Which Years Of Used Hyundai Santa Cruz Vehicles Are Most Reliable?
Hyundai Santa Cruz by Elise240SX - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Truck fans have had two main options to choose from for quite some time now: midsize and full-size pickup trucks. However, the current trend for full-size pickup trucks keeps getting larger, making them harder to fit in the garage or park. Due to the trend of larger full-size trucks, midsize and compact pickup trucks are picking up in popularity with consumers.
It makes sense.
Let’s face it, a great deal of pickup trucks are used as lifestyle vehicles and daily drivers. Since full-size trucks are becoming too large for many buyers, midsize and compact pickup models are the next best things if you want a smaller truck. And when it comes to smaller lifestyle trucks, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is undoubtedly one of the more intriguing options.
The Santa Cruz car-based pickup truck shares its underpinnings with the Tucson. It’s similar in concept to the Honda Ridgeline, but the Santa Cruz is smaller. This pickup truck is interesting because it drives like a car with fun driving dynamics like easy maneuverability and responsive handling. But is the Santa Cruz pickup reliable?
THE HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ YEARS TO AVOID
If you’re interested in this car, it’s helpful to know the worst years to avoid turning your purchase into a hassle for your life. You might wonder - what are the Hyundai Santa Cruz years to avoid?
As of this writing, only two Santa Cruz model years are currently available. And if you’re buying used, your only choice comes down to the 2022 Santa Cruz. Is it the most reliable Hyundai Santa Cruz year? Let’s find out.
Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz Reliable?
Over the years, Hyundai has successfully established itself as a reliable brand. According to RepairPal, as a car manufacturer, Hyundai has a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 and is currently ranked 4th out of 32 car brands, behind Kia. One main factor contributing to the brand’s reliability is an affordable annual ownership cost of $468. Having said that, the Hyundai Santa Cruz shares some of that reliability but has a wide range of issues.
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2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Reliability Ratings
The Santa Cruz was quite the gamble for the South Korean company, but it obviously paid off because it’s selling well. Plus, the truck was well-received by critics and consumers alike, although there were several things people didn’t like, including a smaller truck bed than the Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline.
But what about its reliability? According to J.D. Power, the 2022 Santa Cruz has a predicted reliability score of 83 out of 100, rated Great. On the other hand, Consumer Reports scored the 2022 Santa Cruz a low reliability verdict of 2.0 out of 5.0. The Santa Cruz truck performed well on several major trouble spots, such as:
- Engine major and minor
- Engine cooling
- Fuel system
- Electric system
- Drive system
- Suspension/steering
- Climate system
- Brakes
Conversely, the Santa Cruz struggled in the paint/trim, transmission major, and transmission minor trouble spot categories. While these are relatively significant issues, they’re not prevalent enough to disqualify the 2022 model as the most reliable Hyundai Santa Cruz year.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Common Problems
Overall, the Hyundai Santa Cruz offers decent long-term reliability. However, there are significant issues with this truck that received many complaints.
Powertrain Issues
Out of 106 complaints for the Santa Cruz from the NHTSA, 57 are about powertrain issues, mainly loss of power. Many owners detailed how their vehicles just suddenly decelerated. Then a severe lack of power prevented acceleration, and the transmission was reluctant to shift. One user from the NHTSA website wrote:
Vehicle suffered a loss of power while accelerating from a stop. Would not go faster than 30 MPH. Since I was entering a freeway I was lucky that the traffic was light. I was able to pull to the shoulder and after turning off the vehicle and restarting, it performed normally again.
Many reports were similar to the statement above, including symptoms like the sudden loss of power, failing transmission, and inability to accelerate. This led to a recall back in 2022 that affected as many as 56,148 Hyundai vehicles, including the Santa Cruz.
Be on the lookout for this reliability issue before buying a used 2022 Santa Cruz.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?
Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last? How often should you replace your brakes? We’ve got answers
Electrical System Problems
The 2022 Santa Cruz had a somewhat problematic electrical system. This model year, from false update notifications to faulty headlights to lagging infotainment systems, received many complaints about the electrical system. A user from the NHTSA website wrote:
My vehicle’s screen flashed a brief notification that I needed to update my Nav software. Afterwards the vehicle began flashing a distracting audible and visual alert of random road hazards…caution road is slippery…or rough…or whatever….literally EVERY FIVE SECONDS.
Thankfully, these reports are quite rare, but it’s a good thing to remember when buying a used midsize truck.
Tow Hitch Harness Fire Risk
In March 2023, Hyundai issued a recall for certain Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness as OEM or purchased as an accessory. The recall was initiated because water can accumulate on the tow hitch harness, which can short the module printed circuit board (PCB) and spark a fire. This is an identical recall that also affected Kia vehicles, such as the Carnival MPV.
As a temporary remedy, Hyundai advised truck owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures. Fortunately, this defect is covered under warranty. The dealership will install a new fuse and wire extension kit for free if necessary. Once again, we highly recommend checking for this defect (since it’s a significant fire risk) if you’re considering buying a used 2022 Santa Cruz.
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Buying a Used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz compact truck is shaping up to be a promising nameplate for Hyundai. The latest 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz received rave reviews and was praised for its carlike handling, upmarket interior, and comfortable ride quality.
As for last year’s model, all signs favor the 2022 Santa Cruz reliability. Just keep an eye out for the problems we outlined above when buying a used model. Happy shopping!
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