The Hyundai Santa Cruz spans 2022–2026 with 16 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2022, 2023, 2024 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2026, 2025, 2024. It delivers up to 25 mpg combined and 5-star NHTSA safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2022 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN — every digit explained
Every Hyundai Santa Cruz carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Hyundai and the country it was built in (real Hyundai codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Santa Cruz.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- South KoreaKM8 · KMF · KMH · KMT · KMU · KPH
- USA5NM · 5NP · 5NT · U5Y
- SingaporePFD
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Santa Cruz, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has 16 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls 3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
What's wrong. 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."
Risk. An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Air Bags:side/window:curtain
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix. Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls 3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.
Air Bags:side/window:curtain
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix. Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Electrical System:wiring
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. 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.
Fix. Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 273.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls 1
Steering:electric Power Assist System
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 261.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls 2
Trailer Hitches
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix. 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.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
What's wrong. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
Risk. A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. 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.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls 4
Trailer Hitches
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix. 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.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
What's wrong. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
Risk. A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix. Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall 222.
Best and worst years for the Hyundai Santa Cruz
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 5 tracked years, the worst years are 2022, 2023, 2024 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2026, 2025, 2024.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Santa Cruz | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | Forward Collision Avoidance | Best | |
| 2026 Santa Cruz | Power Train | Best |
What are the most common Hyundai Santa Cruz problems?
The most-reported Hyundai Santa Cruz problems are Seats (1 reports), Tires (2 reports) and Engine (74 reports) — out of 305 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Hyundai Santa Cruz specifications & dimensions
The 2022–2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz measures 196″ long on a 119″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 4,101 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Hyundai Santa Cruz window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | 196″ | 75″ | 67″ | 119″ | 4,101 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Hyundai Santa Cruz cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Santa Cruz holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Hyundai Santa Cruz tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Hyundai Santa Cruz get?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz returns up to 25 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,500/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5L 4-cyl) gets 25 mpg combined and costs about $2,500/yr to fuel, emitting 356 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10) — about $1,500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 22 | 30 | $2,500 | 356 | — | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | 22 | 30 | $2,500 | 356 | 6/10 | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 21 | 25 | $2,700 | 390 | 5/10 | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 21 | 25 | $2,700 | 390 | 5/10 | 2.5L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | 21 | 27 | $2,700 | 382 | 5/10 | 2.5L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Santa Cruz stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this Santa Cruz's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have? Power & range
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Hyundai Santa Cruz tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Santa Cruz's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
How much does a Hyundai Santa Cruz cost to own?
A used Hyundai Santa Cruz sells for a median of about $27,995 for a 2025 — most listed between $20,950 and $34,780, from 37 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Santa Cruz | $20,950–$34,780 | 3 | |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | $11,995–$21,999 | 12 | |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | $16,995–$25,999 | 10 | |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | $18,345–$25,995 | 12 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a Santa Cruz is worth today, or browse used-market prices for SUVs.
A Hyundai Santa Cruz depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Santa Cruz loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $12,500 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Santa Cruz ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Hyundai Santa Cruz to insure?
A Hyundai Santa Cruz costs about $1,415 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 2% below the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (98, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the Santa Cruz's HLDI loss index. See Hyundai insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall safety — real government crash-test data. Ratings by year:
| Year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested model years.
Want the safest pick? Compare crash-test scores across the safest cars and SUVs.
Tired of ads? Go Pro.
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- Exact mileage-adjusted car values
- Full research reports + PDF
- Market charts & price-drop alerts
- …and much more
How many miles does a Hyundai Santa Cruz last?
A well-maintained Hyundai Santa Cruz typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Hyundai Santa Cruz’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Santa Cruz’s VIN free →All Hyundai Santa Cruz model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Hyundai Santa Cruz — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 3 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | 3 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 4 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 2 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | 4 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Santa Cruz?
By owner-complaint volume, 2022, 2023, 2024 drew the most reports. 2026, 2025, 2024 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Santa Cruz have?
16 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Hyundai recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Santa Cruz get?
Up to 25 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
Is the Santa Cruz safe?
The Santa Cruz earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall crash-test safety; ratings vary by model year.
How many miles does a Santa Cruz last?
A well-maintained Santa Cruz typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Santa Cruz reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Santa Cruz is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Hyundai Santa Cruz warranty?
New Hyundai models carry a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Hyundai dealer.
Where is the Hyundai Santa Cruz made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Santa Cruz's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Hyundai may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Santa Cruz have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.