VehicleVerdict

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 25 complaints on file for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 3 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

25

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

0

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other Santa Cruz years?

Santa Cruz NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted269 complaints2022: 269 complaints2023: 106 complaints2024: 51 complaints2025: 25 complaints2026: 6 complaints
Santa Cruz NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Santa Cruz years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance1560%
Electrical System312%
Brakes28%
Lighting28%
Other28%
Engine14%

Does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V316000Driver AssistanceMay 18, 2026 · 423,062 units

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.

Consequence

Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

25V809000AirbagsNovember 20, 2025 · 258 units

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.

Consequence

Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

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.

24V877000Electrical SystemNovember 20, 2024 · 42,465 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal.

Consequence

A transmission that can shift out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 273.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“This is an ongoing safety issue with a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited. The forward collision-avoidance system activates frequently and without cause during normal driving. The system will engage when another vehicle is simply turning, merging, or slowing down at a traffic light—normal,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · April 2, 2025 · crash

“I was driving on a highway at 55mph at night today 3/1/2026 and all of a sudden the headlights, instrumentation lights, and computer display went out, very scary, the all turned back on about 1.5 seconds later.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 1, 2026

“This is an ongoing safety issue with a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited. The forward collision-avoidance system activates frequently and without cause during normal driving. The system will engage when another vehicle is simply turning, merging, or slowing down at a traffic light—normal,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · April 2, 2025 · crash

“ I can not disable the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) function on this vehicle. The "Take a Break" warning comes up at random times for no apparent reason. I understand the functionality but it often gives false warnings, distracting me from the driving task. This car needs to the ability to shut…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · November 15, 2025

“I was driving on a highway at 55mph at night today 3/1/2026 and all of a sudden the headlights, instrumentation lights, and computer display went out, very scary, the all turned back on about 1.5 seconds later.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 1, 2026

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz — common questions

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The record is thin — 25 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 3 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 2025 Santa Cruz problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (15 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints), brakes (2 complaints).

Does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Hyundai Santa Cruz years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Santa Cruz years to avoid are 2022, 2023. The cleanest record among Santa Cruz years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.