26 other mid-size crossovers. Both the NHTSA and CarComplaints have registered almost zero complaints for Santa Fe in recent years. As with other car brands, not all Hyundai models are built to the same demanding standards as the reliable vehicles mentioned above. This is a quick summary of problematic Hyundai deals, including customer issues and complaints.
A customer complaint read: “Our Tucson moved downward when we reached an intersection and was not moving more than 5 mph. We almost got hit by a tractor trailer. This is the third serious incident related to the transmission of this vehicle. We won't drive it until Hyundai replaces the transmission.
Since the transmission failure is being removed from the market, you shouldn't lose a dollar. However, if you're considering a used Tucson, make sure the transmission has been repaired by Hyundai. Previous Hyundais weren't reliable, but it's been many years since that dark era. Today's Hyundai cars are very good cars and yet offer fantastic value propositions.
Hyundai is a valuable brand that has been on a continuous path of improvement. In recent years, it has grown to be high-end both in fit and finish, as well as in price, but overall the line is still quite affordable. If you need a new engine or you just crashed into the Prius at the idle in front of you, it will cost you a lot. If you are only going to change the oil, it will be affordable.
Toyota's legendary reliability remains intact, yet brands like Hyundai, Honda and Kia are catching up quickly. The information team at The Drive suggests that if you're buying used cars, hire a professional mechanic to inspect the car. If you are going to buy a new car and enjoy the car during the test drive, you are likely to be satisfied with your purchase. Technology, performance and design in your inbox.
The articles may contain affiliate links that allow us to share the income from any purchase made. This respected automotive diagnostic company surveyed data from 80,000 vehicles to determine the frequency and cost of repairs and declared Hyundai the “most reliable car brand. CarMD reports that Hyundai led the competition by having a significantly lower repair frequency and the second lowest average repair cost. CarMD CEO Leon Chen commented: “We commend Hyundai for its commitment to quality and its efforts to minimize vehicle operating costs.
Start your free trial today Hyundai invested hundreds of millions in R&D and state-of-the-art facilities to repair buyers' trust. However, the rise to fame wasn't easy, as Hyundai has had its fair share of successes and failures. They cleverly entered the US market with Excel in 1986, an absolutely perfect time because the three major automakers (Ford, GM, Chrysler) had abandoned the basic market for more expensive offers. Hyundai broke all sales records with the most cars sold in a brand's first year of operation, with nearly 170,000 Excels sold.
Three years later, Excel was the butt of jokes, and many said Hyundai meant “I hope you understand that nothing is manageable and economical.”. Power, Hyundai ranked among the top brands for the highest levels of reliability after three years of ownership. It fell directly in the middle of the pack, below the Kia and the Buick, but above Toyota and Dodge. The 2001 Tiburon put Hyundai in the right direction.
The company offered the fun and sporty 2-door coupe with better build quality and decent power, as well as a 6-speed manual gearbox, leather interior and 17-inch wheels. This paved the way for the company's truly innovative Genesis coupe. What Hyundai is looking for is an amazing ability to adapt driving characteristics to its target market. Hyundai deserved the rating based on total costs of ownership, frequency of repairs and severity of repairs.
So how is the Korean brand Hyundai really better than the beloved Japanese car brand Honda? In general, it's actually a closed decision. While this practice continues to some extent in today's market with many brands, Hyundai has taken it to a new level. Even after summing it all up and accepting that Hyundai is quite a good vehicle for the modern era, there is always the question of what reliability means from one driver to another. However, Hyundai has changed that over the past decade by launching high-quality but affordable vehicles.
Hyundai was the first Korean car to enter the US market, but it was certainly no stranger to competing in the global automotive market. Power also ranked Hyundai second (tied again with Honda) in terms of initial build quality, with only 102 problems per 100 cars on all models. If you're looking for a brand that offers lower prices, fantastic new car reliability, and great safety scores, you should definitely try some Hyundai models. While Hyundai is still very competitively priced, its first priority is quality, reliability and a completely satisfied customer.
Hyundai proactively launched a product improvement campaign to install additional software designed to increase safety measures on another 3.7 million vehicles. . .
