2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Vehicle intermittently drops into a “Limp Mode” while driving. Speed becomes restricted at 20 mph and engine RPM locks at 2000 RPM. Cannot accelerate when pressing on gas pedal. No engine lights come on when this occurs. Turning ignition off and restarting temporarily resets the computer and clears speed cap. Has happened 4 times since purchased. Has strong coolant smell and occasionally rotten egg smell. This is a safety hazard! Dealership has offered no solution other than if it happens again to pull over, call tow truck, leave car running and get it to them. Opened complaint with corporate. No help. I am afraid to drive my car. This could cause a major accident and harm myself or others. Asked dealership if they could contact an engineer and was told no.

NHTSA ID

11776081

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

My 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz didn't deploy the side curtain airbags when struck on the front passenger side. I was the passenger seated where the car impacted and my head hit the window without the airbags in which I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and have become disabled. I'm attaching the supporting documentation regarding the accident and vehicle which was determined to be totaled. Pictures from the repair estimate company indicate where the vehicle's airbag sensors are located and show the airbags didn't deploy. If they would have deployed, it would have saved me from this life changing injury with life-long consequences.

NHTSA ID

11774489

Incident

Oct 3, 2024

I have had one Transmission and the tow hitch wiring harness replaced once from recalls. The tow hitch wiring harness is failing and all the warning lights are failing. The transmission is slipping upon takeoff and will rev at elevated RMS on the highway at times. When in reverse it will still move forward at times and on a hill it rolls back. The breaks have slammed on (for no reason) a couple of times while on the highway. It has also lost power. No check engine lights are on at this time. The warning lights for wiring harness are on at all times. I had it looked at last week and I had to pay $400.00 but they never drove it and said the wiring harness is no longer their responsibility.

NHTSA ID

11767298

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

While driving on a 170 mile trip at mostly high speed, when reducing speed near destination the engine suddenly shut off while traveling at 35 mph. Dashboard lights and alarms occurred indicating engine was off. Was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop. Was very lucky this occurred in an area where I could bring the car safely to a stop. No indication of engine trouble or any alert lights proceeded the engine shut down. Was able to restart the car and safely reach destination. Was also able to do 170 mile return trip without incident. I reported this directly to Hyundai through their app. Scheduled appointment with dealer to check the vehicle. Inspection and diagnostics at Hyundai dealer revealed nothing. This occurrence was obviously very dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11765981

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving on I-95 and approaching a stopped vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, and the automatic emergency braking system engaged. Upon depressing the accelerator pedal to accelerate when traffic started moving, the emergency braking light remained illuminated, and an alarm sounded even after the preceding vehicle drove away. The automatic emergency braking system failed to disengage, causing the vehicle to be rear-ended by an ambulance. The contact sustained body soreness from head to feet and whiplash but had not yet received medical treatment. The ambulance air bags deployed, and the ambulance was undrivable. The vehicle was taken to an autobody shop, where an estimate was provided. The contact believed that the vehicle would be totaled, but the insurance company had not yet evaluated the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ID

11763570

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Mileage

57,000 mi

My INTEGRATED THERMAL MANAGEMENT (ITM) module went bad in my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. I notified Hyundai about it and found out there are several service bulletins related to this part. My truck was outside the bumper-to-bumper warranty, so I had to pay over $1000.00 to get it replaced. I think it's shitty that Hyundai knows there is an issue with part on 2022-2023 Santa Cruz's and aren't willing to cover it. On top of that, the ECU has to re-calibrated after the repair, which didn't allow me to replace the part myself.

NHTSA ID

11763482

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

In approximately late 2024, at just under 30,000 miles, the vehicle lost motive power while driving on the interstate. Multiple warning lights illuminated and the vehicle lost drive shortly afterward, leaving me unable to accelerate in traffic. The vehicle was then serviced under Recall 236 (NHTSA 22V-746) for the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission high-pressure oil pump. The remedy performed was a transmission control unit software update only; the transmission was not replaced. I do not have the exact dates and am reporting these as approximate. The vehicle now has approximately 99,700 miles. It has developed hesitation and dragging on drive-off within the first half mile of every trip and at low speed in town, resolving once the transmission is warm, with no check engine light or warning lamp. The selling dealer had the vehicle approximately 35 days across two repair orders without diagnosing the condition. The repairs performed were a cylinder 3 spark plug/oil repair and dropping and cleaning the fuel tank, neither of which resolved the complaint. I have run non-ethanol fuel exclusively since the vehicle was returned and the condition is unchanged. I am taking the vehicle to a different Hyundai dealer and have opened a case with Hyundai. I am filing this report because the software-only remedy may not be adequate for this transmission. Roughly two years and 70,000 miles after that repair, the same transmission is again showing drivability problems, and other owners may experience the same loss of power.

NHTSA ID

11763142

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

Vehicle in the middle of turning in to a hazardous highway lost power and then began to drive sluggish at 20 miles per hour skipping. It acted like the fuel injectors were not allowing it to get fuel. After having some one check it is exactly what was wrong.. It he vehicle had not caught up I would be dead as an oncoming vehicle did not realize the care was not moving.

NHTSA ID

11762676

Incident

Sep 5, 2026

This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.

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. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and maintenance history. Hyundai recommends following the prescribed maintenance schedule and periodically checking the engine oil level using the dipstick to maintain proper engine oil level.

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 committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the Wiper Motor Crank Arm Nut under these conditions has been extended to 10 years/100,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever occurs first) and is valid for original and subsequent owners.

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 underside of the tonneau cover. This bulletin provides instructions to inspect and, if necessary, repair the tonneau cover function using the Tonneau Cover Repair Kit or by replacing the tonneau handle and latch assembly.

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 for the wiper motor crank arm nut under this condition to 10 years / 100,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever comes first) and is valid for original and subsequent owners.

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 for the wiper motor crank arm nut under this condition to 10 years / 100,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever comes first) and is valid for original and subsequent owners. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the wiper motor crank arm nut to address this condition.