Hyundai Santa Cruz Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Hyundai Santa Cruz model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports.
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
5 | 3 | Lane departure | 5★ | 20–25 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
19 | 3 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 21–25 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
35 | 1 | Power train | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2023 | 79 | 2 | Power train | 5★ | 22–23 |
| 2022 | 185 | 4 | Power train | — | 22–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Hyundai Santa Cruz owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 79 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 185 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 25,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls
- Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving (2022–2023 model years; 584,784 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2023; 23V181000)
- Forward Collision Avoidance System May Activate Brakes Unexpectedly (2025–2026 model years; 423,062 vehicles across all models; filed May 2026; 26V316000)
- Loss of Drive Power (2022 model year; 56,148 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2022; 22V746000)
- Vehicle Roll Away from Improperly Routed Wiring (2025 model year; 42,465 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2024; 24V877000)
- Instrument Panel Display Failure/FMVSS 101 (2026 model year; 41,651 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2026; 26V047000)
All 9 Hyundai Santa Cruz recall campaigns · Hyundai Santa Cruz problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Hyundai Santa Cruz years FAQ
Which Hyundai Santa Cruz year has the fewest complaints?
There are not enough settled model years to compare.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Hyundai Santa Cruz years to avoid?
There are not enough settled model years to compare.
What is the most common Hyundai Santa Cruz problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (128 of 323 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns covering the Hyundai Santa Cruz. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Hyundai Santa Cruz recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.