Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to provide reliability information on new models quickly. Also, any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

An Azera owner recently emailed me, wondering when the Azera would be included in this survey. That depends on how soon I have 25 owners signed up for a model year. Currently the 2006 is at 17 and the 2007 is at 12. If enough members from this forum join up, the Azera could be included starting next month.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

You can add Dazeoff to your list of 07 Azera owners. I have a white limited with a premium sound system and have been 105% satisfied with this new ride. :460:

I just enrolled into the survey.
2007 Azera Limited; 2200 miles on the odometer.
No problems or complaints whatsoever.
Love the car!
rodneya332
:banana:

For the best reliability data on virtually all cars including the Azera consult CONSUMER REPORTS annual buying guide. The Azera Limited is recommended second in large sedans right after the Toyota Avalon, and in fact is rated higher than the Avalon in reliability.
The annual auto issue in April gave the Azera better than average on all but 1 of the 17 catagories; the one exception was below average for power equipment, yet the Santa Fe, and Sonata which both use pretty much the same power equipment were above average. CR's results are based on subscriber returns on about 1.3 million vehicles, a pretty good satistical sampling. Note that dissatisfied owners are about 5 times more likely to return CR's questionaire than satisfied ones.
Having owned and operated some 140 vehicles that I turned in questionaries I can attest to CR's validity. (Yeah, I turned in some really scathing ones occasionally. And so did a lot of others on the same vehiocles).
You can probably check yourself in the local library that keeps these handy buying guides. Cheers.

This post has been edited by mahout: Feb 5 2008, 05:22 PM

Added my name...

BE VERY CAUTIOUS OF USING CR. I say this as a subscriber. They rated it among the most comfortable cars for ride and never noticed the suspension issue. Also rated it as above average on reliability. Other reviewers pointed out the suspension issue and poor ride.
Also, CR has now rated the Azera as much worse than average as a used car - the worst rating they can give.
Reliability has also dropped per most recent CR publications.
Check Consumers Guide, Autobytel and other sites as well as CR.
Note that CR's data is based on their subscribers who are contacted and who send back the survey forms. How valid is that sample pool.
BTW, CR did not send me a survey form and I own a Toyota, a Hyundai and a Mazda.

I'm one of the reviewers who noted the ride issue :;

http://www.epinions.com/content_219332906628

The relevant passage:

"You do feel the road a bit through the steering wheel and the seat of your pants, but this isn't so much road feel as an imperfectly isolated, insufficiently rigid body structure. Though the ride is fairly soft, I noted much more busyness than I expected over minor blemishes in the road surface. Noise levels are similarly not up to the class average, much less the best. At highway speeds wind noise could be more hushed."

As for CR's survey, I don't think their sample is the problem. It's what they do with it. The initial report would have been based on just a few months of ownership. Which would be okay, if this were clear, and taken for what it is, a report on initial reliability. But this isn't clear.

Also, they update only once a year. TrueDelta updates four times a year, and much more promptly than CR. Sometimes the reliability of a model changes as it ages. With TrueDelta, you never have to wait long to find this out.

For the Azera, though, we still need more participants.

Vehicle reliability research

I have just signed up my 07 Azera.

I didn't see this, I saw, as the previous writer mentioned, that CR endorsed the Azera and that the only sub par area was the power equipment (whatever that is)
Where did you read about the sudden change?

I can't get CR to load right now, but I don't think that the post above is accurate.

Since I posted this thread, a number of Azera owners have signed up, such that both 2006 and 2007 are 5-6 owners short of the minimum needed to get started.

Vehicle reliability research

As a subscriber to CR with a 20 year library I can't find the downgrading of Hyundais either. As far as I know all subscribers get the annual product review request and a high percentage return them.
If there would be any downside to Hyundai Azera ownership it would be the loweer than average trade-in or wholesale value for the car. Like Hondas and Toyotas in their first dozen years in the US many people just don't know how good the car is and as a result the trade-in value suffers. Its the old market standard of supply and demand. If Hyundai continues as is in 5 more years the Azera will be higher than average priced used car but not now.
And yes always read CR's opinions with a grain of salt. They don't always value the same qualities each of us do. A lot like C&D and R&T's comparisons: most of their 'catagories' don't matter a tinker's **** to anyone, especially those regarding 'comfort and ergonomics' I never agree with those items because my body isn't the same as theirs. Nor do many women.
When you remove those catagories that are subjective and depend on the comparable, stopwatch or yardstick measureable, and retotal the results I often get a different resulting top vehicle. They, like C&R, should leave subjective things to the reader. Makes me wonder if they aren't 'MotorTrending' it (refering to the times that MT got caught selecting their cars of the year on who bought the most ads, etc).

This post has been edited by mahout: Feb 5 2008, 05:47 PM

This rating, the the Used Car Verdict of half-black circle for the 07, while the 06 got a half red circle can be found on the CR site, only if you are a member. I brought this up a couple of months ago to see if any one could figure this out as to why the lower rating since the 07 has just about as many full and half red circles and no black circles when compared to the 06. Some of you came back stating no definitive answers which I also got the opinion. Can't get a handle as to why, no explanation on CR's site. Almost think of sending them an email to see if they can answer. Maybe it is the resale value that CR is hitting the Az with but this particular section of CR is on reliability. We enjoy the Azera, maybe we also got lucky with a late, April 07, build date. Agree with you Mahout, this is a heck of a car for the price. One dealer here in DFW land was selling 2 Limited for 20K, new. If people only knew, these cars would be going fast. Have now seen 5 in my area of DFW. For all you Az lovers, love this site, I get a lot out of what all of you add with your knowledge. Thanks.

It's in their latest Used Car Buyers Guide and other guides on the newstands. Subscribers do not receive these issues and the annual Buyer's Guide is often a repeat of 1-2 year old information.
One problem may be that they might be linking the Azera and the XG350 together.
As a subscriber I sent them a letter asking what was going on. Only response was - thank you for writing, referred it to the proper people for consideration for the future, do not expect a response.
CR acknowledged that I should have gotten a survey, but had no explanation as to why not.
Still like the car and everything is fine. If roads in S.C. were better, the ride might not be an issue. But they aren't and it is.

Bob,
I seem to remember that when reviewing the Azera, and Sonata for that matter, they mentioned that the suspension was "noisy". Now we all know that Hyundai's suspensions are not as "sophisticated" as some of the Japanese and German vehicles. That being said I think most of us have accepted that issue, and most of us have had the struts replaced. I had my fronts on my Azzy and rears on my Sonata and except for some minor items along the way (need timing chain tensioner replaced on both cars and veneer on replacement steering wheel is chipping on Azzy and I am certain will be replaced again) both cars are performing beautifully and still as tight as when purchased. I am not sorry, for one minute, that I left Acura after almost a dozen years. Looking forward to test driving Genesis when it becomes available. :thumbsup:
Don

Just added our '07 to the survey. Nothing but positives to report - 9K miles. :)

Don,

Can you tell me what symptoms you experienced when you had to have the tensioner replaced? The other day I heard a strange grinding sort of noise from under the hood on my 07' Azera.:o
javascript:add_smilie(":o")
Thanks,
Mike

Mike, timing chain tensioners are either spring-fed or oil pressure fed, or both. When you have a failing tensioner you'll hear a loud 'metallic rattle' sound, which is the timing chain having low tension, causing links of the chain to slap the edges of the metal guides. Ordinarily this only occurs when the engine oil pressure is low - meaning, at startup. A tensioner with a compromised piston seal will lose its oil reservoir pressure while sitting, allowing slack on the chain during startup, but once the engine is running for a few seconds, pressure will build back up and the noise will go away. I am dreadully familiar with this problem because timing chain noise is a well-established and pervasive issue on pretty much all older Jaguar engines, and I'm fixing a SERIOUSLY loud timing component noise problem on my XJR right now:



In my case, the vertical guide at right has shed its rubber slipper so I'm getting metal-on-metal noise when the engine hits about 1800RPM. That's LOUD. The lower tensioner piston & housing is visible center-left, just above and to the left of the driveshaft. The upper tensioner piston is not visible here, it's in the head, but you can see the housing at top-left, just behind the black hose across the top.

If you are hearing loud metallic rattling at startup, or when the engine revs through a certain (and consistent) range, report that to the dealership. If the tensioners on the Azera have external housings (like the Jag's upper tensioner), it's a VERY quick and easy replacement.

The Hyundai District Serv. Rep. is going to look at it at noon today re: the suspension. Had the shocks replaced, but I still feel impact harshness in the seat going over rough roads. Even more so than in my RAV4 and 12 year Ford Ranger.
If suspension was a little better, it would be a 10. After 10 months, everything looks and works perfectly on a Limited with Ultimate Package.

andyman32,

Thanks for the thorough explanation. The noise that I heard was a loud metallic/grinding sound. It happened about 2 1/2 weeks ago upon start up in the morning. I haven't heard it since then but I fear that I will hear again as time goes by.

Mike,
Sorry didn't get back sooner. I am "assuming" it is the timing chain tensioner because when I start either car up after sitting for the night as soon as I put the car in reverse to back out or go forward there is a metallic clicking as if tappets were loose and noise increases with increased throttle. It goes away within 30 seconds or so. If the car is parked after a drive and is started up a little later no noise. It began with both cars this winter. I haven't had the time to take the cars in but real soon. That's my best description. Hope this helps. :57:
Don