NHTSA Data Explorer
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Data refreshed May 30, 2026
Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Complaints
298
Active records
Recalls
9
Active records
TSBs
76
Active records
Filing history
Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.
Reported severity
Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.
Deaths
0
Injuries
8
Crashes
10
Fires
5
Top reported issues — Hyundai Santa Cruz
Click a category to expand its values.
Operating state
Performance issue
Reporting mechanism
Transmission/drivetrain behavior
Engine behavior
Driver assistance issue
Condition issue
Vibration/harshness
Braking behavior
Lighting behavior
Fluid issue
Starting behavior
Noise
Safety restraint issue
Safety restraint behavior
Thermal issue
Powering on/off behavior
Wiper/washer behavior
Electrical issue
Access/entry issue
Ride/handling behavior
Smell
HVAC behavior
Infotainment behavior
Steering behavior
Communication/network issue
Electrified system issue
Recent change
Recent filings
The 10 most recent filings for each type.
2024 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed May 25, 2026
On [XXX], while I was travelling South on [XXX] in Washington, while towing. My Emergency Brake/Forward Collision Avoidance system activated. Very briefly but enough to give me a shock. There was no reason for this to be activated, traffic was moving along, no one was closely in front of me, fortunately no one was right behind me. I discovered upon returning home that there was just issued a recall for this reason on 2025-2026 Santa Cruz vehicles. Mine is a 2024. I called the dealership, …
2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed May 22, 2026
The lake keep assist safety feature works inconsistently. Many times, the system has allowed my vehicle to cross the yellow or white lines, when it shouldn't have. Even worse, during wintertime, the vehicle gets confused as to what is road and what is not, jerking the vehicle in directions that it shouldn't be going (either off the road, or into incoming traffic). This is quite a violent jerk, so, unless the steering wheel is held steady with significant force, it could cause the vehicle to…
2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed May 22, 2026
The windshield washer fluid dispensing nozzles do not effectively cover the windshield. Almost all of the spray is in a very concentrated area of the lower windshield. The fluid squirts onto the two locations on the windshield and gets wiped away by the wipers as soon as they move. The rest of the windshield gets virtually no fluid applied. This causes a significant safety hazard under many conditions. Most notably: - During light precipitation when the windshield is mostly dry, but not wet…
2025 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed May 7, 2026
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was suddenly heard coming from the engine compartment with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that immediately following the failure, the power steering and brakes became inoperable, making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact also noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment and was able to forcefully maneuver the vehicle to…
2024 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed May 4, 2026
My issue is that the lane keeping system was much too sensitive. I would be riding at highway speeds and the car would pull suddenly to the right or left. This was an intermittent problem but when I took it in wanting an adjustment to the system to make it less sensitive, I was told that they were unable to address the system-not allowed to make any adjustments, which I found to be strange. I asked to speak to the service manager and waited to speak with him. The service advisor came back to…
2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed Apr 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and merging into highway traffic, the vehicle hesitated and surged forward after depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
2023 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed Apr 26, 2026
Sudden Unintended Acceleration: Coming to a stop in a driveway and planning to put vehicle in to reverse, the Santa Cruz suddenly accelerated and kept accelerating ... it would not stop moving, brakes were applied continuously and forcefully, but with no effect. Vehicle crashed through shrubbery and small trees into neighbor's yard, over a retaining wall and finally crashing into neighbors parked classic car, only stopping after it nose-dived downward. We live in Rapid City, this event…
2024 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed Apr 25, 2026
WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 UP A STEEP GRADE, TRUCK SUFFERED A SUDDEN POWER LOSS, WITH SPEED DROPPING TO 35 MPH FROM 65 MPH. ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN SPEED FAILED AND IT FELT LIKE TRUCK DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. 35 MPH CONTINUED UNTIL I DECIDED TO USE TRUCK CRUISE CONTROL TO ATTEMPT TO GAIN SPEED. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT TRACTOR TRAILERS HITTING ME DUE TO LOW SPEED. FINALLY GOT VEHICLE TO 65 MPH BUT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 65 MPH. RODE THAT WAY FOR 100 MILES ( TRIP HOME WAS ~ 200 MILES) FINALLY IN LIGHTER…
2022 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed Apr 24, 2026
After starting vehicle and shifting to Drive, the vehicle does not want to shift out of 1st gear and only accelerating to 25 to 30 mph. So far the only quick fix is to stop and turn the vehicle off and then restarting.
2022 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ
Filed Mar 26, 2026
The 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission and engine (Cylinder 4) failed on my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium AWD with 37,780 miles. Both components are available for inspection upon request. While merging onto the highway in Sport Mode, the vehicle experienced violent shuddering and noise so severe I believed I had multiple flat tires simultaneously — specifically both front and rear passenger side tires. I immediately activated hazard lights and exited the highway. I was unable to safely…