Hyundai Santa Cruz problems
174 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the transmission would not engage when shifted to reverse. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while entering the dealer. The…
* On the date of 12/13/23 my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz had a loss of power to the drivetrain on two occasions , once in a parking lot , second when merging into traffic. * I felt to drive the vehicle was a risk to myself and safety of others. * 12/21/23 is the last report of DTC.…
I brought in my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz to its first oil change at one of my local Hyundai dealers. the technician right away stated they needed to perform a software update otherways they would not be able to perform the oil change, I agreed to it, after 3 and a half hours I…
constantly states it does not work ever since the front license plate was installed. no way to disable it. it's either have a front plate or have no cruise control.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
On the NHTSA data, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 85 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 34,529 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 34,529 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Hyundai Santa Cruz has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 174 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.