CarRecallWatchThe 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (2 reports).
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz recalls
Automatic Braking May Engage Without Warning
Software in the front cameras of certain 2025-2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid vehicles may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate too early and apply the brakes unexpectedly.
Instrument Panel May Fail, Hiding Speed and Warning Lights
A software error can cause the instrument panel display to fail, meaning critical information such as the speedometer or warning lights may not show.
Side curtain airbags may not deploy properly in a crash
Some of these vehicles may have side curtain airbags that were not installed properly.
Most common 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz problems
Problem areas named in the 5 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
What owners report
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.
I was traveling southbound on XXX from [XXX] to [XXX] While traveling in this major highway, the vehicle shunted forward and it felt like something hit us from behind. In reality, a transmission issue flared up on the dashboard along with a "Check Engine" light. Vehicle was left at the dealership. Blue Link (the automatic car system) detected this issue at 12:48 P.M. I was driving on a highway with other motorists when I had this issue. Only 3k miles! Brand new 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Thank God the person behind me was paying attention or there would have been a crash! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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. Moreover, when there is snow on the road, the violent jerks can actually send the vehicle into an uncontrollably spin! This feature could be a way to make driving s
The windshield washer fluid dispensing nozzles do not effectively cover the windshield. Almost all of the "spray" is in a very concentrated area of the lower windshield. The fluid squirts onto the two locations on the windshield and gets wiped away by the wipers as soon as they move. The rest of the windshield gets virtually no fluid applied. This causes a significant safety hazard under many conditions. Most notably: - During light precipitation when the windshield is mostly dry, but not wet enough to actually allow the wipers to clear road dust/dirt. - During wintertime when little of no snow is falling at the time. Salt and/or sand accumulate on the windshield and dry with no way to rewe
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.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz questions
Does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Automatic Braking May Engage Without Warning; Instrument Panel May Fail, Hiding Speed and Warning Lights; Side curtain airbags may not deploy properly in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (2), Lane Departure (2), Vehicle Speed Control (1).
How do I check if a recall on my 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.