Hyundai · Santa Cruz · 2023
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2
Recalls
74
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 2 recalls and 74 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (17 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is power train with 17 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz currently shows 2 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 74 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are power train (17), engine (7), unknown or other (4).
- Vehicle
- 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Recalls
- 2
- Complaints
- 74
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
16.4% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: Standard & OptionalLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 23V181000March 17, 2023
TRAILER HITCHES
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 Status
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 ID: 23V038000January 31, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
74 totalSERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CRASHApr 22, 2026
Sudden Unintended Acceleration: Coming to a stop in a driveway and planning to put vehicle in to reverse, the Santa Cruz suddenly accelerated and kept accelerating ... it would not stop moving, brakes were applied continuously and forcefully, but with no effect. Vehicle crashed...
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ENGINE
Feb 21, 2026
oil leak the oil leak has be too the dealer twice for repair each time they said it was fixed it has now has happend again for the third time in less than 306 miles could cause engine failure at highway speed and engine lockup at such speed first time it was found by dealer after...
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FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Oct 23, 2025
While driving on the highway at a speed of approx 35 mph, no traffic in front of me, I got an audile warning and the car started slowing down, and the message on the dash said EMERGENCY BRAKING, this has happened twice in the last month.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Oct 6, 2025
Transmission does not advance through its ranges fails to shift leaving stranded middle of intersection. Misses a whole range looses excelleration. You
POWER TRAIN
Sep 30, 2025
Hyundai Santa Cruz with transmission problems. 5 attempts to repair and manufacture failed to. Last time, vehicle had a sudden transmission failure while driving. Car stop responding to acceleration and transmission was not switching gears, that could had cause loss of control, e...
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POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Sep 9, 2025
On [XXX], I went out to start my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (SC) to leave work to go home. It was difficult to start, however, it started. As I entered [XXX] , i was nearly rear ended by another car, because my SC lost all acceleration. I turned on my hazards for SAFETY and then ...
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STRUCTURE
FIREAug 27, 2025
The contact owned a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle to go into a store, he looked back and noticed the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned he noticed the fire was coming from the rear driver's side q...
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POWER TRAIN
Jul 17, 2025
car flashes transmission low fluid and gives a code of p193b-79. when trans downshifts upshifts will not happened. to clear the problem you have to turn car off and on , and then normal operation resumes, but shifting is now slower. and sluggish. this is the second transmi...
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AIR BAGS
May 17, 2025
1- Air bag light randomly comes on and off. 2- Today (5.20.25) I brought it to dealer. Dealer said they disconnected the sensor switch and cleaned it, then reconnected and light went off (covered under warranty). 3- I got in the truck, started it, and light was off. 4- I drove on...
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ENGINE
May 4, 2025
Received error code P030300 and the third cylinder fuel injector had to be replaced. There is approximately 36000 miles on the vehicle.
Showing 10 recent complaints from 74 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2023 Hyundai models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Hyundai Santa Cruz Years
2024 Hyundai Santa CruzCompare this year against 2023 for complaint and recall shifts.1r31c2022 Hyundai Santa CruzCompare this year against 2023 for complaint and recall shifts.4r172c2025 Hyundai Santa CruzCompare this year against 2023 for complaint and recall shifts.2r15c2026 Hyundai Santa CruzCompare this year against 2023 for complaint and recall shifts.2r0c
More 2023 Hyundai Models
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5Another 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.3r367c2023 Hyundai PalisadeAnother 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.5r358c2023 Hyundai Santa FeAnother 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r186c2023 Hyundai TucsonAnother 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r110c2023 Hyundai ElantraAnother 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r85c2023 Hyundai SonataAnother 2023 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r79c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
NHTSA has received 74 owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz are power train (17 reports), engine (7 reports), unknown or other (4 reports).
Does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.