The most-reported Santa Cruz run is 5NTJEDAF6NH (2022 builds) with 9 complaints, 4.1× the typical run. Power train problems make up 31% of reports; NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for Santa Cruz model years 2022–2026.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Hyundai Santa Cruz has 144 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 13% of every Santa Cruz complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5NTJEDAF6NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF8NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF1NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF9NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJDDAF2NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF4NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF2NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJDDAF0NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF3NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJEDAF0NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJDDAF1NH•••••• | 2022 | — | — | |
| 5NTJDDAF3NH•••••• | 2022 | — | 1 |
Each of the other 132 Santa Cruz runs has 6 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 52 Santa Cruz VINs so far, most often 2024, 2026, 2023 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| 2025 | 20 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 35 | 28 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 78 | 39 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 184 | 56 | 5 |
Heaviest year here is 2022 at 3.3 complaints per run; lightest is 2025 at 1.1. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 31% of everything Hyundai Santa Cruz owners report: Power Train, 127 of 321 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | — | |
| Engine | — | 1 | |
| Unknown Or Other | — | — | |
| Electrical System | — | 2 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | — | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 9 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Santa Cruz; the 6 below cover build years 2022 to 2026. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 25V809000 | Air Bags:side/window:curtain | 2025–2026 |
| 26V316000 | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2025–2026 |
| 23V038000 | Structure:body:roof And Pillars | 2022–2023 |
| 23V181000 | Trailer Hitches | 2022–2023 |
| 26V047000 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 2026 |
| 24V877000 | Electrical System:wiring | 2025 |
How serious were they
Of the 321 reports on the Hyundai Santa Cruz, 3.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.
| Outcome | Hyundai Santa Cruz | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 321 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 10 (3.1%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 5 (1.6%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 47% below the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Hyundai Santa Cruz share of that is 321 complaints over 144 runs, 0.03% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 321 NHTSA complaints from 144 Santa Cruz runs and 9 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Santa Cruz production run has the most complaints?
5NTJEDAF6NH, a 2022 build, with 9 complaints. The typical Santa Cruz run has 2.2.
Which Santa Cruz years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2022 is heaviest at 3.3 complaints per run and 2025 lightest at 1.1.
How many Santa Cruz complaints involve a crash?
3.1% of 321 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 5 involved a fire.
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