Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2022. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2026.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | 21 | 3 |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 35 | 1 |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 79 | 2 |
| 2022 Santa CruzMost complaints | 185 | 4 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train128
- Engine79
- Unknown or other53
- Electrical system41
- Fuel/propulsion system32
- Vehicle speed control30
- Forward collision avoidance26
- Exterior lighting17
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 14 Santa Cruz vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 9 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7 | 4 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 6 model-year variants; 5 of 5 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC ICE AWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2026 | 2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC N/A AWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2025 | 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2024 | 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD Early Release | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2023 | 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2022 | 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 5 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.6–11.4 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Santa Cruz AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.3 | 11.4 |
| 2025 | Santa Cruz AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.4 | 8.5 | 10.7 |
| 2024 | Santa Cruz AWD · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 8.7 | 10.6 |
| 2023 | Santa Cruz AWD · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.7 | 10.6 |
| 2022 | Santa Cruz AWD · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.6 | 10.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
9 campaigns cover the Santa Cruz.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
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.
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.
NHTSA recalls