I’m in the market for a used vehicle, probably an SUV. Some of the vehicles we are looking at (such as the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe) are sitting pretty close to 100k miles. I’ve heard that this about the point that many transmissions finally go out and need to be replaced/rebuilt.
I’ve tried to do a little online research, but some sites say that ideally the transmission should last the life of the vehicle, but for various reasons (like a new build) go out prematurely. Some sites claim that 80k is the “average” life expectancy. I don’t want to buy a vehicle and have to sink money into a new tranny just months after purchase. How concerned should I be about the approach of the 100k mark on these vehicles?
I think it’s a reasonable concern. Plenty of modern transmissions commonly fail in the 80-100K miles range. I would suggest finding a reputable transmission shop (not a chain store, preferably a member of ATRA) and getting their guidance on which transmissions are more and less durable. You may need to be specific about year, make, model, and, in some cases, exact transmission type to get useful information.
I’ve helped my father rebuild three transmissions. They all went at about the 130K mark. His van lost its transmission at 200K, but we didn’t rebuild it as the rest of the car was just tired. Depending on the model, it could be a vary real concern at 100K. I wouldn’t touch a car that had an 80K average tranny life, though. Even 130K seemed low to my father when his transmission gave out.
I have to say, it is legit as a concern, but don’t panic without knowing the numbers.
I opted to buy a Jetta at 98,000 miles that needed a $795 tranny rebuild from an incredibly well-respected shop in my area. Since my family owned the Jetta (known usage and maintenance) and the price was right, I decided to invest the 795 and it was well worth it.
Weigh the differences: a similary equipped Honda or Toyota would have EASILY cost me $1500 to 2500 more than I scooped up my Jetta for, because they tend to be more reliable, and their used car price reflects it!
If the price is right, Hyundais are pretty good overall. Now, I am not so sure about 2002, but their newer models are gaining pretty good reps when it comes to reliability.