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Touchy steering -- 2004 Santa Fe 3.5L

I'm looking to buy a used car, most likely a Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson.

Yesterday, I did a test drive an a Hyundai dealership on a 2004 Santa Fe with a 3.5L engine. Everything seemed fine except for what I call "touchy steering". I can't remember what the correct term is, but the feeling is that while going straight down a highway it feels like the slightest change in steering makes the vehicle feel unstable. It's as if I have to constantly pay close attention to the steering while going straight because it feels like it will veer off in one direction or another. The feeling is that if the road were wet it could easily spin out. There is no play in the steering, so it's not like it's shifting direction on it's own while the steering wheel remains stationary. There is no vibration etc. -- just what feels like hypersensitive steering. I am going back to the dealership tomorrow.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the alignment. However, I work in a job where I drive a number of different Ford Expeditions depending on where I am based that day. And one of them is new (2006) and has the same steering issue that I can feel on the Santa Fe. A number of other people have noticed the same thing and that one vehicle has gone back to the Ford dealership a couple of times but each time they say the alignment is fine and they can't find anything wrong.

So, I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas about this regarding the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Thanks.

(P.S. I'm in Camden County, New Jersey.)

Reply to
BETA-2K
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I haven't noticed anything abnormal, but maybe I'm just used to it.

Some Santa Fes had ball joint issues, so you might want to check out the ball joints. And check the tire pressures as well. Low rear tire pressure can make a vehicle very unstable.

Reply to
hyundaitech

Reply to
The ancient mariner

Thanks. I'll check that out. I think it is something unique to this particular vehicle -- which also made me think, "Well, duh, why don't I drive one or two others and compare?" I'm almost positive that I'll find that the others are fine and don't have that steering issue.

But, I also just read the "How much did you pay?" thread above and it dawned on me that a new 2006 or 2007 may cost a lot less than I thought. I just found this newsgroup yesterday and I'm getting a crash course (no pun intended) in Hyundai's.

Reply to
BETA-2K

Hi, I have a 2005 3.5L, and have friends with 2003 and 2004 models, and the steering is rock solid on all of them. No wandering or any problems keeping it in a straight line. If you are feeling this in a test drive there is something wrong with the car. It might be minor, like tire pressure or an alignment, but it might be major, like a bent frame or badly worn suspension parts.

Jon in Philly.

Reply to
Zeppo

I ended up buying a different vehicle at another dealership yesterday. It's a 2004 Santa Fe LX 4WD with a 3.5L engine and 22,500 miles. The steering is definitely better and different than the other one I had looked at, but I'm finding it steers like a truck. Maybe I'm just used to a power steering vehicle where, if I wanted to, I could easily steer it, turn it, etc. with one hand. Steering the Santa Fe that I bought is like work. It actually takes some arm strength which seems strange, but maybe that's just the way they steer.

Reply to
BETA-2K

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