I am getting ready to pull the trigger and buy our first H3. However, I am a little nervous about the number of issues. Did anyone else realize that 93% of the posts on this forum are about issues with H3's?

Anything from electrical issues, to noises, to windshields, to sunroofs, etc. We really love this vehicle and want one badly but are they poorly made?

There are not these many issues with Hyundai Santa Fe's and just wondering what everyone's thoughts are?

Thanks in advance you have all been awesome!

 

It may relate to many more people using this list (?), and Hummer owners being more vocal ? I would bet there are similar problems with other brands and probably at a similar frequency. I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee which need a brake job every few thousand miles, but I never noted that on a forum. I understand it to have been caused by a manufacturing defect. A co-worker had a similar Jeep with the same problem, but did not even care about it although it swerved whenever she stopped.

 

Not likely any more problems with Hummers than any other vehicles. Lots of folks on this forum wheel them pretty hard which can lead to things breaking and premature wear and tear. I have noticed these posters are more educated and more familiar with their vehicles than any other brand of vehicle forums I have observed. The thousands of owners that have had no problems usually don't post on forums. I have owned a 2006, presently have a 2008 and I am thinking seriously about a 2010 H3 or an H3T. I read just about every entry on this and other forums from beginning to end and it hasn't scared me in the least.

 

My H3 is one of the best vehicles that I have ever owned. There are issues with all vehicles but not many have forums in which to ask other owners, nor do they use their vehicles in the extremes that most H3 owners use them. If you want a 4WD vehicle than this is one of the best you can get. If you want a vehicle to commute to work than no vehicle like this is suited. Plus there is a negative group out there that continues to put every negative they can on Hummer. I love my H3 and most on here will back me up.

 

If you want a Santa Fe, then that's fine by me. You're kind of comparing apples to oranges, though. Also, I don't think I would use a quick perusal of forums as my basis for calculating owner satisfaction and / or problems.

 

It's a Hummer forum... anything and everything that has ever gone wrong with a Hummer will be on here. Mine personally has not had a single issue of any kind.

I also own a Honda, I subscribe to a Honda forum.... believe me, there are just as many posts about problems with Honda's on a dedicated forum.

You can at least rest assured that GM quality has been going way up lately, also this far into a production run of a vehicle model most of the bugs get worked out.

 

I agree, people that have problems post and most that do not just drive happily on. Take a look at the Jeep forums, I belong since I am a long time Jeep owner. You will see the issues wherever you go.

 

Plus a lot of guys here drive through lakes, climb mountains, so when you do crazy things like that, things are bound to go at some point or need some form of maintenance . Of the people that do minimal off roading with the truck, they have very few to no issues.

 

You don't really want to know my thoughts on that statement, so I'll just let it go. I will tell you my H3 experience though.

2006 - early production model. Battery went dead about 6k miles, somewhat of a fluke but irritating. Can't really blame GM for that one. Had windshield molding replaced due to wind noise (was a redesign that worked perfectly). Traded in with 44k miles.

2007 - 53k miles when I traded it in, only time it was ever in the shop was for steering shaft noise problem, new steering shaft took care of it.

2009 - 11157 miles as of yesterday. No problems at all.


I think what you are seeing here on the board is the vocal minority, which is a big part of what the board is for. If there was a Hyundai Santa Fe board that was active, you'd likely see the same. Well, probably not since they'd all be too busy redecorating their condos and going to broadway musicals.

 

Like most people said, people talk about issues/problems....that is what a site like this is great for. My H3 has had a few issues (and one moron even suggested that I sue GM claiming that it is a lemon -- it's far from being a lemon).
My issues were:

1) creaking rear leaf springs -- vehicle sat on lot for 4 months before I bought it new. Dealer thought some rust or corrosion may have developed on the rear springs during it's 4 months of inactivity. Changed springs and after 21 months later it's still good.

2) popping sound in #3 body mount when turning -- dealer couldn't solve it since it only happened once in a while. I fixed problem myself with some "rubber waffel drawer liner" put between frame and lower body mount cushion. Problem still gone after 20 months.

3) some wind noise from pass A-pillar -- not a big deal if I keep it under 80mph.

4) stock tires didn't grip well in deep snow -- bought better tires (Bridgestone Dueler Revo) and sold stock ones. This will be first winter with these -- haven't had enough snow in SE Michigan to test out yet.

5) clicking sound from front end when tires start to spin excessively in snow -- talked to powertrain integration engineer on this one and it's normal....just the ABS doing its job trying to limit wheel spin so all of the power doesn't go to the free wheel.

Issues 1 & 2 were the only ones that bothered me to any degree and were simple fixes. This vehicle seems solid so far. I do have a squeek coming from the rear end-gate trim inside the vehilce....think I just need to trim down some of the interior trim tuning ribs (the ones that maintain the gap between the upper and lower garnish panels on the rear end gate) and maybe a felt sticker where one of the clip towers touch sheetmetal. It's not bad -- I only hear it when I drive and the radio is off. I am a picky customer and like EVERYTHING just so.

You cannot drive a Hyundai Santa Fe unless you are willing to put on women's underwear too. Hyundais are for ........uuuummmmmm.......Hyundais are NOT for men. Stick with the H3. Also, find out it the Hyundai is a unibody (Body-Frame Integral) or a true Body on Frame vehicle. I would want a truck that has a real Frame -- but that is just me. I am biased toward trucks with frames (although the Cherokee does pretty well for being a unibody....I think it is a unibody)

Get the H3.