The Hyundai H1 is a Hyundai multi-purpose van that was first revealed back in 1997, but is still in continuous production. It comes in various iterations such as a cargo van, a people carrier, or a commercial fleet version in certain markets. The H1 is also called the Hyundai Starex, the H200, the i800, or the Hyundai iMax.
When it comes to reliability, the H1 manages to be a fairly reliable car and there are many of these today with serious mileage on the clock. However, no car is perfect and the H1 does have its share of issues. As such, in this article, we are going to list all the common problems with Hyundai H1 and tell you what you need to look out for while buying one.
First of all, the H1 is known to idle roughly and inconsistently where the RPMs can jump up and down and even cause the car to stall. Other issues include excessive oil consumption, various electrical issues, issues with the equipment, and potential fuel leaks which can even result in a fire if not taken care of immediately.
All in all, the Hyundai H1 is a relatively reliable car that should be able to last a considerable amount of time. Because many of these are being used for commercial purposes, they often spend a lot of time being driven over all kinds of terrains which means that regular servicing is a must with these cars.
Hyundai H1 – Rough idling
Rough idling seems to be an extremely common issue with the H1, at least as far as online complaints are concerned. If this issue is accompanied by dark smoke coming out of the exhaust, chances are that your O2 sensor is to blame. Therefore, you will need to replace the O2 sensor if you want your H1 to stay on the road for as long as it can.
Other issues that tend to cause rough idling are associated with the intake or the cylinder heads. Either way, issues such as these can end up costing you a lot of money to fix if you don’t take care of these early on.
Hyundai H1 – Excessive oil consumption
As mentioned in the beginning, many H1 models are constantly being used for commercial purposes and they tend to spend a lot of time on the road and are driven almost every day. This in itself is not something that should cause particular issues, but if your H1 suffers from excessive oil consumption, this can be a real problem.
Some owners have reported that the car is known to illuminate the oil pressure warning light and that you can often notice oil-burning smells, especially after the car has been on a long journey. If that truly is the case, you ought to check your engine oil levels as lack of engine oil can cause massive issues down the line, even destroy the engine.
Hyundai H1 – Electrical issues
Almost every car these days experiences some form of electrical issues because modern-day cars come with numerous electrical components, all of which tend to be expendable to a certain point. Many owners reported issues where the H1 takes a long time to start up which means that your alternator or battery is likely to blame.
Some H1 models tend to keep powering certain accessories or electrical modules even after they were turned off which will inevitably drain the battery. You should also check the battery terminals for any signs of corrosion.
Hyundai H1 – Equipment issues
Back in 2018, Hyundai recalled a significant number of H1 models because of the locking mechanism on the rear sliding door. This faulty locking mechanism can cause the doors to swing open during driving and therefore increase the chances of injuries or accidents. As such, be sure to check the sliding doors for any signs of irregularities as these can be expensive to replace if something indeed happens.
Other equipment-related issues include excessive wear and tear on certain interior parts such as the steering wheel peeling off. You should also check how tactile and functioning some interior buttons and switches are as some owners have complained about these being way too fragile.
Hyundai H1 – Fuel leaks
To finish off our list, we are going to mention what is potentially the most serious issue with the H1. Back in 2017, Hyundai issued a worldwide recall for the H1 as fuel may leak from the fuel lines and come in contact with hot engine components and thus cause a fire.
There are some instances in which this actually happened, but thankfully no one has been injured. Even though Hyundai recalled the H1 because of this issue, you still need to pay close attention to the fuel lines while buying the H1 as you don’t want your van to end up in flames.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Hyundai H1?
If you need a van or a large car that can transport lots of people without being overly fuel thirsty or unreliable, the Hyundai H1 is the perfect car for you. The H1 is commonly bought as part of a commercial fleet which is why Hyundai even made an H1 version specifically designed for fleet vehicle use.
However, if you don’t need this much space or versatility, you are better off with something smaller than the Hyundai H1.
How many people can fit in the Hyundai H1?
The Hyundai H1 can fit up to 12 people at a time which makes it the most practical car Hyundai makes, at least as far as passenger space is concerned. The H1 is also sometimes being used as a smaller bus and you can see these shuttling people on and off many airports all around the world.
How safe is the Hyundai H1?
According to the world’s leading crash safety organizations, the Hyundai H1 actually isn’t the safest van on the market, not even by a long shot as some reputable organizations only gave it 3 out of 5 stars. The reason why the H1 gets such an underwhelming grade is that it does not offer enough protection for pedestrians.
