Model year 2023 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz at 22–23 mpg combined across 3 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 79 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
2
EPA combined mpg
22–23
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, newest first.
Trailer hitches
NHTSA 23V181000Reported Mar 17, 2023Park outside
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 244)
Units affected
584,784 (estimate)
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.
Remedy
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.
Structure: Body: Roof and pillars and 1 more component
NHTSA 23V038000Reported Jan 31, 2023
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 241)
Components
Structure: Body: Roof and pillars; Structure: Critical fasteners
Units affected
16,104 (estimate)
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.
Remedy
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
16.4%
Standard & Optional
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
16.4%
Standard & Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz owner complaints
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, most recently on Sep 14, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Power train
25
Engine
20
Electrical system
14
Unknown or other
10
Fuel/propulsion system
6
Service brakes
5
Vehicle speed control
5
Exterior lighting
4
Trailer hitches
3
Air bags
2
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
