Hyundai Santa Cruz Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Hyundai Santa Cruz across 4 model years. The 2022 model year has the most (90). The words owners use most often: “able pull” (6% of reports).
- 128power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 40%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Able pull: mentioned in 8 of 128 complaints (6%)
- Unable accelerate: mentioned in 7 of 128 complaints (5%)
- Transmission control: mentioned in 7 of 128 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 13 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 128 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Hyundai Santa Cruz power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 2 | 40% | — |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 11 | 31% | 220 |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 25 | 32% | 4,000 |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | 90 | 49% | 10,200 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2022
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
In approximately late 2024, at just under 30,000 miles, the vehicle lost motive power while driving on the interstate. Multiple warning lights illuminated and the vehicle lost drive shortly afterward, leaving me unable to accelerate in traffic. The vehicle was then serviced under Recall 236 (NHTSA…
The cars transmission has become very jerky at low speeds. The drive train will either hesitate or rev without power for a couple seconds. The problem started at around 14k miles.
The transmission failed. The dealership computer identified the failure with Safety Recall 236.
I was traveling southbound on XXX from [XXX] to [XXX] While traveling in this major highway, the vehicle shunted forward and it felt like something hit us from behind. In reality, a transmission issue flared up on the dashboard along with a "Check Engine" light. Vehicle was left at the dealership…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Santa Cruzs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 128 owner complaints about power train for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Santa Cruz power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The most frequent phrase is “able pull”, in 8 of 128 complaints, followed by “unable accelerate” (7).
See all Hyundai Santa Cruz problems.