AI Damage2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz filed 79 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. The maker issued 50 service bulletins for this year. We found 3 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 79
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 50
- YouTube repair videos
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 32% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 8% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 25 complaints (32% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Engine: 20 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 14 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Forward collision avoidance: 6 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Vehicle speed control: 6 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 8-speednamed in 2 complaints
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 79 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 25 | 0 | 10 |
| Engine | 20 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 | 13 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space, the contact crashed into a pole; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries and received medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center.
I have had a clunking in the rear and have come across a TSB TSB 25-SS-003H. Seems like a safety issue. Rear shocks could be defective.
The door locks through an electronic actuator tied to the central locking system, and there is no interior lever or owner-accessible manual override. Beginning in August 2026, the door intermittently failed to open when pushed with the vehicle off and all doors unlocked.
I have had issues with the screen blackening/fading which cuts of electronics; ex; safety features. This was taken in twice. Then the truck loses power. Going 55 or 75, suddenly truck drops to 20mph. Car's honk, brake & swerve not to hit us. It has been at dealers three times now for same issue.
driving/pulling on interstate speed only went to 20 miles per hour, no more. Pulled off and turned truck off, waited and restarted. all fine. No warning was given. Short time later engine light came on. Called and got appointment at dealers.
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 third oil change approx.
At least two separate wiring harnesses have failed on my vehicle, affecting the tail lights. My vehicle cannot pass New York State safety inspection because of this issue. Safety of myself and other drivers is at risk, especially at night, since my vehicle is not properly illuminated.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 669 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Santa Cruz has 53 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 79, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- Certain 2022 – 2025 model year Santa Cruz and 2022 – 2025 model year Tucson vehicles may have front wipers…
Certain 2022 – 2025 model year Santa Cruz and 2022 – 2025 model year Tucson vehicles may have front wipers that do not return to the designated park position due to a loose wiper motor crank arm nut. At Hyundai, we are…
- Some Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have a tonneau cover that does not latch or unlatch, does not retract…
Some Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have a tonneau cover that does not latch or unlatch, does not retract properly, and/or has a v-gap that is present when closed. This may be due to a broken or missing clip on the…
- Some Tucson (NX4A and NX4M) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have front wipers that do not return to the…
Some Tucson (NX4A and NX4M) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have front wipers that do not return to the designated park position due to a loose wiper motor crank arm nut. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage…
- This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some…
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch…
- This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in…
This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- Certain Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles equipped with 8-speed dual clutch transmissions (8DCT) may set one of…
Certain Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles equipped with 8-speed dual clutch transmissions (8DCT) may set one of the high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP) DTCs listed below. This bulletin provides the service procedure to…
- Some Santa Cruz (NXT), Santa Fe (TMA, MX5A), and Sonata (DN8A) models may require replacement of the…
Some Santa Cruz (NXT), Santa Fe (TMA, MX5A), and Sonata (DN8A) models may require replacement of the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) when the vehicle sets one of the high pressure electric oil pump (HP…
- Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and…
Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration…
- Some Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have a tonneau cover that does not latch or unlatch, retract properly,…
Some Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may have a tonneau cover that does not latch or unlatch, retract properly, and/or have a v-gap is present when closed. This may be due to a broken or missing clip on the underside of the…
NHTSA lists 50 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 79. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (27%), loss of power / limp mode (18%), infotainment or screen glitches (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
NHTSA lists 50 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.