2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls and problems

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 2 safety recalls and 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer.

Urgent: recall 23V-181 carries a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
2
Complaints
80
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls

Recall 23V-181: Trailer Hitches

Park outsideReported Mar 17, 2023 · 584,784 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: 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.

Recall 23V-038: Structure

Reported Jan 31, 2023 · 16,104 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: 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.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Power Train25
Engine20
Electrical System14
Unknown or Other11
Vehicle Speed Control6
Forward Collision Avoidance6
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Service Brakes5
Exterior Lighting4
Trailer Hitches3
Lane Departure2
Visibility/Wiper2

Most reported parts

  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 2
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 2
  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 1
  • Lane Departure › Warning — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Throttle — 1
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 1
  • Tires › Sidewall — 1
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 7,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Unknown or Other · reported Nov 6, 2026
The integrated thermal management system has failed. This controls the temperature of the engine if the engine overheats this could cause engine failure which could cause the vehicle to be overheated while in traffic. Hyundai is aware of the issue and has issued a service bulletin, tab 23-EM-006h. And have been aware of this issue since 2023 I had the repair done and it was done under my 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty but they refuse to cover the cost
Suspension · reported Sep 14, 2026
Unknown. 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.
Electrical System · reported Sep 9, 2026
The push-to-open fuel filler door repeatedly failed to release, preventing refueling. 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. Cycling lock/unlock on the key fob while pressing the door sometimes freed it after several minutes; other times it would not open at all. No warning lamps or messages preceded the failures. A door that will not release means the vehicle…
Electrical System · reported Jul 27, 2026
my 2023 Santa Cruz had 7500 miles when purchased 4/25/26. 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. Since I've owned vehicle, it has been at dealer for 29 days tomorrow and it is still there. The truck is a death trap, always something wrong.
Electrical System · reported Jul 10, 2026
truck dash light would fade/blacken at which time none of safety features would work. This is an intermittent problem but seem like it has happened many times with the Santa Cruz's in general, so Hyundai was aware of problem. They don't seem to fix problems. This is a critical safety failure. No warning just happens. Had it happen to my truck about 7 times. When screen blackens, I have no safety features, can't see anything on dash, so I could get in a wreck

Other Hyundai Santa Cruz years

Compare all Hyundai Santa Cruz years · All Hyundai models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: 23V-181 (trailer hitches), 23V-038 (structure). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Owners report power train problems most often (25 reports), followed by engine (20). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 7,000 miles.

Are Hyundai recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Hyundai dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.