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Hyundai Santa CruzModel year report

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Santa Cruz years

Too new to compare

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
5miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The part named most often is lane departure, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (2) and steering (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 5 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 18 technical service bulletins for this model year. Lane departure complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Lane departure: “The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message You May Want to Consider Taking a Break was displayed with an audible alert nine times during a thirteen-mile trip, causing a distraction. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the Lane Departure feature was built into the computer system and was unable to be disabled. The failure mileage was approximately 5.”

NHTSA complaint #11761596, filed 2026-09, 5 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and merging into highway traffic, the vehicle hesitated and surged forward after depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.”

NHTSA complaint #11734862, filed 2026-04

Steering: “The lake keep assist safety feature works inconsistently. Many times, the system has allowed my vehicle to cross the yellow or white lines, when it shouldn't have. Even worse, during wintertime, the vehicle gets confused as to what is road and what is not, jerking the vehicle in directions that it shouldn't be going (either off the road, or into incoming traffic). This is quite a violent jerk, so, unless the steering wheel is held steady with significant force, it could cause the vehicle to depart from the intended driving lane. …”

NHTSA complaint #11739509, filed 2026-05

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5 and 5 miles.

100%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 5 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

20265
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Santa Cruz · crew cab AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 16.4% risk
Santa Cruz · crew cab FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 16.4% risk

Neighbouring years: 2025: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic212924$2,800
Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic182520$3,350
Santa Cruz FWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic223025$2,700
Santa Cruz XRT AWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic182520$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 18 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 18 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Santa Cruz

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026553525—Too new
2025223,5223525—Too new
2024361,0001523Too new to compareToo new
2023795,5002523Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Too new
202218625,0004—23Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable

All Hyundai Santa Cruz model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is reported most often?

Lane departure is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 2.

Has the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 5 miles and the middle half falls between 5 and 5 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.