2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

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.

NHTSA ID

11764066

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

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 cannot be refueled, which can strand the driver or cause a loss of motive power in traffic. Owners of other 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles report the same failure online, including at least one tow after an owner could not refuel. An authorized Hyundai dealer inspected the vehicle twice. On 08/29/2026 (24,410 miles) the dealer could not reproduce the concern and lubricated the latch pins. The failure returned within days. On 09/09/2026 (24,520 miles) the dealer confirmed the concern, found the electronic release motor had failed and the door housing assembly seized, and replaced the housing (part 81595-K5500) under the 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, documenting the repair with photos per Hyundai's warranty policy. The failed component remained with the dealer; both repair orders are available on request. Hyundai already addresses this failure on the related Tucson: TSB 25-BE-021H covers the same fuel filler door release actuator on 2022-2024 models, and its official repair video is titled for both the Tucson and Santa Cruz, indicating a shared component and known failure mode. No Santa Cruz bulletin or remedy has been published. I ask NHTSA to track this as a defect trend.

NHTSA ID

11763194

Incident

Aug 29, 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.

NHTSA ID

11753189

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

driving/pulling on interstate speed only went to 20 miles per hour, no more. Pulled off and turned truck off, waited and restarted. all fine. No warning was given. Short time later engine light came on. Called and got appointment at dealers.

NHTSA ID

11749495

Incident

Jul 8, 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

NHTSA ID

11749492

Incident

Jun 5, 2026

Sudden Unintended Acceleration: Coming to a stop in a driveway and planning to put vehicle in to reverse, the Santa Cruz suddenly accelerated and kept accelerating ... it would not stop moving, brakes were applied continuously and forcefully, but with no effect. Vehicle crashed through shrubbery and small trees into neighbor's yard, over a retaining wall and finally crashing into neighbors parked classic car, only stopping after it nose-dived downward. We live in Rapid City, this event happened at our daughter's residence in Black Hawk, South Dakota.

NHTSA ID

11733854

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

oil leak the oil leak has be too the dealer twice for repair each time they said it was fixed it has now has happend again for the third time in less than 306 miles could cause engine failure at highway speed and engine lockup at such speed first time it was found by dealer after third oil change approx. 15000 miles second 12000 miles later and now 306 miles latter with this time the leak was larger to to the fact that it triggerd the low oil light first two times it told to me it was oil pan gasket and a small leak which at the time made sense it not show up on the dipstick i know this was da problem on other Hyundai santa cruz models in previous years0

NHTSA ID

11719745

Incident

Feb 21, 2026

At least two separate wiring harnesses have failed on my vehicle, affecting the tail lights. My vehicle cannot pass New York State safety inspection because of this issue. Safety of myself and other drivers is at risk, especially at night, since my vehicle is not properly illuminated. Occasionally, one tail light will go out or flicker. I had one trailer harness removed under a safety recall, but I don't recall the dealership ever replacing it. Then, a couple of years later, I got a ticket for a tail light being out. Paid the dealership to replace a (possibly second) trailer wiring harness, but they got the wrong one. When they finally got the "right" one, another (possible 3rd), much more expensive harness was found to be shorted due to corrosion, prompting me to look into trading the vehicle in instead of repairing it. All harness issues in question are related to corrosion from water infiltration. The technician working on my vehicle told me that this is a common issue with Santa Cruzes and Tucson's, but only certain vehicles have been recalled (of course, mine was not on the list). My vehicle is only 3 years old. This is all after having the dealership replace a harness under the seat that was causing an issue with the audio, including safety notifications, that started within weeks of owning the vehicle. No warning lights, messages faults, or other symptoms indicated there was an issue. Self diagnostics, as accessed via Hyundai's BlueLink app, has no record of issues since the first wiring harness issues I had when I first bought the vehicle (see below). I have already filed a separate complaint regarding the harness under the seat. This is a new complaint regarding wiring harnesses, unrelated to the first underseat harness complaint.

NHTSA ID

11714053

Incident

Mar 7, 2025

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. Follow the procedure in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-BD-007H to replace the wiper motor crank arm nut to address this condition.

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.

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.

This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Some 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise, drivability concerns may occur. This service procedure should be performed prior to any 8WDCT replacements done for drivability/judder concerns.