Disheartened With Santa Cruz Issues

[Thrillhouse]

Least amount of whining from forum members? Does Hyundai communicate with their customers daily? I don't want a clingy car company. That's a different kind of high maintenance.

Sponsored

 

[clavicus]

To be frank your description sounds just like some people's reaction to the hybrid when reviewing th

I have been visiting both this and the SC forum.
I had developed a real liking for much about the SC. I like the push bottom dampened tailgate, the bumper steps, the “brink” under the bed...I could go on.
BUT there are multiple threads about the SC simply freezing up and either stopping entirely or going into limp mode.
I mean multiple threads each with with multiple owners.
Only one poster received a definite diagnosis from a dealership (bad fuel pump) but most have gotten the “we don’t know what it is”
Then there’s the DCT. One guys trans blew up on the way home from the dealer. Another found out he can’t get his truck because the DCT gave out while being driven onto the truck carrier.
UGH.
I know Ford is problematic but I have owned many vehicles over the past 50 years and never had one just give out for no known reason.
I think I will order a Lariat hybrid in August and pray...if I don’t just decide to keep my 2006 Ranger till it rots away!

Your description sounds just like some people's reaction to the Maverick hybrid when reviewing this forum for a while. They think the catalytic converter is gonna explode when you start and the batteries die overnight on all of them lol. Of course some people are gonna have some problems with any vehicle. And there have been multiple anecdotes of Maverick issues that are not explainable by a dealer until many weeks later. Just sayin', it seems like we're looking at the same picture given a massive lack of real statistical sampling for either vehicle.

If you really like it, go buy the Santa Cruz if you can get it as MSRP and give it a whirl. If you don't, sell it at a mimimal loss in this market while you still can lol.

 

[710-oil-614]

I bought a 2022 Honda CRV Hybrid Touring. Most expensive CRV you can buy - even has the dumb golden white paint for $395 extra.

It shipped missing a big under plastic faring. The interior bits and pieces move and flex with just the smallest of touches.

The tailgate hinges (and brown grease) are visible from outside the vehicle when closed. The weather seals allow water and dirt past both the first and second set of seals.

MPG is way less than advertised.

The rear seats only measure a paltry 48 inches of hip room meaning that you simply cannot put 3 boosters in it The rear shoulder belts are also mounted comically high and forward so that no child could use the belts effectively.

Overall I'm happy with it. My point is I paid $42,500 out the door (straight MSRP + tax, title, doc) and I could sit here and complain.

I'm going to be even happier when my $24k truck arrives and I have $16k in my pocket when I complain about these same things.....

 

[Pickles]

I have been visiting both this and the SC forum.
I had developed a real liking for much about the SC. I like the push bottom dampened tailgate, the bumper steps, the “brink” under the bed...I could go on.
BUT there are multiple threads about the SC simply freezing up and either stopping entirely or going into limp mode.
I mean multiple threads each with with multiple owners.
Only one poster received a definite diagnosis from a dealership (bad fuel pump) but most have gotten the “we don’t know what it is”
Then there’s the DCT. One guys trans blew up on the way home from the dealer. Another found out he can’t get his truck because the DCT gave out while being driven onto the truck carrier.
UGH.
I know Ford is problematic but I have owned many vehicles over the past 50 years and never had one just give out for no known reason.
I think I will order a Lariat hybrid in August and pray...if I don’t just decide to keep my 2006 Ranger till it rots away!

Well… if it makes you feel better. Ford only makes trucks. Hyundai never makes trucks lol bound to be some issues. Also if you order a hybriid lariat you’ll have lots of time between now and your truck arriving to decide whether to change your mind or not lol

 

[doubleplay2025]

I remember back years ago when Hyundai introduced the EXCEL in the USA, Its was 1986. Total piece of crap, super cheap and were gone from the road very quickly. They have come a long way to flood the US Market with their cars. Even though they look nice, I would not by a Hyundai strictly based on longevity and resale value. Good Luck.

 

[Bushpilot]

... Eventually, I sold a family member ...

Wow, I never thought of that! I coulda had a Lariat instead of an XL!

 

[belmor]

I am a big Hyundai/Kia fan and we have had 3 of them in the last ten years or so. Great cars.

I steered clear of the Santa Cruz because to get the 5k tow you had to get the DCT and the bed was too shallow.

Sucks to hear they are having issues but DCT in that type vehicle seemed like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Akuma72387]

Least amount of whining from forum members? Does Hyundai communicate with their customers daily? I don't want a clingy car company. That's a different kind of high maintenance.

Ford did communicate with me daily when I had my only issue which ended up being a bad seal on the alternator plug that had to be replaced due to water intrusion. And for the inconvenience of my truck being down ford provided a rental during the week it was gone and just gave me free maintenance and service plan for next 50k starting from the mileage the truck was at

which was just under 6k so my warranty will cover first 36 and the plan will cover anything not drive train (as that is a 60k warranty already) for an additional 20k. Plus I don't pay oil changes or other maintenance during that time either. So sometime having the car/truck maker be in touch can work out.

 

[JoeJoe311]

First model years are always the most problematic, and the powertrain on the Santa Cruz is all new, both the engine and transmission.

Maverick powertrains are pretty ancient, with exception of the 8-speed transmission in the turbo, which I believe is a couple years old now. But even with the hybrid powertrain which has been used for a long time now by Ford, there are weird software glitches too like people burning up their cats when letting them idle in very cold environments.

I'd wager 2023 will be more reliable for both.

One good thing with the Hyundai is if you do have powertrain issues, at least you have a decade full warranty to cover those. Bad thing is I hear the Hyundai doesn't even universally provide loaners, you have to get a loaner yourself and then contact Hyundai to reimburse you.

My veloster needed to go in for warranty issue, they gave me a loaner the same day. Where did you hear this information?

 

[CASD57]

I'm super happy with my Santa Cruz SE FWD so much so that I released my Lariat Hybrid that will be here 3/23-27 back to the dealer yesterday
But of course the SE skips a lot of the tech and has a 2.5NA and 8 spd auto, no turbo or WDCT for me....

 

[tomahawk72]

TFL just had their long term Santa Cruz delivered yesterday. It will be in there possession for about a year, these guys will test the crap out of it.

 

[stoptothink]

I remember back years ago when Hyundai introduced the EXCEL in the USA, Its was 1986. Total piece of crap, super cheap and were gone from the road very quickly. They have come a long way to flood the US Market with their cars. Even though they look nice, I would not by a Hyundai strictly based on longevity and resale value. Good Luck.

That was literally 36 years ago. It's shocking how long a reputation can persist within the automobile industry. Hyundai has been ranked among the top handful of most reliable car brands in the world, and has been for a solid decade. I remember my uncle saying something similar a few years ago ("I'll never drive a Korean piece of crap") and now his sonata hybrid is his favorite car ever. My family has had better experience, regarding reliability, with Hyundai than any other car brand (including the reliability paragon Toyota); it's a shame the Santa Cruz is so hideous and just doesn't match up in many other ways with the Maverick.

 

[Ford4Lord]

My dad bought a 1970 ranchero with the 302. Drove and rode just like a car. I remember my younger brother got it stuck trying to get to a lake on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Dad was pissed! A neighbor with a 4x got it unstuck and my bro never drove it again!

Sponsored