OverviewSpecificationsPrice
Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD
Hyundai · Cars · 2023
Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD (2023)
71
⚠ 76 complaints
Status
Fair
Minor issues reported
Status Fair — 76 minor complaints on record with no safety recalls.
Specifications
Engine Size2.5 L
Fuel TypeRegular
Transmission8-speed automatic
Combined MPG23 MPG
Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD Comparison with Similar Vehicles
Hyundai Santa Cruz FWDHyundai Santa Cruz FWD (this vehicle)Hyundai Kona FWDHyundai Kona FWDToyota Corolla CrossToyota Corolla CrossGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon 2WDGMC Yukon 2WDBuick Encore GX AWDBuick Encore GX AWD
Price$25,650$23,000–$31,000———$27,900
Engine Capacity2.5 L2L2L3L3L1.3L
Fuel TypeRegularRegularRegularDieselDieselRegular
Transmission8-speed automaticAutomatic (AV-S1)Automatic (AV-S10)Automatic 10-spdAutomatic 10-spdAutomatic 9-spd
Body Typepickup truckSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
About

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD offers a practical blend of SUV versatility and truck utility with its compact pickup body style. It features a naturally aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder engine delivering 191 horsepower and a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission for your daily drives.

Pros
  • No recalls on record
  • Clean complaint history
  • Good highway MPG
  • Spacious dimensions
Cons
  • Below-average combined MPG
  • 76 complaints on record
Complaints76 total
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 ENGINE
low
driving/pulling on interstate speed only went to 20 miles per hour, no more. Pulled off and turned truck off, waited and restarted. all fine. No warning was given. Short time later engine light came on. Called and got appointment at dealers.
NHTSAUSJul 2026Source →
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
medium
truck dash light would fade/blacken at which time none of safety features would work. This is an intermittent problem but seem like it has happened many times with the Santa Cruz's in general, so Hyundai was aware of problem. They don't seem to fix problems. This is a critical safety failure. No warning just happens. Had it happen to my truck about 7 times. When screen blackens, I have no safety features, can't see anything on dash, so I could get in a wreck
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
high
Sudden Unintended Acceleration: Coming to a stop in a driveway and planning to put vehicle in to reverse, the Santa Cruz suddenly accelerated and kept accelerating ... it would not stop moving, brakes were applied continuously and forcefully, but with no effect. Vehicle crashed through shrubbery and small trees into neighbor's yard, over a retaining wall and finally crashing into neighbors parked classic car, only stopping after it nose-dived downward. We live in Rapid City, this event happened at our daughter's residence in Black Hawk, South Dakota.
NHTSAUSApr 2026Source →
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 ENGINE
medium
oil leak the oil leak has be too the dealer twice for repair each time they said it was fixed it has now has happend again for the third time in less than 306 miles could cause engine failure at highway speed and engine lockup at such speed first time it was found by dealer after third oil change approx. 15000 miles second 12000 miles later and now 306 miles latter with this time the leak was larger to to the fact that it triggerd the low oil light first two times it told to me it was oil pan gasket and a small leak which at the time made sense it not show up on the dipstick i know this was da problem on other Hyundai santa cruz models in previous years0
NHTSAUSFeb 2026Source →
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
low
While driving on the highway at a speed of approx 35 mph, no traffic in front of me, I got an audile warning and the car started slowing down, and the message on the dash said EMERGENCY BRAKING, this has happened twice in the last month.
NHTSAUSOct 2025Source →
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Status history
Safe→Fair18 Jun 2026
Lemon Score: 73. 59 data points. v3 scoring.
Certified→Safe6 Jun 2026
Lemon Score: 88. 7 data points. v3 scoring.
Uncertain→Certified27 May 2026
Lemon Score: 100. 0 data points. v3 scoring.
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