9.9

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
267 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Owner Comments

problem #15

Jun 112024

Santa Cruz

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Truck stopped shifting corrrectly with 11550 miles. Would get stuck in 8th gear or 2nd gear. Shifting into manual mode produced no response. I brought it to the dealer 6/12 and upon receiving the P1c2d03 code, they told me it would be a hp oil pump. Looking the issue up, it seems the 2022's had this issue and required a new trans, not oil pump. A week later (6/20) dealer ship calls and says it's fixed with the oil pump. I go to collect my truck and don't make it out of the lot before it stumbles and gets stuck in 2nd gear again. Left it with the dealer again, but haven't heard anything since, and they won't return my calls. Currently 7/9 with no response.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #14

May 292024

Santa Cruz

  • miles
so it seems that recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 also effects 2023 santa cruz with the dct. While driving got transmission error on gauge once slowed by traffic vehicle would not shift and would just rev, after almost being hit by another car. figure out if you let it rev and then let off gas pedal car would upshift. But this was done by trial and error. this has happened 3 times and first 2 dealer says nothing wrong. code was p193b79. I think the recall to fix these transmissions should be expanded to 2023 and probably 2024 cars.

- Russiaville, IN, USA

problem #13

Mar 222024

Santa Cruz

  • miles
On 3/22/2024 I was driving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz with 19k miles about 30 mph. My transmission suddenly became jerky without warning and acted liked it did not want to downshift, staying in higher RPMs. When it did decide to downshift, it lurched the vehicle badly. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the incident. A few seconds after it happened, the check engine light came on, along with a diagnostic notification on my infotainment screen. This indicated a powertrain issue. I then received a notification on my Hyundai Bluelink App regarding a powertrain issue: "Transmission Control System problem, please see dealer".I dropped the vehicle off 3/27/2024 and As of this writing on 5/13/2024 my vehicle has been sitting at a local dealership for almost 50 consecutive days. In the 5 day period between 3/22-3/27 I was instructed it was OK to keep driving the vehicle until drop-off. I experienced 2 more instances of a rough downshift in that time. When I dropped the vehicle off on 3/27, I was told I could take the vehicle home and drive it until they figure out what to do with it and receive instruction from Hyundai Corporate. This was an extremely reckless and dangerous thing to tell me I feel. The local dealer claimed they had not seen this issue before, had to wait for Hyundai Corporate to instruct them on what to do, but a transmission replacement was possible. Eventually they were instructed to replace the transmission oil pump and do a software update. Research shows the 2022 model Santa Cruz had a recall for the transmission oil pump. Recall # 22V746000 "transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash". Yes I believe mine and my spouse's safety, and other's was/is at risk, as this happened as I was driving and there was a previous recall for this exact part. I have informed Hyundai Corporate America of the issue and waiting for responses and resolutions from them.

- North Zulch, TX, USA

problem #12

Sep 122023

Santa Cruz

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle has multiple engine misfires, resulting from faulty fuel injectors. Unable to maintain speed, vehicle controls become hard to control due to vehicles engine misfires. Vehicle has less ten 20,000 miles. Dealership unable to obtain new fuel injectors due to manufacture not having supply. Vehicle in shop longer for 30 days. Contacted Hyundai USA told that Hyundai knows about problem but has so plan to rectify situation.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #11

Aug 012023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
Vehicle has 2k miles on it and it experiences a loss of power from a stop when accelerating. The vehicle shakes as if it is not getting enough gas similar to a manual transmission if you took your foot off the clutch when the vehicle was in 1st gear. It happens about once a week at random times, no codes produced. Dealership advises with no codes displayed and their inability to recreate the concern there is nothing the manufacturer will allow them to do. Dealership has had the vehicle for over 3 weeks. This is becoming a more common issue, yet nothing is being done by manufacturer to address for consumers. If my wife or I are operating the vehicle and cannot get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle due to a sudden loss of acceleration this poses a great risk for serious bodily harm or injury.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #10

Jul 052023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
My new 2023 Santa Cruz lost power on freeway. The dealer performed a transmission software update; however, the issue was significantly worse after the upgrade, causing me to lose power again on a busy freeway. The vehicle was towed back to dealer. Today I was told the transmission needs replacement. Transmission failure is a dangerous safety issue. It-??s my understanding that the 2022 Santa Cruz was recalled for transmission issues. Please do the same for the 2023 model so others don-??t experience the terror of suddenly dropping power while surrounded by 65 mph+ cars. Thank you.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 132023

Santa Cruz

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The dual clutch transmission frequently, though not consistently, malfunctions under acceleration. Typically, when accelerating from a stop, when the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, the clutch will slip causing a sudden loss of acceleration and shaking of the vehicle. Hyundai calls this a "judder". This causes a safety issue to myself and others because of the unexpected sudden loss of power. If this occurs while crossing another street or pulling out into traffic, it could lead to a collision. I took the vehicle in to Hyundai to have it fixed. They claim to have performed what they called a "judder test" and said that the car passed the test and didn't need any repairs. There have been no warning lights or codes. It is clear to me that Hyundai's testing procedure is inadequate to detect the issue, probably just so they don't have to pay for as many repairs.

- Hampton, IL, USA

problem #8

Jun 232023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
Upon pulling onto a street, the vehicle lost power. Pressing on the gas pedal provided no power or faster RPM's. No warning lights were activated. I pulled in and out of two different side streets with very little power. Parked and shut off the vehicle. Restarted and the power returned. This is very unsafe as I was pulling out on a busy street and was unable to accelerate faster than 20 mph. Contacted the dealership and they cannot see the vehicle for nearly a month from now.

- Westwood, MA, USA

problem #7

Jun 032023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
As I was driving the call 4 times has turned off in the middle of the road. An error message pops up and stays to put the car in neutral and to push the start button to start it. This has nearly caused an accident because it happens when I am driving. The vehicle also threw out error code P023600 Twice and had the check engine light on. The service department has not been able to recreate the issue.

- Denver , CO, USA

problem #6

Jun 062023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
coolant temperature gauge keeps fluctuating between midpoint and cold. engine light is on. dealership has no remedy.

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

problem #5

Feb 222023

Santa Cruz 4-cyl

  • 4,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated while slowing down at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle downshifted roughly and would jolt while shifting into gear. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the RPMs would remain high while he was at a complete stop. The contact stated that the RPMs would rise above 3,000 RPM while depressing the brake pedal, and he would turn the vehicle off to stop the engine from revving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The part was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. The contact stated that the information in this complaint is inaccurate. The manufacturer has resolved the issue now so the contact would like to withdraw this complaint.

- Flushing Twp, MI, USA

problem #4

Feb 102023

Santa Cruz 4-cyl

  • miles
On February 10, 2023, I was driving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz on Interstate 10 near Gautier, Mississippi. My cruise control was activated and I was cruising at a speed of about 76mph. Suddenly the vehicle began to rev up to 7,000 RPMs and decelerate. The vehicle then began to coast at around 45mph and pressing the accelerator did not increase the speed but did cause the vehicle to rev. I was able to coast down the off-ramp and turn into a parking lot, however I was nearly hit by oncoming traffic because the vehicle was losing power and I was unable to accelerate. Hyundai Roadside Assistance towed me to the nearest dealership with service center, Jason Pilger Hyundai. By the time the tow truck arrived, the vehicle would not accelerate at all and the driver had to push the vehicle around to the tow truck. After assessing the vehicle, the Hyundai dealership called Hyundai Tech Line and told me that my 2023 Santa Cruz needed a new transmission. The transmission is also on backorder, so I have no idea when my vehicle will be repaired. Hyundai Customer Care is also refusing to reimburse me the cost of my car payment for a brand new vehicle that I will be unable to drive or access for the foreseeable future. My Santa Cruz only had 5,337 on the odometer when this occurred.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #3

Feb 092023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
The car has 1,360 miles and is only a month old since I bought it. Car sat for 8 hours at my work parking lot. When I went to start it it ran rough like an engine misfire for about 10 seconds then normal. When I drove off with engine cold... the transmission would not shift up and was at 4,000 rpms. The accelerator pedal was not responsive.. even flooring it yielded no acceleration and the car would not go over 25mph. No check engine lights or trouble lights. I was able to put the automatic into paddle shift mode but the car still did not want to accelerate and when it did it seemed to get stuck at 3500-4000 rpm and no accelerator input. Shut the car off then back on again after I pulled over because the car would not accelerate. - now it is fine with no issues it seems like. Took to the dealer and they could not recreate the issue.. no trouble codes or open flash information available for a fix.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 042023

Santa Cruz

  • miles
Sat Feb 4 2023.There is a safety issue I have.with fact I left walmart pulled out into traffic went to 20 miles hour would not go any faster let off gas 3 times pushed and it finally took off this car has less than 3,000 Miles on it the only gd thing was I was on side street could only imagine. Pulling in in to traffic moving over 50 mph and getting hit.my wife drives it more than I do.I asked her about this weekend she said it's started doing more and more so it's happening more often. I am taking it to dealer. But therr is no service lights on on dash it's bothers me alot but she has to go to work and so do I she is nurse

- Lapel, IN, USA

problem #1

Nov 062022

Santa Cruz 4-cyl

  • miles
On 11/6/2022, while driving the vehicle, it suffered a loss of power and would not accelerate. I was in the vehicle with my wife and 2 young children who felt the vehicle shudder. I was able to drive the vehicle to my home. On 11/7/2022, upon starting the vehicle, I received an error notice from the internal diagnostics system: transmission control P087501 POWERTRAIN TCU. System advised to have vehicle serviced immediately. Vehicle was towed to nearest Hyundai dealership. Further information awaited.

- Malverne, NY, USA

Not what you are looking for?