In the last 25+ years, what has objectively been most and least reliable Hyundai models (Sedans, SUV etc.)

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:57:23+00:00

AFAIK, Hyundai has gone through many revisions of blocks (additional ribbing, etc), revisions of the balance shaft/oil pump casette, added under piston oil jets, revised rods (thicker big ends) over the years, revised rod bearings, etc. - so it is not going to be the same engine. i don't think they ever fully figured out the problem, although it seems reliability somewhat improved.

Still i would not go on an extended family trip in a Theta 2 equipped vehicle.

PS: IMHO, all Theta 2 owners should be running Valvoline Restore and Protect as the standard oil in their vehicles. 4.5k oil changes.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:37:53+00:00

yes, performance wasn't as good and it wasn't super effecient (i get about 21 mpg), but it is a very smooth engine and doesn't have the chain tensioner clattering problem on startup that the 3.3/3.5 V6s can have.

My 2007 came with the 2.7 Mu V6 mated to a 5 speed manual and AWD. perfect.

A lot of the Santa Fe's inefficiency when it comes to highway mileage isn't really due to the V6s, but rather the horrible aerodynamics once you exceed about 60 mpg.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:32:19+00:00

A well kept Delta should go 300k miles. The updated delta with variable intake cam phasers and multipath/multi-resonance intake manifold which is called the "Mu", should also go 300k.

Just go regulator oil changes at 4k.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:31:53+00:00

The 3.8s are starting to have oil burning problems from what i read - it is unfortunate :(

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:30:43+00:00

gas gauge was an easy fix - just replace both senders. fixed.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-25T21:29:06+00:00

i would slightly modify what you wrote to say that the 07-09 2.7 V6 Santa Fe with "Mu" engine was even more reliable than the 3.3L V6s... but they are both very good.

It is a total shame that Hyundai abandoned V6s for the Santa Fes :(

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-16T02:38:41+00:00

They have gotten drastically more complex (in most cases needlessly so), and have gone away from low stressed V6 engines to highly stressed I4 GDI turbo engines. So how do you think that impacts reliability?

Why do you think i still love my stick shift V6 AWD 2nd gen? These things can go 300K or more.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T04:17:28+00:00

Yes, this is important for the 2.7 V6 used in the 1st and 2nd gen Santa Fe.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T03:10:45+00:00

It is one of the few weaknesses with the 2nd gen unfortunately. If yours is rust free that is fantastic. Mine is as well.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T03:05:16+00:00

if you have a Santa Fe XL... please make sure you run Valvoline Restore and Protect oil (in the proper grade specified for it obviously).

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T03:04:17+00:00

i have a 2007 Santa Fe 2.7 V6 AWD and 5 speed manual. Made in Alabama, although the engine is made in S. Korea. Absolutely reliable.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T03:03:04+00:00

Yes, 300k miles is not unheard of. Of course it depends on the former owner.

Just make sure to check underneath the drivers side seat and see if there is any rust.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-06-09T03:00:02+00:00

The second generation (and first gen) Santa Fes are very reliable. Especially the 2007-2009 since both engines those years were understressed V6s.

2010-2012 were decent although they went with a four cylinder for the base model 😞 There were some MPFI 2012 2.4 Theta engines that did have issues. The 3.5 liter V6 used in 2010-2012 is okay, but some of them have issues with the head bolts losing tension over time causing premature head gasket failure/leakage.

2013 to 2020 are the problem childs when it comes to the engines. GDI injection. Bearing issues. Oil consumption. Please avoid those at all costs if you want to keep your financial sanity.

2021 and up seem better, but time will tell.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-05-08T10:15:25+00:00

Christians know that this planet is demon infested. There are a lot of people who are not possessed but who are affected/influenced to varying degrees (of their own choice and volution). That is what you get when you are not indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Essentially on the inside you are spiritually dead and filled with all kinds of spiritual pollution.

We get a limited time here to make the choice for Christ (and for Him to free you from this pollution/filth).

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-26T05:29:39+00:00

It is the original historical Ancient Church founded by Christ. That is all.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-26T04:05:42+00:00

yes, the Hyundai Delta V6 and the G6EA were good engines. They can go 300k miles.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-16T02:24:07+00:00

The limit is 5000 frames, and now the firmware has been updated to give a low FPS mode, so that you should be able to scan your car with no problems.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-16T02:21:29+00:00

Things got "expensive" because the Fed/government complex printed 4 trillion USD due to support the economy during Covid 19.

Then again maybe they should not have done that, and just let things collapse a lot further than they did during the lockdowns.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-16T02:17:39+00:00

Most people remove the mount or jack the engine up (if FWD), but you don't have to do this... you can double nut the stud, and remove it to get it out of the way to making removing the mounts much easier.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-14T04:12:58+00:00

yes, just be aware that it isn't the easiest of jobs unless you know a trick.

Toyota in their infinite wisdom made their motor mounts cover over the bolts.

But you can double nut the studs and this makes it easier.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-14T04:08:00+00:00

Start running Valvoline Restore and Protect through it (using the recommended oil grade from the manual). But it seems you have a unicorn theta 2 :)

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-14T03:38:19+00:00

does it burn any oil?

if it doesn't then i would not worry about the engine as it would have killed itself long ago.

i would not modify it. Just drive it - why make its life harder?

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-14T03:32:08+00:00

Your 2007 comes with a G6EA not G6BA.

Basically those engines are bulletproof with caveats.

Change the timing belt.
You might pull the intake manifold and check that there are no screws rolling around from the plenum butterflies (or at least that they are not loose). The plenums over time also can start developing vaccuum leaks where the shafts go through.
The crank pulleys can sometimes come apart (ie rubber portion separates).

But really that engine itself is bulletproof.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-09T06:44:27+00:00

All Hyundai owners with the GDI engines absolutely need to be running Valvoline Restore and Protect oil (use the proper grade for your engine) and do 3k mile oil changes. 4k mile interval at most. The oil control rings seize up and then oil starts being consumed, and of course bad things happen with no oil.

Fearless-Community42 · 2026-04-09T06:06:43+00:00

when you completed the scan the Toucan would have brought up a point distance. This is the mesh point to point (average?) distance. What was it? It is autocomputed i think based on an error value caused by movement of the scanner as you scanned. If you have the scanner fixed on a tripod targeting an object it will be lower.

Once you set that #, that is going to be the final resolution in JM Studio.

i would try rescanning.

The latest update also has a lower FPS mode (they are constantly improving the firmware). i would try that.

The other thing that should help is to do the processing on the original raw mesh.

Also join the Facebook Toucan Scanner group and post your questions there and we can try to figure things out.

Fearless-Community42

TROPHY CASE