Hyundai
Santa Cruz
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · model years 2022 to 2025
Includes Santa Cruz AWD and Santa Cruz FWD as listed by the EPA.
The verdict
Best year: 2025. complaints: 16, below this model's typical 54; recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3.
Worst year: 2022. complaints: 174, about 3.2x this model's typical 54; recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3.
Year by year
| Year | Trims | MPG | HP | Fuel cost | Recalls | Complaints | Top complaints | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3Gas | 23 | 191 | $2,700 | 4 | 174 | POWER TRAIN 33%, ENGINE 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13% | |
Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2023 | 3Gas | 23 | 191 | $2,700 | 2 | 74 | POWER TRAIN 24%, ENGINE 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11% | |
Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2024 | 3Gas | 23 | 191 | $2,700 | 1 | 34 | POWER TRAIN 22%, ENGINE 12%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10% | |
Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
| 2025 | 3Gas | 24 | 191 | $2,600 | 3 | 16 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 45%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10% | |
Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better. | ||||||||
How the numbers moved
How we score each year
We compare each year of the Hyundai Santa Cruz to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.
A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.
Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.
Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.