Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 79 safety complaints
about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the trailer hitch and the body structure.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 25 complaints, 32% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 5,500 miles,
the median across the 6
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers October 2022 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
79 complaints on file
79
Complaints
2
Describe a crash
3
Mention fire
1
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 25 · 32%
25 32%
ENGINE 20 · 25%
20 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 · 18%
14 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 · 13%
10 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6 · 8%
6 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 8%
6 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 · 8%
6 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 6%
5 6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 5%
4 5%
TRAILER HITCHES 3 · 4%
3 4%
AIR BAGS 2 · 3%
2 3%
STRUCTURE 2 · 3%
2 3%
01223
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 79.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2023 at 33.
36 27 18 9
222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2022 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2023 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
PU/CC AWD
PU/CC FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.4%
16.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
The risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 584,784 vehicles across all model years covered
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
The risk
A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 241.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 16,104 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 1,200 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space, the contact crashed into a pole; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries and received medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,200. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint 11523859. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE
fire · towed · 18,000 miles
The contact owned a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle to go into a store, he looked back and noticed the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned he noticed the fire was coming from the rear driver's side quarter panel. The contact called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to a savage yard, and the insurance will then have the vehicle towed to a body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact that they would inspect the …
NHTSA complaint 11687864, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire
On May 1, 2023 I pulled my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz into my garage at about 5pm and fyi It was blustery outside and had been raining & snowing all day. At about 5:15 pm I heard a loud bang followed by another. I looked out the back door and saw that the whole garage was completely engulfed in flames. My garage is attached to my home and the fire spread fast especially with 40 to 50 mile per hour winds feeding it. The only thing we could do was to get out with with our 2 dogs and nothing else. The consensus among fire professionals are that my vehicle started the fire. So here I sit with absolutely nothing!
NHTSA complaint 11524087. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire
The system that failed was electrical near or in the Tow Hitch which caused the vehicle fire. Vehicle is available for inspection at Auto Body Evolution Essex MD. The car caught fire in the back of the vehicle while parked in Owner's driveway and engine off. Neighbor pounded on Owner's door at 6:50 am. yelling for the residents to open the door that their vehicle was on fire in their driveway. Fire was dangerously close to the gas cap; parked vehicle was close to the owner's house, two boats in the driveway, and neighbor's house. After the incident, owner googled for any issues with Santa Cruz's. It was then and only then we learned that this vehicle had a fire recall on the Tow Hitch. We …
NHTSA complaint 11651645, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SUSPENSION
Unknown. I have had a clunking in the rear and have come across a TSB TSB 25-SS-003H. Seems like a safety issue. Rear shocks could be defective.
NHTSA complaint 11764066. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The push-to-open fuel filler door repeatedly failed to release, preventing refueling. The door locks through an electronic actuator tied to the central locking system, and there is no interior lever or owner-accessible manual override. Beginning in August 2026, the door intermittently failed to open when pushed with the vehicle off and all doors unlocked. Cycling lock/unlock on the key fob while pressing the door sometimes freed it after several minutes; other times it would not open at all. No warning lamps or messages preceded the failures. A door that will not release means the vehicle cannot be refueled, which can strand the driver or cause a loss of motive power in traffic. Owners of …
NHTSA complaint 11763194, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
my 2023 Santa Cruz had 7500 miles when purchased 4/25/26. I have had issues with the screen blackening/fading which cuts of electronics; ex; safety features. This was taken in twice. Then the truck loses power. Going 55 or 75, suddenly truck drops to 20mph. Car's honk, brake & swerve not to hit us. It has been at dealers three times now for same issue. Since I've owned vehicle, it has been at dealer for 29 days tomorrow and it is still there. The truck is a death trap, always something wrong.
NHTSA complaint 11753189. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
truck dash light would fade/blacken at which time none of safety features would work. This is an intermittent problem but seem like it has happened many times with the Santa Cruz's in general, so Hyundai was aware of problem. They don't seem to fix problems. This is a critical safety failure. No warning just happens. Had it happen to my truck about 7 times. When screen blackens, I have no safety features, can't see anything on dash, so I could get in a wreck
NHTSA complaint 11749492. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
driving/pulling on interstate speed only went to 20 miles per hour, no more. Pulled off and turned truck off, waited and restarted. all fine. No warning was given. Short time later engine light came on. Called and got appointment at dealers.
NHTSA complaint 11749495. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
crash · towed
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 happened at our daughter's residence in Black Hawk, South Dakota.
NHTSA complaint 11733854. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed March 17, 2023.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst