Hyundai Santa Cruz

Hyundai Santa Cruz
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a four-cylinder petrol pickup with a displacement of 2,500 cubic centimeters. The vehicle has been subject to 13 recalls filed with the NHTSA in the United States.

Technical data
ManufacturerHyundai
Body typePickup
FuelPetrol
Displacement2,500 cc
Cylinders4
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive
Fuel economy (comb.)9.9 l/100 km
Model years (US)2022–2026

Other Hyundai models

Similar Pickup models

Common problems & reliability

US owners have filed 690 complaints for the Hyundai Santa Cruz, most often about power train, engine, unknown or other, electrical system. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy.

Based on real owner complaints and inspection data — not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain).

Recalls & safety

13 in the US-market NHTSA database, which may not apply to European versions for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.

  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKINGUS · NHTSAModel year 2026

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.

    NHTSA campaign 26V316000 · reported 19/05/2026

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELUS · NHTSAModel year 2026

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

    Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.

    NHTSA campaign 26V047000 · reported 27/01/2026

  • AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAINUS · NHTSAModel year 2026

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.

    Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

    NHTSA campaign 25V809000 · reported 21/11/2025

  • AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAINUS · NHTSAModel year 2025

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.

    Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

    NHTSA campaign 25V809000 · reported 21/11/2025

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGUS · NHTSAModel year 2025

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 273.

    NHTSA campaign 24V877000 · reported 20/11/2024

  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKINGUS · NHTSAModel year 2025

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.

    NHTSA campaign 26V316000 · reported 19/05/2026

  • STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMUS · NHTSAModel year 2024

    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.

    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.

    NHTSA campaign 24V412000 · reported 05/06/2024

  • STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARSUS · NHTSAModel year 2023

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.

    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.

    NHTSA campaign 23V038000 · reported 31/01/2023

  • TRAILER HITCHESUS · NHTSAModel year 2023

    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.

    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.

    NHTSA campaign 23V181000 · reported 17/03/2023

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERUS · NHTSAModel year 2022

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall 222.

    NHTSA campaign 22V197000 · reported 28/03/2022

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONUS · NHTSAModel year 2022

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

    NHTSA campaign 22V746000 · reported 06/10/2022

  • STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARSUS · NHTSAModel year 2022

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.

    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.

    NHTSA campaign 23V038000 · reported 31/01/2023

  • TRAILER HITCHESUS · NHTSAModel year 2022

    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.

    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.

    NHTSA campaign 23V181000 · reported 17/03/2023

Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Hyundai recalls.