By james art 
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Modern cars are full of technology. This is especially true for hybrids, which pack significantly more components in the bay of the engine. It can be firmly fitted there, especially in modern hybrid vehicles, which are more complicated than everyone else. 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is almost a completely hybrid model and while the new design opens enough space, one owner posts a thread at the Hyundai Forum about what may or may not be a potential problem down the line.
“Hello everyone,
I own 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, intended for the European market. In essence, it has the same 1.6 HEV engine as the American model. I noticed a slight leakage of dirt/mud from the top of the fender area/shock absorber, located under the box with fuses on the driver’s side. Not all intersections seem to be adequately sealed or cannot be sealed at all.
This leak can potentially cause problems as moisture and dirt travel to the main ground cables and other equipment below.
Someone else has experienced a similar problem? Any insight or tips will be highly appreciated!
Here are the photos showing the fuse area, the leakage from the bottom and the difficult to view, where the leakage begins, located in the slot between the body and the fuse box. ”
The concerned 2024 owner of Hyundai Santa Fe added another comment to clarify further.
“I apologize for confusion earlier. This is not the shock absorber itself, but the area that is affected. I updated my original post to reflect this.
I understand that the accumulation of dirt over time is common – my more acclaimed car, 2007 RAV4 V6, is also experiencing it. However, this situation is different. From the first day there was a trickle of water and dirt, following the same path.
I have already visited the dealer, but they insisted that it was design. This problem is isolated in one place throughout the bay of the engine. It seems that the designer has tried to seal the area, as there is a sealant everywhere, except for the 1-2 inches gap, where water and dirt enter in my case.
I would like to confirm whether others with the same model have experienced this problem. ”
The accumulation of dirt in the bay of the engine is usually a normal phenomenon but is different for any car
Currently, Hyundai offers one of the best money cars for money you can buy. While the brand is still somewhat amazed at the image of an “accessible car manufacturer”, Hyundai Santa Fe competes with some of the best luxury SUVs that you can buy from Asian car manufacturers.
The quality of the Hyundai Uild is not yet very consistent, as many Hyundai owners report the rattling interiors in just a few years. Whether the same applies to Santa Fe, only time will say. Then again, it seems to be the case for many other car manufacturers. Even Toyota has had problems with the quality of assembly in recent years, including melting of the land cruiser mirrors, the tacoma roof upholstery, which goes down and others.
Another member of the Hyundai Forum explained that the engine bay was not intended to be completely sealed.
“Although there are some seals between the hood, the fenders, the radiator and the cauldium support, the engine compartment is not designed to be watertight. So, in this area there will be water leakage from many areas, which will lead to some dirt and corrosion of the components in this space over time. ”
If the bay is fully sealed, the engine will not be able to “breathe”. This is double for hybrids that have additional batteries and electric motors – all components that generate extra heat. Electronics do not like heat (or extremely cold). Even off -road vehicles have snorkeys that allow the engine to “inhale” air while moving through mud, water or other challenging terrains.
Is there a solution?
Not really. I am somewhat opposed to cleaning the bay, especially a gasoline engine, as it can prevent it from working. This is double for hybrids, which are distinguished by many additional electrical components, even if they are allegedly sealed. The engine’s beats are not intended to be waterproof and I really doubt that most owners of 2024 Santa Fe will take their cars seriously off -road.
The bays have a variety of drainage openings so that water and dirt can be directed to the ground instead of gathering in the bay of the engine. In this case, it seems that the accumulation of water/dirt is from the migration of nature when it goes down.
The real care of me is whether this is a drawback to a design that simply allows a limited amount of dirt in the Hyundai Santa Fe engine or if it is a bad assembly quality. Hyundai is not unknown to the latter and I can personally testify to this, even though I enjoy my Hyundai and I would probably buy another.
The best course of action would be to watch for now and you see that they are collected from water/dirt near an important component and clean, if necessary. Many manufacturers do not seal these areas, probably due to cost savings, which ultimately leads to rust under the fenders.
The Fifth Generation Hyundai Santa Fe made its debut for the 2024 model year and it’s still too early to talk about common problems. I will update when new details are coming out. If you have a similar problem, do not hesitate to share your experience in the comment section below.
Dimitar Anghev’s car interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although overall performance cars are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly looking for the best offers on the market. The passion of Dimitar Angel’s car and the skill of the written word made him graduate from a Master of Arts in the Media and Communications and the classical restoration of cars. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of every car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on xRelated, Instagram and Facebook.
Image source: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
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