The Hyundai Azera is one of the most interesting cars in the entire Hyundai lineup. It is a top-class sedan that does not come with a top-class badge, but that also means that it does not come with a top-class price. As such, the Hyundai Azera offers a lot of value for your money as not many cars in this price category can even come close.
When it comes to reliability, the Azera is not as good as most Hyundai offerings, but that is to be expected considering that the Azera is a more complicated car with more of everything. The Azera is also being sold under the name Grandeur and is now only available in China, South Korea, the Middle East, and the Americas.
The most common Hyundai Azera problems are associated with ABS troubles, rodents chewing away at Hyundai’s weird soy wiring, issues with the infotainment system, an exploding panoramic sunroof, and various trim and equipment issues. Some of these can get quite serious quite quickly while others are mostly small niggles.
All in all, the Azera/Grandeur is a really interesting car because it promises to rival much more expensive cars. It is a car that looks good inside and out, and one that is surely going to satisfy an average Hyundai driver.
Hyundai Azera – ABS problems
The Hyundai Azera, and many other Hyundai models, suffer from two serious ABS-related issues where low-quality seals can cause all sorts of leaks and eventually lead to a catastrophic fire. These fires are caused by short circuits and liquid contamination and corrosion. The first issue is caused by liquid leaking into the ABS system and causing a fire.
The second issue is caused by brake fluid leaking from the insides of the ABS system. Both of these can end catastrophically, with a car bursting into flames. As such, be sure to always check these systems on all Hyundai newer cars, and especially the Azera/Grandeur as these seem to be the ones with these problems the most.
Hyundai Azera – Rodents chewing away at wires made out of soy
Yes, you read that correctly. Hyundai actually used soy-made materials to insulate a bunch of wires on many Hyundai models including the Azera. The problem here is that Hyundai used this material to cover a bunch of wires all around the car which means that many potential problems can come from this. If rodents start chipping away at your car, you could be looking at a few thousand-dollar bills soon.
Owners have reported that rodents particularly enjoy chewing hood insulation, battery wiring, filter assemblies for the engine, battery shims, and many other surrounding wires. This even caused a major class-action lawsuit against Hyundai, especially because these wires are later replaced with the same soy-made wires.
Hyundai Azera – Infotainment system issues
The Hyundai Azera comes with a Hyundai “advanced” Blue Link infotainment system that offers a bunch of features as part of various subscription deals. Owners have reported that the entire infotainment system is known to shut down if you don’t pay Hyundai a particular fee. This isn’t as bad as the fact that the system is known to keep doing this even after you pay the fee.
Essentially, you need to pay $500 if you want to resubscribe for the Blue Link system as resubscription requires even some hardware replacement parts. This also caused a fairly major class-action lawsuit against Hyundai that still isn’t finished.
Hyundai Azera – Exploding panoramic sunroof
Sunroofs are incredibly popular these days on all cars, not just luxury cars. Hyundai offers a large panoramic sunroof with the Azera, but it seems like the pan roof can sometimes explode without any prior warnings. This is not as uncommon as one might think as exploding sunroofs can be seen across the entire car industry.
Hyundai of course didn’t recognize this as an issue at first, but once again, a major class-action lawsuit rewarded compensation for the owners if this indeed ever happens. All in all, this can be both dangerous and extremely unpleasant.
Hyundai Azera – Equipment issues
The Hyundai Azera also suffers from all sorts of equipment-related issues, especially on older models. The dashboard trim is known to crack, the speakers can fail, the seat refuses to stay in place, and some interior switches and knobs are known to deteriorate really fast. All in all, most of these are niggles, but this is not something fitting of a “luxurious” car.
FAQ Section
Should I buy the Hyundai Azera?
Well, if you live in the US, you are out of luck as Hyundai stopped selling the Azera in the US in 2017. This does mean that you can find used examples for a relatively affordable price because the 2017 Azera is now a 5-year-old car. This means that the depreciation curve is likely to soften up a bit now, and the car can be had for a really attainable price.
However, if you are used to driving real luxury cars, you are probably not going to like the Azera as it isn’t a true luxury car. Be that as it may, it is still a car that can satisfy most customers as it offers lots of space, many features, and lots of everything else.
Why did Hyundai stop selling the Azera in the US?
Consumers aren’t really interested in buying full-size sedans anymore which is why a brand that isn’t really known for making them (Hyundai) decided to discontinue them. Moreover, the Azera has been on a continuous downward spiral when it comes to sales each consecutive year.
Finally, the Azera overlaps with many other Hyundai models such as the Sonata or the G80 Genesis.
Which cars rival the Hyundai Azera?
The in-house rivals of the Azera are the Hyundai Sonata and the G80 Genesis which is slightly more expensive and luxurious. Other competitors include the Ford Taurus, Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon, and the Buick LaCrosse. All of these are now being trumped by SUVs and crossovers which means that most automakers will choose to make SUVs and crossovers over these sedans.