Hyundai Santa Cruz Problems by Year
NHTSA has 324 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file for the Hyundai Santa Cruz, across 5 model years (2022–2026). The 2022 model year has the most complaints (185). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Hyundai Santa Cruz years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Santa Cruz year: 2022, 2023. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2022 Santa Cruz: 185 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2023 Santa Cruz: 79 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2024 Santa Cruz: 35 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Hyundai Santa Cruz problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 128 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine | 79 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 41 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 32 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 | 4 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 26 | 4 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hyundai Santa Cruz problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: power train (90) · engine (51)
All Hyundai Santa Cruz model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 5 | 3 | 5★ | Lane Departure | |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | 20 | 3 | 5★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 35 | 1 | 5★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 79 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | 185 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Hyundai: all Hyundai models · Hyundai VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Santa Cruz years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2022 (185), 2023 (79) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Santa Cruz year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Power Train, with 128 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.