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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is associated with 77 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 17 reports (22% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 23 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 77 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Powertrain (17 / 22%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 2 crash / 3 fire / 1 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 22–23 MPG across 3 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Santa Cruz FWD 2.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 22 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Santa Cruz AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 21 MPG 25 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Santa Cruz AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 19 MPG 27 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
PU/CC FWD 16.400000000000002%
PU/CC AWD 16.400000000000002%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard & Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz models.
View complete 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Summary of 77 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
77
Crash Reports
2
Fire Reports
3
Complaints w/ Injury
1
Total Injuries
1

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 17 complaints
Engine 8 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 3 complaints
TRAILER HITCHES 3 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems & component breakdown (36 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V181000 Active Recall
Affected Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #23V038000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Defect Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

How many safety recalls does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz have?

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

NHTSA records list 77 consumer defect complaints for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Powertrain, appearing in 17 filings (22% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz range from 22 to 23 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.