Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train25
- Engine20
- Electrical system14
- Unknown or other10
- Vehicle speed control6
- Forward collision avoidance6
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Service brakes5
- Exterior lighting4
- Trailer hitches3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2023 Santa Cruz vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz failed the safety check 0.34% of the time — 50% less often than the average 2023 passenger car (0.69%). Median odometer at inspection: 14,115 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD | ★★★★★ | 16.4 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard & Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 10.6 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 250 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz AWD · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.7 | 10.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
| 2024552 23 Sept 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" a… |
| 2023147 17 Mar 2023 | Electrical Issue: Certain vehicles may be equipped with a 4-pin accessory trailer wiring harness kit that could fail. Over time, this could result in a short circuit tha… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008008 | A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system. |
| 11007485 | A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system. |
| 11002708 | A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system. |
| 10253275 | This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2. |
| 10252356 | This bulletin provides instructions to inspect and repair certain Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles experiencing a condition where the tonneau cover does not retract properly and/or a V-Gap is present when closed. |
| 10252355 | This bulletin provides repair instructions for certain Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles exhibiting difficulty with the tonneau cover not opening (does not unlatch when unlocked and the handle is in the open position) or not closing (does not latch when pulled closed and the handle is in the closed position). |
| 10251285 | This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades. |
| 10247189 | This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services. |
| 10245577 | Certain Tucson (NX4A), Santa Cruz (NXT), Santa Fe (TMA), and Santa Fe Hybrid (TMA HEV) vehicles may exhibit a brake judder condition. This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect the brakes, resurface or replace and perform a brake burnishing procedure. |
| 10245001 | Certain 2023MY Santa Cruz (NXT) and Santa Fe (TMA) vehicles may have been produced with a damaged oil level sensor during assembly. Follow the procedure outlined in this TSB to replace the oil level sensor and gasket to complete the service campaign. |
| 10244997 | Certain 2022-2023MY Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may experience a warning lamp illumination for a diagnostic trouble code P2181 that is related to the Integrated Thermal Management Module (ITM). Follow the service procedure outlined in this bulletin to replace the ITM with a revised part and reprogram the powertrain control module to update the control logic. |
| 10243373 | This bulletin provides instructions to inspect and replace the fuel filler door on 2023MY Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles that exhibit paint imperfections such as: sag, bubble, blemish, crater, or dirt. |
| 10241891 | This bulletin outlines changes to the service procedure regarding the replacement of 8-speed wet dual clutch transmissions (8WDCT) and associated transmission control unit (TCU). These changes only apply to vehicles equipped with Theta 2.5T engines. Certain transmissions (indicated by a new part number) have received an improved clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise drivability concerns may occur. |
| 10241890 | This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for certain vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmissions (8WDCT) that improves the touch point learning variation. Certain 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an improved clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise drivability concerns may occur. |
| 10241885 | If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a Check Engine light on and one or more of the DTC listed, follow the service procedure and replace the related solenoid and harness. |
| 10237183 | This bulletin provides service procedures to prevent possible moisture intrusion of the HP EOP (High Flow Electric Oil Pump) connector when servicing the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). If moisture enters the HF EOP connector, this can result in corrosion and insufficient connection of the terminals. |
| 10237182 | This TSB applies only if Recall 236 or Service Campaign T8N has been performed and the 8 speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) replacement is necessary related due to high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP) DTCs P1C2D03 (HP EOP Motor Position Sensor), P193B79 - HP EOP Performance, P0868 - Transmission Fluid Pressure (TFP) Sensor Low. Replace the 8WDCT under this bulletin. |
| 10237180 | This bulletin provides repair information for a non-glossy front door pull handle that exhibits paint peeling on certain 2022 2023MY Tucson (NX4A) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles. If a vehicle exhibits this paint peeling condition, replace the front door trim panel assembly. |
| 10235566 | Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint. |
| 10235340 | If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a Check Engine light on and one or more of the DTC listed, follow the service procedure and replace the related solenoid and harness. |
| 10233551 | Some 23MY Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles' sunroofs were not programmed at the factory. This causes the sunroof to become inoperable. This bulletin provides information to program sunroof operation. |
| 10233484 | This bulletin outlines the repair procedure for some 22MY and 23MY Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles that exhibit symptoms of no audio or intermittent sound from the vehicle's speakers. |
| 10232182 | This bulletin outlines the process for replacing the external amplifier on certain 22MY and 23MY Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles equipped with an external amplifier. |
| 10230904 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation. |
| 10225466 | This bulletin outlines the repair procedure for vehicles that exhibit symptoms of no audio from all speakers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)