2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems

POWER TRAIN

The cars transmission has become very jerky at low speeds. The drive train will either hesitate or rev without power for a couple seconds. The problem started at around 14k miles.

NHTSA complaint #11755857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission failed. The dealership computer identified the failure with Safety Recall 236.

NHTSA complaint #11754830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

October 2025 while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, vehicle started bucking, losing power and then stalled. The check engine light did not come on. I was able to get off the side of the road and had it towed to the dealer. Dealer found injectors to be leaking and replaced all 4 GDI fuel injectors-mileage was 29,598. On July 1, 2026, again the same issue while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, it started bucking, losing power and stalling when slowed. This time the check engine light came on. Again, it was undrivable and had to be towed to the dealer. Dealer found after 15,000 miles, some of the new injectors failed and were leaking and all 4 GDI injectors were replaced again-mileage 44,492. Both times there was no warning signs that the fuel injectors were about to fail. No other tests were performed on the engine to find out why the fuel injectors are repeatedly failing. I have filed a report with Hyundai National Consumer Affairs because the vehicle will be out of warranty by the end of 2026, and the underlying issue has not been investigated nor resolved. I am concerned that once vehicle is out of warranty, a major issue with the engine will be found that caused repeated failure of the fuel injectors. I did request an extension of the warranty, but was told that normally doesn't happen.

NHTSA complaint #11749598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

October 2025 while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, vehicle started bucking, losing power and then stalled. The check engine light did not come on. I was able to get off the side of the road and had it towed to the dealer. Dealer found injectors to be leaking and replaced all 4 GDI fuel injectors-mileage was 29,598. On July 1, 2026, again the same issue while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, it started bucking, losing power and stalling when slowed. This time the check engine light came on. Again, it was undrivable and had to be towed to the dealer. Dealer found after 15,000 miles, some of the new injectors failed and were leaking and all 4 GDI injectors were replaced again-mileage 44,492. Both times there was no warning signs that the fuel injectors were about to fail. No other tests were performed on the engine to find out why the fuel injectors are repeatedly failing. I have filed a report with Hyundai National Consumer Affairs because the vehicle will be out of warranty by the end of 2026, and the underlying issue has not been investigated nor resolved. I am concerned that once vehicle is out of warranty, a major issue with the engine will be found that caused repeated failure of the fuel injectors. I did request an extension of the warranty, but was told that normally doesn't happen.

NHTSA complaint #11749598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

The tailgate of this vehicle opened by itself while driving and pulling a trailer. The key fob was stored safely in the cup holder of the vehicle. When I attempted to back the trailer into a driveway, the open tailgate was caught between the vehicle and the trailer, causing serious damage to the tailgate as well as the trailer that was being towed. If items that were stored in the bed of the vehicle had fallen out into the path of another vehicle or pedestrian, they could have been injured or killed. This problem has been reported to both my local Hyundai dealership as well as to the Hyundai Corporate Case Management group (HCCM). (case #[XXX] of the HCCM) The dealership attempted to reproduce the incident while the vehicle was parked in the shop and was unable to duplicate the condition that happened while driving on a rough public road, towing a trailer. No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11745564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving my vehicle on a two-lane highway, I experienced multiple sequential electronic system failures (including the vehicle no longer detecting the smart key), and all electronic systems on the car became inoperative. I lost all instrumentation, including my speedometer and tachometer. At the same time, I also experienced a loss of motive power, and the engine of the vehicle began running extremely erratically before completely cutting off. I attempted to make a safe stop on the side of the road, but after doing so, could not restart the vehicle. The electrical systems of the vehicle continued to behave erratically, and the engine would not restart. I contacted roadside assistance, but they were unable to start the vehicle as well. It was towed to my local Hyundai dealership, but instead of expressing any genuine concern for the significant risk I endured while being placed In harm's way, they refused to fully diagnose the vehicle, and instead accused me of "jumping in reverse," even though I did no such thing (and don't even know what that means). The dealership has no evidence to suggest any such event took place, and simply wants me to pay over $1,800 for replacement of the battery connection terminals, despite being in-warranty. Obviously, the vehicle was already running – there is no way that the dealership's false allegations could possibly be correct. I contacted Hyundai Motor America and was assigned a caseworker, but they were not interested in finding a resolution, and unable to compel the servicing dealership to perform a full diagnostic or provide warranty service. Feeling that I was running out of options for the vehicle to be properly diagnosed, I contacted the dealership where I purchased the car, and provided the photographic evidence & service documentation required. They agreed that there's no way that I could have created this issue, and that further investigation is warranted, but HMA only cares about money – not my or my family's safety.

NHTSA complaint #11745435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

While driving my vehicle on a two-lane highway, I experienced multiple sequential electronic system failures (including the vehicle no longer detecting the smart key), and all electronic systems on the car became inoperative. I lost all instrumentation, including my speedometer and tachometer. At the same time, I also experienced a loss of motive power, and the engine of the vehicle began running extremely erratically before completely cutting off. I attempted to make a safe stop on the side of the road, but after doing so, could not restart the vehicle. The electrical systems of the vehicle continued to behave erratically, and the engine would not restart. I contacted roadside assistance, but they were unable to start the vehicle as well. It was towed to my local Hyundai dealership, but instead of expressing any genuine concern for the significant risk I endured while being placed In harm's way, they refused to fully diagnose the vehicle, and instead accused me of "jumping in reverse," even though I did no such thing (and don't even know what that means). The dealership has no evidence to suggest any such event took place, and simply wants me to pay over $1,800 for replacement of the battery connection terminals, despite being in-warranty. Obviously, the vehicle was already running – there is no way that the dealership's false allegations could possibly be correct. I contacted Hyundai Motor America and was assigned a caseworker, but they were not interested in finding a resolution, and unable to compel the servicing dealership to perform a full diagnostic or provide warranty service. Feeling that I was running out of options for the vehicle to be properly diagnosed, I contacted the dealership where I purchased the car, and provided the photographic evidence & service documentation required. They agreed that there's no way that I could have created this issue, and that further investigation is warranted, but HMA only cares about money – not my or my family's safety.

NHTSA complaint #11745435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Loss of power from the engine while accelerating from a stop in heavy traffic. Car began shaking and sputtering with intermittent spurts of power, unable to exceed 10 mph on narrow bridge. Pulled over and the vehicle smelled heavily of gasoline near the engine. This issue is the Third instance of my engine sputtering and losing power. The first instance, injectors 2 & 4 were replaced. The second instance Injector 3 was replaced. I followed dealer recommendations and only used top tier gas from busy stations, and manufacturer technician recommended techron additive every 1000 miles. There have been two additional instances where the engine sputtered but regained power, with the dealer unable to replicate the issue.

NHTSA complaint #11742267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Loss of power from the engine while accelerating from a stop in heavy traffic. Car began shaking and sputtering with intermittent spurts of power, unable to exceed 10 mph on narrow bridge. Pulled over and the vehicle smelled heavily of gasoline near the engine. This issue is the Third instance of my engine sputtering and losing power. The first instance, injectors 2 & 4 were replaced. The second instance Injector 3 was replaced. I followed dealer recommendations and only used top tier gas from busy stations, and manufacturer technician recommended techron additive every 1000 miles. There have been two additional instances where the engine sputtered but regained power, with the dealer unable to replicate the issue.

NHTSA complaint #11742267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2022 HYUNDAI Santa Cruz. The contact stated while driving 74 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and turned the vehicle off and on and the vehicle began to work as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact then had the vehicle towed to another dealer where they informed her there were no recalls. The contact mention this failure has occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was repaired as the transmission was replaced twice. The manufacturer was notified on the failure, and they informed her to request a prior authorization from the dealer ship which was denied. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11741377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

After starting vehicle and shifting to Drive, the vehicle does not want to shift out of 1st gear and only accelerating to 25 to 30 mph. So far the only quick fix is to stop and turn the vehicle off and then restarting.

NHTSA complaint #11733691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

"The 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission and engine (Cylinder 4) failed on my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium AWD with 37,780 miles. Both components are available for inspection upon request. While merging onto the highway in Sport Mode, the vehicle experienced violent shuddering and noise so severe I believed I had multiple flat tires simultaneously — specifically both front and rear passenger side tires. I immediately activated hazard lights and exited the highway. I was unable to safely operate the vehicle. Other drivers on the highway were also put at risk by my sudden need to exit. The dealer has NOT been able to reproduce or confirm the transmission issue despite multiple documented visits over the past year. However, AutoZone confirmed diagnostic code P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected on March 19, 2026 via OBD-II scan. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the Hyundai dealership over the past year. Hyundai Motor America has an open case on this vehicle and has escalated it to their buyback department. The Check Engine Light illuminated during the highway incident then self-cleared. Transmission slipping, shuddering at low speeds, high RPMs at low vehicle speeds, and failure to shift properly have been reported to the dealer for over one year. This vehicle contains the identical DCT transmission covered under Hyundai Recall 236 but my VIN was excluded despite identical symptoms. Backup camera has also failed twice — a federally mandated safety device."

NHTSA complaint #11727301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"The 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission and engine (Cylinder 4) failed on my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium AWD with 37,780 miles. Both components are available for inspection upon request. While merging onto the highway in Sport Mode, the vehicle experienced violent shuddering and noise so severe I believed I had multiple flat tires simultaneously — specifically both front and rear passenger side tires. I immediately activated hazard lights and exited the highway. I was unable to safely operate the vehicle. Other drivers on the highway were also put at risk by my sudden need to exit. The dealer has NOT been able to reproduce or confirm the transmission issue despite multiple documented visits over the past year. However, AutoZone confirmed diagnostic code P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected on March 19, 2026 via OBD-II scan. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the Hyundai dealership over the past year. Hyundai Motor America has an open case on this vehicle and has escalated it to their buyback department. The Check Engine Light illuminated during the highway incident then self-cleared. Transmission slipping, shuddering at low speeds, high RPMs at low vehicle speeds, and failure to shift properly have been reported to the dealer for over one year. This vehicle contains the identical DCT transmission covered under Hyundai Recall 236 but my VIN was excluded despite identical symptoms. Backup camera has also failed twice — a federally mandated safety device."

NHTSA complaint #11727301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

"The 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission and engine (Cylinder 4) failed on my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium AWD with 37,780 miles. Both components are available for inspection upon request. While merging onto the highway in Sport Mode, the vehicle experienced violent shuddering and noise so severe I believed I had multiple flat tires simultaneously — specifically both front and rear passenger side tires. I immediately activated hazard lights and exited the highway. I was unable to safely operate the vehicle. Other drivers on the highway were also put at risk by my sudden need to exit. The dealer has NOT been able to reproduce or confirm the transmission issue despite multiple documented visits over the past year. However, AutoZone confirmed diagnostic code P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected on March 19, 2026 via OBD-II scan. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the Hyundai dealership over the past year. Hyundai Motor America has an open case on this vehicle and has escalated it to their buyback department. The Check Engine Light illuminated during the highway incident then self-cleared. Transmission slipping, shuddering at low speeds, high RPMs at low vehicle speeds, and failure to shift properly have been reported to the dealer for over one year. This vehicle contains the identical DCT transmission covered under Hyundai Recall 236 but my VIN was excluded despite identical symptoms. Backup camera has also failed twice — a federally mandated safety device."

NHTSA complaint #11727301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has an ongoing powertrain/transmission malfunction that occurs during cold starts. The vehicle will not upshift out of 1st gear and becomes stuck around 25 mph with the accelerator fully pressed. There are no warning lights or messages. The only way to temporarily fix the issue is to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and restart it. This creates a serious safety risk because I am unable to accelerate to normal traffic speeds when merging or crossing intersections. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. The issue has been brought to two Hyundai dealerships multiple times. One dealership replaced the entire transmission, and on a later visit they topped off the transmission fluid. Despite these repairs, the problem continues to occur. Hyundai corporate is involved and has an active case open, but the defect remains unresolved. The problem has not been consistently replicated by the dealers because it only occurs on cold starts, but it happens repeatedly in daily use.

NHTSA complaint #11700470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ALL SAFETY FEATURE WARNING ALERTS (3) OF THEM, SINCE IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CHECK ALL THAT APPLY THEY ARE THE FOLLOWING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, BLIND SPOT WARNING NOT WORKING, FORWARD COLLISON DETECTION NOT WORKING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING NOT WORKING, LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE NOT WORKING, PARKING COLLISION WARNING NOT WORKING REAR CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11698061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

ALL SAFETY FEATURE WARNING ALERTS (3) OF THEM, SINCE IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CHECK ALL THAT APPLY THEY ARE THE FOLLOWING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, BLIND SPOT WARNING NOT WORKING, FORWARD COLLISON DETECTION NOT WORKING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING NOT WORKING, LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE NOT WORKING, PARKING COLLISION WARNING NOT WORKING REAR CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11698061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

ALL SAFETY FEATURE WARNING ALERTS (3) OF THEM, SINCE IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CHECK ALL THAT APPLY THEY ARE THE FOLLOWING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, BLIND SPOT WARNING NOT WORKING, FORWARD COLLISON DETECTION NOT WORKING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING NOT WORKING, LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE NOT WORKING, PARKING COLLISION WARNING NOT WORKING REAR CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11698061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Cruz. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power but was unable to accelerate above 30 MPH. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was already repaired in 2022. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #11697511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Cruz. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power but was unable to accelerate above 30 MPH. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was already repaired in 2022. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #11697511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2nd replacement DCT transmission failed Loss of power while driving on the interstate , upon acceleration no increase in speed, went from 65mph to 38mph before able to pull off the highway. Intermittently it is not shifting, shuttering, hard reverse shift, hesitation from park into drive

NHTSA complaint #11681408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2nd replacement DCT transmission failed Loss of power while driving on the interstate , upon acceleration no increase in speed, went from 65mph to 38mph before able to pull off the highway. Intermittently it is not shifting, shuttering, hard reverse shift, hesitation from park into drive

NHTSA complaint #11681408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.