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2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

34 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (32% of complaints).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)90
Severity (30%)75
Recall load (20%)95
Trend (10%)60

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20232026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miSpeed control~5k mi · 5 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (11) · Engine (6)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Transmission & drivetrain

32%

11 complaints · 9 in the last 2 years

Sporadically, when shifting from first to second gear, the engine/transmission will stall, causing a loss of power for several seconds. This is generally when pulling …

Engine

18%

6 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years

My truck lost power climbing a pass. My speed dropped from 60 mph to 20 mph while on a state highway outside Yellowstone NP where traffic can be heavy. My error codes …

Speed control

15%

5 complaints · typically near 5k mi · 3 in the last 2 years

Contact owns 2024 Honda Santa Cruz. The contact stated while driving 45 mph on the highway vehicle wasn't responding while accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact…

Fuel system

12%

4 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

Very strong fuel smell coming from parked vehicle after filling the Gas Tank. After driving 40 miles to remove approximately 1/4 of a the Tank, fumes are gone. 1/06/20…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Steering · 24V412000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The circuit board in the motor-driven power steering assembly may short circuit, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.

Risk: A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 261.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2024 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2024? See how every Santa Cruz model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.