Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 35 safety complaints
about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the steering.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 11 complaints, 31% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 1,000 miles,
the median across the 5
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers November 2023 to July 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
35 complaints on file
35
Complaints
3
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
3
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 11 · 31%
11 31%
ENGINE 6 · 17%
6 17%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 · 14%
5 14%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 · 11%
4 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 · 11%
4 11%
LANE DEPARTURE 3 · 9%
3 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 9%
3 9%
AIR BAGS 2 · 6%
2 6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 6%
2 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 · 6%
2 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 6%
2 6%
STEERING 2 · 6%
2 6%
0815
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 35.
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 2024 at 17.
20 15 10 5
232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2023 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 2024 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
PU/CC AWD Early Release
PU/CC AWD Later Release
PU/CC FWD Early Release
PU/CC FWD Later Release
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.4%
16.4%
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 2024 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The circuit board in the motor-driven power steering assembly may short circuit, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
The risk
A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 261.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 795 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
2 injured · crash · towed
Driver 1 will be the Hyundai Santa Cruz traveling northbound on [XXX] at [XXX] . Driver 2 crossed [XXX] 1 directly in front of my vehicle causing extensive damage to the vehicle as well as injuries to the occupants. Vehicle 1 was [XXX] months old at the time. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! All airbags of the #2 vehicle deployed, ALL. Driver 1, was driving 45 mph northbound and never had a chance to slow down, impact was to the right front quarter panel of vehicle 1 to the left rear quarter panel of vehicle 2. The impact sent vehicle 1, the HYUNDAI, onto two wheels and into center media of [XXX] 1. As it rolled over the Dodge caravans left rear tire. The Passenger in vehicle 1, struck the passenger …
NHTSA complaint 11619944, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash
Another driver ran a red light and hit a vehicle in front of me, which spun and impacted the right front corner of my truck. Impact did not seem that severe, my air bags did not deploy but both front seat belts were locked up after the accident. My damage seemed just cosmetic, grill, bumper, hood and right front fender & headlight were damaged. At repair shop, they determined that the right front frame rail was damaged and the vehicle is totaled, almost $19,000 to repair which is above Geicos’ 75% limit. If the impact was enough to damage the frame rail, why didn’t the air bags deploy?? I do not have an electronic copy of police report or damage assessment, only paper copy.
NHTSA complaint 11612964. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
crash
Vehicle seems to not go into park at times and then coasts forward.
NHTSA complaint 11679782. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
towed · 220 miles
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated while at a complete stop at a traffic light, the check engine warning light, the immobilization system warning light, and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted into park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The contact stated exited the vehicle and locked and unlocked the doors several times. The contact stated that he pressed the Push to Start button and the vehicle started; however, the gear shifter had seized in park(P). The contact stated that he was able to shift into …
NHTSA complaint 11565859, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
I’m concerned about the power brakes I’ve received these faults a few times. DTC DTC System DTC Sub System C184987 CHASSIS LKAS Also there are reports online that other owners have experienced this issue with their Santa Cruz’s Some reporting dealers lack of concern. Diagnostics History My vehicle Last Reported Original Date Mileage Status DTC DTC System DTC Sub System 02/23/26 02/20/26 572 C184987 CHASSIS LKAS This refers to the vacuum pump that controls the power brakes. When applied the brake pedal becomes firm. When this code is triggered, your vehicle will likely illuminate warning lights on your dashboard, such as the ABS and ESC warning lights. You might experience a change in how …
NHTSA complaint 11751347, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
15,000 miles
Contact owns 2024 Honda Santa Cruz. The contact stated while driving 45 mph on the highway vehicle wasn't responding while accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated there was no warning lights on vehicle before incident happen and that contact had to turn off and on the vehicle to make it function. correctly. The contact was able to contact dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated this has been a recurring event on vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
NHTSA complaint 11741927. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
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, no coverage for the update for my truck yet. There was another recall that I was not notified about for an software update on my oil pump, which I will have done tomorrow. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO …
NHTSA complaint 11739908, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
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 me, gave me my keys and said it was now fixed. I asked what they did and was told that they disabled it and offered NO PAPERWORK. I reached out to Hyundai corporate and was told that they don't get …
NHTSA complaint 11735543, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 TRAFFIC WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE, I TRIED TO USE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED.AND IT WORKED. RODE THE LAST 100 MILES NORMALLY. I WAS AT GREAT RISK WHEN TRUCK WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 35 MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND …
NHTSA complaint 11733735, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
I was at a stop sign leave a store and I started going again and when I got to 15 mph it like it went into neutral and I thought maybe I hit shifter in neutral but didn't and I went to go again did same thing but then jump into next gear got cat home I bought this car brand new I only got 33000 miles
NHTSA complaint 11713824. 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 June 5, 2024.
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