2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a sudden loss of power or hesitation while accelerating, usually linked by dealers to the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and sometimes to fuel injectors. Many of these complaints were filed in the first several thousand miles, and several owners note that the dealer could not reproduce the problem or that a software update or part replacement did not resolve it. A smaller but consistent set of complaints covers water entering the tonneau cover, weak or oddly aimed headlights, and windshield washer coverage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power / limp mode while driving

   • 25 complaints (32%)
   • median 7,401 mi at 1.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the truck dropping to roughly 20-30 mph with the pedal pressed, sometimes with high RPMs but no acceleration, and often with no warning light beforehand. In many accounts the vehicle returns to normal after shutting it off and restarting, which makes it hard for the dealer to duplicate; some dealers found no fault, while others pointed to the transmission or to fuel injectors and replaced parts. Complaints also describe misfires and rough running traced to fuel injectors, with parts reportedly in short supply. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to roughly 38,000 miles, often during acceleration from a stop or while at highway speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for the full service history and whether any transmission control unit software updates or injector replacements were done. A long test drive that includes several stops and hard accelerations can help you see whether the hesitation or power loss shows up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11508541, filed 2023-02

   “On 3 separate occasions this has occurred . When accelerating, the engine or power train completely loses all propulsion. Twice I was starting a left hand turn and crossing oncoming traffic. On one occasion I was turning right onto a 50 MPH highway and quickly veered off the road onto the berm. The only item on dash board flashing on the third incident was the cruise control preset and it was flashing 20. At the time I was not using the cruise control and I did not set it for 20. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11619977, filed 2024-10
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Dual-clutch transmission jerking, slipping, stuck in gear

   • 15 complaints (19%)
   • median 4,000 mi at 0.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners describe jerking and lurching on 1-2 shifts, clutch slip under acceleration, delayed engagement, and the transmission sticking in a gear or failing to shift at all. Some report a check-engine light or transmission error message and codes related to the transmission oil pump, and dealers responded with software updates, sensor or pump work, or in some cases transmission replacement. Several owners say the problem came back after the first repair. Often reported within the first several thousand miles, with some cases around 11,000-19,000 miles; described as intermittent rather than constant.

   9 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any transmission control unit software update or transmission replacement has been performed, and request the repair invoices. During a test drive, pay attention to low-speed starts and stop-and-go shifting for shudder or delay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11530760, filed 2023-07

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11588397, filed 2024-05
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Dim or poorly aimed headlights and weak washer spray

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners of halogen-equipped trucks describe the low-mounted headlights as dim, with a dark area on the road ahead and a field of view that makes night driving harder. Separately, owners report the windshield washer nozzles spraying only at the bottom of the glass, and at least one dealer said the nozzles are not adjustable. Typically noted early in ownership and in everyday night or wet-weather driving rather than tied to a specific mileage.

   What to check: Drive the truck at night before buying and check the low-beam pattern on an unlit road, and test the washer spray at a standstill and at speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The windshield washer spray nozzles do not provide proper coverage to clean the windshield. They spray almost directly at the very bottom of the windshield while at rest, and it's even worse when at speed. I had the dealer check it out. They originally told me they adjusted the spray nozzles, but when I picked up the vehicle, the problem was still there. So I brought the vehicle back to the dealership. This time, they told me that these nozzles are not adjustable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11502290, filed 2023-01

   “*Headlights are not shining correctly. Traveling on a two lane highway, a big black spot covers the whole left lane, about 75 yards. No black spot on traveling lane Driving on a curve road in a subdivision, your eyes follows the black spot , instead of paying attention the road. This is a bad scenario for a accident. I do not know if oncoming traffic sees the black spot or not. *This has a known safety issue that was not disclosed to me at the time of purchase. It has been well documented all over the Internet since 2021. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11521056, filed 2023-05

Buying note. The complaints for this model year center on the dual-clutch transmission and intermittent power loss, so ask for repair records and confirm any software updates or transmission work. A thorough test drive with repeated low-speed starts and a check of the bed for water leaks covers most of what owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.