NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 5 recalls, 16 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
22–25 mpg combined
9.4–10.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2025 Santa Cruz, the dominant complaint pattern centers on the forward collision avoidance system behaving unexpectedly. Owners frequently report the system triggering false alerts or activating emergency braking during routine traffic situations, a car turning, merging, or slowing at a light, where no real hazard exists. Several owners also describe the driver attention warning generating unprompted "take a break" alerts that they find distracting and can't disable. Electrical and exterior lighting complaints round out the complaint set at lower volume: one owner describes a loud pop from the engine compartment followed by sudden loss of power steering and brakes, and a couple of owners report headlights that leave portions of the road inadequately lit, particularly on downhill approaches.
16
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
By System
Recalls 1 and 2 describe the same defect. Recalls 4 and 5 describe the same defect. So there are effectively 3 distinct issues. Word count target: 190-280 words.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 5 recalls, the most serious being improperly routed wiring in the center console that allows the transmission to be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake pedal, creating a rollaway risk.
The same wiring routing problem that enables the unintended gear shift also disables the shift lock, a safety feature specifically designed to prevent the vehicle from moving when the driver's foot is not on the brake. A vehicle that rolls away unexpectedly in a parking lot or driveway can move without any driver input to steer or stop it.
A separate software issue affects the forward collision avoidance system, where a bug in the front camera software can cause the automatic emergency braking to activate without warning. A sudden, unexpected stop triggered by the vehicle itself raises the risk of being rear-ended by following traffic or losing control on a highway.
The third issue involves the side curtain airbags, which on certain vehicles may not have been installed correctly. A curtain airbag that is improperly seated can fail to deploy fully along the side window in a crash, reducing the protection it provides to occupants in a side impact or rollover. The airbag may inflate partially or not at all, leaving occupants more exposed to injury from window glass or intruding objects.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
Front camera software may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate unexpectedly and apply the brakes without warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the front camera software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side curtain airbags may not have been installed correctly, which could prevent them from inflating properly during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealership will reinstall the side curtain airbags to ensure they are properly secured.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Side curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, preventing them from deploying in a crash as designed.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Center console extension wiring may be routed improperly and contact the shift lever lock release, allowing the transmission to shift out of Park without braking.
What the fix does
Dealership will reroute the center console extension wiring to prevent contact with the shift lever lock release.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The console extension wiring may be routed incorrectly, allowing the transmission to shift out of Park without pressing the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
