Hyundai Santa Cruz years to avoid (and the best years)
316 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls across 4 model years, 2022 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 316complaints
- 8recalls
- 11reported crashes
- 5reported fires
- 9reported injuries
Which Hyundai Santa Cruz years should you avoid?
No Hyundai Santa Cruz model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Hyundai Santa Cruz year has 57 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2022 (183).
What are the best Hyundai Santa Cruz years?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz year with the fewest complaints on file is the 2023 (79). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 0.3× | 3 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2024 | 35 | 0.6× | 1 | 3 | 3 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2023 | 79 | 1.4× | 2 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2022 | 183 | 3.2× | 4 | 5 | 5 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 316 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain205 (65%)
- Electrical & infotainment47 (15%)
- Brakes17 (5%)
- Structure & body16 (5%)
- Other systems15 (5%)
Recalls (8)
Safety · 26V316000 · May 2026 · model year 2025
Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 25V809000 · Nov 2025 · model year 2025
Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Electrical system · 24V877000 · Nov 2024 · model year 2025
A transmission that can shift out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 24V412000 · Jun 2024 · model year 2024
A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V181000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Structure · 23V038000 · Jan 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 22V746000 · Oct 2022 · model year 2022
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Engine · 22V197000 · Mar 2022 · model year 2022
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.