2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1) · Steering (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Cruz model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking 2026-05-18 · campaign 26V316000 · 423,062 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
Risk: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2026-01-26 · campaign 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain 2025-11-20 · campaign 25V809000 · 258 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Risk: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Service bulletins (18)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-10-27 · 26-GI-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 improv
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 operatio
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-24 · 26-01-074H DCS · Warranty Program/Extension
certain tucson (nx4a) and santa cruz (nxt) vehicles may exhibit air bubbles forming on the surface of the dashboard (crash pad) due to poor adhesion caused by prolonged uv and heat exposure. technical service bulletin (tsb) 26-01-074h provides instructions to inspect the dashboard (crash pad) for bu
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-23 · 26-01-074H TSB · Warranty Program/Extension
certain tucson (nx4a) and santa cruz (nxt) vehicles may exhibit air bubbles forming on the surface of the dashboard (crash pad) due to poor adhesion caused by prolonged uv and heat exposure. this bulletin provides instructions to inspect the dashboard (crash pad) for bubbling and, if necessary, to u
Structure:body 2026-07-07 · 26-BD-003H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Power Train 2026-06-05 · 26-AT-005H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 (ind
Showing the 6 most recent of 18 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-02 · Lane Departure · 5 mi“the contact owns a 2026 hyundai santa cruz. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "you may want to consider taking a break" was displayed with an audible alert nine times during a thirteen-mile trip, causing a distraction. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the lane departure feature was bu…”
2026-06-06 · Power Train“i was traveling southbound on xxx from [xxx] to [xxx] while traveling in this major highway, the vehicle shunted forward and it felt like something hit us from behind. in reality, a transmission issue flared up on the dashboard along with a "check engine" light. vehicle was left at the dealership. blue link (the automatic car system) detected this …”
2026-05-22 · Visibility/Wiper“the windshield washer fluid dispensing nozzles do not effectively cover the windshield. almost all of the "spray" is in a very concentrated area of the lower windshield. the fluid squirts onto the two locations on the windshield and gets wiped away by the wipers as soon as they move. the rest of the windshield gets virtually no fluid applied. this …”
2026-05-22 · Steering“the lake keep assist safety feature works inconsistently. many times, the system has allowed my vehicle to cross the yellow or white lines, when it shouldn't have. even worse, during wintertime, the vehicle gets confused as to what is road and what is not, jerking the vehicle in directions that it shouldn't be going (either off the road, or into in…”
2026-04-30 · Vehicle Speed Control“the contact owns a 2026 hyundai santa cruz. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and merging into highway traffic, the vehicle hesitated and surged forward after depressing the accelerator pedal. the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacture…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.