Harsh ride & Stiff suspension - 2013 Santa Fe Sport

[reppu1]

Didn't notice this on the test drive, but as soon as I started living with my Santa Fe (about 3-4 weeks now) I can't believe how harsh and rough the ride is. Very very uncompromising over all road irregularities - even those you can't even really see. Does anyone else have this issue with their 2013 Santa Fe Sport?

It's so bad I've been searching for aftermarket struts and shocks to replace what must be garbage OEM parts - but nothing seems to be available for it yet.

I have talked to the dealer and Hyundai American and they both just say "that's how it is". I am going to go back to the dealer and demand (nicely) to ride another Santa Fe and mine back-to-back with someone from the dealership to see what's what.

Other than getting any satisfaction or results this way, I am looking at taking a huge hit by trading this in on some other vehicle that rides better.

I have read reviews that say how nice and smooth the ride is on these, so I don't know if they were reviews that Hyundai paid for, or if I just got a dog. I had also read that the Kia Sorrento gives a rougher ride, and I test drove one yesterday and it is quite a bit smoother and softer than my Santa Fe.

Please comment on your Santa Fe's suspension action and ride quality.

Thank you!!!

[Joe Las Vegas]

Did you check the tire pressure, most said it came out of the dealership at 44psi, go down to 35, see how it feel. I know recommended psi is 32-33, but I like it at 35-36.

[reppu1]

Thanks JLV..that was the first thing I checked. And I got excited at first cuz they were all at 40 and I thought I had found the problem. But when I knocked them down to 33 there was no improvement at all.

How does your Santa Fe ride?

[Cheers]

Originally Posted by reppu1

Didn't notice this on the test drive, but as soon as I started living with my Santa Fe (about 3-4 weeks now) I can't believe how harsh and rough the ride is. Very very uncompromising over all road irregularities - even those you can't even really see. Does anyone else have this issue with their 2013 Santa Fe Sport?

It's so bad I've been searching for aftermarket struts and shocks to replace what must be garbage OEM parts - but nothing seems to be available for it yet.

I have talked to the dealer and Hyundai American and they both just say "that's how it is". I am going to go back to the dealer and demand (nicely) to ride another Santa Fe and mine back-to-back with someone from the dealership to see what's what.

Other than getting any satisfaction or results this way, I am looking at taking a huge hit by trading this in on some other vehicle that rides better.

I have read reviews that say how nice and smooth the ride is on these, so I don't know if they were reviews that Hyundai paid for, or if I just got a dog. I had also read that the Kia Sorrento gives a rougher ride, and I test drove one yesterday and it is quite a bit smoother and softer than my Santa Fe.

Please comment on your Santa Fe's suspension action and ride quality.

Thank you!!!

Sorry to hear that you are so unhappy...Speaking for myself, I`m totally happy with the way my 2.0T FWD rides...It corners extemely well, and although it doesn`t "soak up" some severe road imperfections, it certainly rides light-years better than my Rav-4,...Forester, and Explorer of years past, and is on par with my Altima...

My `72 Vette Stingray is another story though..LOL...

[Crusin]

I also have no problem with the "ride" of my Santa Fe. It is an improvement over my previous vehicle for sure. There is a difference with the smoothness of the rides between the 2.4L and the 2.0T. I did like the ride better in the 2.4L but choose the 2.0T when purchased.

I can only say that maybe you have something wrong cause mine rides great.

[dtech]

Originally Posted by reppu1

Didn't notice this on the test drive, but as soon as I started living with my Santa Fe (about 3-4 weeks now) I can't believe how harsh and rough the ride is. Very very uncompromising over all road irregularities - even those you can't even really see. Does anyone else have this issue with their 2013 Santa Fe Sport?

It's so bad I've been searching for aftermarket struts and shocks to replace what must be garbage OEM parts - but nothing seems to be available for it yet.

I have talked to the dealer and Hyundai American and they both just say "that's how it is". I am going to go back to the dealer and demand (nicely) to ride another Santa Fe and mine back-to-back with someone from the dealership to see what's what.

Other than getting any satisfaction or results this way, I am looking at taking a huge hit by trading this in on some other vehicle that rides better.

I have read reviews that say how nice and smooth the ride is on these, so I don't know if they were reviews that Hyundai paid for, or if I just got a dog. I had also read that the Kia Sorrento gives a rougher ride, and I test drove one yesterday and it is quite a bit smoother and softer than my Santa Fe.

Please comment on your Santa Fe's suspension action and ride quality.

Thank you!!!

Well I'm doubtful that the OEM components are junk. Yes the rear end can get a bit choppy on irregular road services - if you look at the rear suspension design it's pretty compact to allow for more room for cargo in the back.
I drove a number of these CUVs and some are sprung tighter than others and some feature a very soft ride - the toyota higlander is a good example - but all in all there has to be trade-offs between ride and handling and a couple of test reviews pointed out the suspension in particular the rear could get a bit choppy over rougher services. Definately lots of choices out there though.

[Joe Las Vegas]

Originally Posted by reppu1

Thanks JLV..that was the first thing I checked. And I got excited at first cuz they were all at 40 and I thought I had found the problem. But when I knocked them down to 33 there was no improvement at all.

How does your Santa Fe ride?

Check my signature, don't have one yet, would if my wife was working, she got something but is waiting for a background check, anyway, since I have to wait, I want to wait for the 2014 model to be announced to see if anything changes for the better, I'd like to have cooled seats, HID's and paddle shifters.

[7milesup]

I test drove 3 Santa Fe's on Friday and thought that they rode very nice. One of them I took down a really rough road and did notice some rear end chop but I did not find that unexpected considering the condition of the road. In fact, the wife commented on how quiet the SF was, and this is comparing it to a $45,000 Buick Enclave.

Edit... I see you live in MA. The roads out there are horrible so I am not surprised by your result. Also, if you have the 2.0T version with the 19" rims, that rides a little rougher than the 2.4 with the 17" rims.

[reppu1]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that my 2013 is a base 2.4 FWD.

And you're right, our roads here in MA are horrible.

Based on what everyone here is saying, I must go back to the dealer and ride another Santa Fe and compare to mine. Mine is a truly terribly rough and harsh ride.

[blueline]

Mine rides great and am amazed the amount of control and dampning that occurs when going over bumps. Checked out other CUVs and this one is at least as good and in many, much better. The 2.4 model does feel more compliant than the 2.O with the low profile type tires.