2025 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
3,523 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 18 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 27.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Adas:Driver Monitoring:Camera/Sensor | 1 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Adas:Driver Monitoring:Camera/Sensor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2024: 2; 2025: 10; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11625321 · 2024-11-14 (November 14, 2024)
While driving at highway speeds with Smart Cruise Control set during the day I put on sunglasses and the driver attention system turned off the system 6 seconds later. I repeated this event set several times at various speeds and driving conditions with the same 6 second failure result. I made the dealership aware of this and verified it with them in the vehicle. Apparently, system uses an IR camera to determine driver attention level via eye contact and does not work with most sunglasses. This seems to be a safety issue the dealership (or the…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11632452 · 2024-12-26 (December 26, 2024)
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a Driver Forward Attention Warning system. The steering column has a camera that monitors the driver's eyes and face to make sure the driver is watching the road while the cruise control is engaged. The feature shuts down the cruise control if it assesses the driver is not paying attention to the road. The feature does not account for the driver wearing sunglasses, however. It still shuts down the cruise system even if the driver is paying attention while wearing sunglasses. The feature can be disabled on the ins…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11632452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11636902 · 2025-01-19 (January 19, 2025)
Vehicle is constantly slamming on the brakes when leaving a parking garage. Users have to turn the feature off every single time we enter our vehicle instead of it being saved to our profile. 2023 model allowed us to select warning sound only if we preferred. I'd hate to see this feature activate while it's raining. It is wayyy too sensitive even with the late timing option selected. Only a matter of time before this feature causes at fault wrecks. Hyundai needs to make this feature optional to the user at least
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11636902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11638148 · 2025-01-23 (January 23, 2025)
After driving vehicle for 20-30 minutes. I receive on the dashboard an error message that the Driver Assistance System is not working properly. This has happen even if the sensor is clear of any type of debris or objects.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11638148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11650862 · 2025-03-26 (March 26, 2025)
Since day one of purchasing the vehicle brand new, the Automatic Emergency Braking engages for basically no reason. The system is way too sensitive and will engage the brakes out of nowhere. This is very dangerous because the vehicle will come to a stop and it's only a matter of time when this happens and then get rear ended. Please address this issue, it's a major problem. Also, the Forward Collision Warning is way too sensitive too. Please have Hyundai fix these issues.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11650862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11653345 · 2025-04-08 (April 8, 2025)
-Brake pedal feels unsmooth in temperatures below 75-80 (mainly below 70) degrees as well as extremely noisy squeaking / creaking sounds accompanied. Inspection is always available. -I currently don't believe there is any safety risk to the issue I'm experiencing, but rather that it's unknown if there is one. I'm just being told there is no safety concern while also being told the issue I'm experiencing has never been heard or seen before on any previous model of Santa Cruz (that my local dealer has experienced). -The issue has been reproduce…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11653345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11680808 · 2025-08-15 (August 15, 2025)
Make: Hyundai • Model: Santa Cruz • Year: 2025 • Trim: Limited • Mileage: 2600 miles • Date of Purchase: July 2025 Description of the Problem: I am reporting a safety issue with the Forward Attention Warning (FAW) system on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, which unexpectedly disables Smart Cruise Control (SCC) during highway driving. The FAW system, which uses an in-cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness, frequently misinterprets normal driving behavior, such as wearing polarized sunglasses or holding the steering wheel at the 12 o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11680808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11685527 · 2025-09-07 (September 7, 2025)
Consider taking a break warning triggers continually; sometimes as frequently as every other minute causing distraction during driving. It has occurred since purchasing vehicle. Dealership says can not disable.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11685527 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
24V877000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2024-11-20 (November 20, 2024)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal.
Consequence: A transmission that can shift out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 273.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V809000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain
Reported: 2025-11-20 (November 20, 2025)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Consequence: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V316000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Reported: 2026-05-18 (May 18, 2026)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
Consequence: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.
NHTSA campaign record ↗