The Hyundai Veracruz is a 7-seater large SUV/crossover designed to take the Hyundai to the next level. The Veracruz was first revealed back in 2006 and was in continuous production until 2016 when it was replaced by the new Hyundai flagship SUV, the Palisade.
When it comes to reliability, large SUVs tend to fare considerably worse than smaller counterparts because they are more complex and come with more features throughout. However, the Veracruz manages to be a really reliable SUV as most reliability charts and surveys give it a near-perfect score of at least 4 stars out of 5.
This does not mean that the Veracruz is without its share of faults as that is rather impossible these days. The most common problems with Hyundai Veracruz include problems with the equipment, the electricals, the engine, the transmission, and the oxygen sensor.
The good news is that the Hyundai Veracruz does not suffer from overly serious issues, but these issues can occur relatively often. All in all, the Veracruz is a decent used SUV that can carry lots of stuff and people and therefore is still a fairly popular SUV on the 2nd hand market.
Hyundai Veracruz – Equipment issues
Probably the most common problems with the Hyundai Veracruz are related to various pieces of equipment and interior/exterior trim. For one, the handle is known to fall off on many occasions which is rather nerve-wracking. Other issues include problems with the key fob as it can often fail to unlock/lock the doors.
We also need to mention that the windshield wiper motors can fail and thus become unable to clean the windows properly. Some have complained about cracking interior trim but this is mostly due to bad maintenance, especially if you leave your car out in the sun for extended periods of time.
Hyundai Veracruz – Electrical issues
The second most common group of problems that affects the Veracruz are related to various electrical switches and features that can fail without any apparent reason. For starters, many warning lights are known to come on sporadically, especially those associated with ESC and ABS. This is a bad thing as you are never really too sure if your ESC and ABS are even engaged properly.
Some have complained about the alternator going bad, and others complained about the A/C. We also need to mention potential issues with exterior lightning, more specifically the rear blinkers and the rear brake light which can fail often. Most of these issues are down to hardware trouble which means that they can’t be fixed with simple updates and resets.
Hyundai Veracruz – Engine issues
The engine in the Hyundai Veracruz is relatively reliable which means that most people are not going to face lots of trouble with the engine. However, there are quite a few complaints about the engine using too much oil or even leaking oil through the gasket. The catalytic converter is a known gripe with many cars using this engine so you should focus your attention on the cats as well.
If you are interested in buying the Veracruz used, you ought to go through the seals and double check the oil gasket as leaks can potentially damage the alternator which can in turn damage the battery.
Hyundai Veracruz – Transmission issues
The 6-speed automatic gearbox that comes with the Hyundai Veracruz fits the car’s character really well. Sure, a modern-day full-size SUV will come with more gears to play with and is also going to use a smoother transmission as a whole. However, the 6-speed automatic is known to shift in a rough manner, so much so that it can jolt the entire car.
These have caused many complaints over the years which Hyundai tried to solve with numerous software updates, but at the end of the day, the transmission was still erratic. All in all, you ought to go through the gears a few times to see if the Veracruz you are driving is just erratic or even experienced more serious transmission issues.
Hyundai Veracruz – Oxygen sensor problems
The O2 sensor is a vital part of the car’s combustion process which means that it needs to function properly at all times or it is going to cause numerous issues such as lack of power or decreased fuel efficiency. If you sense that your Veracruz is lacking power on acceleration, and if this is accompanied by a check engine light, your O2 sensor is likely the culprit.
As such, be sure to go to a Hyundai dealership and completely replace the sensor as that is the only way you can fix this issue.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Hyundai Veracruz?
If you need space for up to seven people but you don’t want to spend dubious amounts of money on something brand-new or something with a premium badge, the Veracruz can be a great addition to your garage. It is a large SUV with enough space for an entire family, your luggage, and even a pair of dogs.
However, you will immediately realize that the Veracruz is a car from the past as it does not resemble new Hyundai models in any way. This was the era when Hyundai was designing cars that aren’t memorable at all which means that the Veracruz does everything you want it to, but is still fairly boring as a whole.
Why did Hyundai discontinue the Veracruz?
Ever since it came out, the Veracruz just seemed kind of vague. It is a large SUV with up to seven seats, but it does not look like it. No matter the angle from which you look at the Veracruz, the car does not look interesting at all, it looks like it was designed to be boring.
However, when you take a look at the competition, all other SUVs from this segment are big, confident, and boxy as that is what customers want in most markets. This is why Hyundai came out with the Palisade which does look like a true full-size SUV.
Is the Hyundai Veracruz an off-roader?
For starters, the Veracruz comes with FWD from the factory, but AWD is available as an option. No Veracruz model is available with a low-range gearbox which is somewhat of a necessity for a true off-roader. Therefore, the Veracruz is not a real off-roader and Hyundai never intended it to be.
