This Frustrating Hyundai Santa Cruz Problem Could Cause Delays
Oh no, there is a new recall for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. This compact truck doesn’t have time for trouble as it faces the Ford Maverick. The make matters worse, thousands of Hyundai Santa Cruz models are involved, and the issue could take over a year to fix.
Recall Alert: The Hyundai Sant Cruz has a faulty wiring harness
If you plan on using your Hyundai Santa Cruz to tow, then you might have a problem. Reportedly, models with the factory towing package from the factory or dealerships could have faulty wiring harnesses.
A circuit board in the module could come into contact with water, leading to a short. The harness has constant power, even when the vehicle is off, so the risk of a short increases the chance of fire.
Hyundai is aware of six problems and one fire related to this issue. Overall, it includes roughly 567,912 vehicles. The models at risk consist of the 2019-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, 2022-2023 Santa Fe PHEV, and the 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Owners at risk will be notified via mail around May 16 and are advised to park outside and away from structures until the problem is corrected. You can also visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and enter your V.I.N. to see if your truck is at risk.
Why will this Santa Cruz problem take months to correct?
If your Hyundai Santa Cruz has a faulty wiring harness, then you will need to visit a local dealership for maintenance. The technicians will disconnect the harness and remove it, to remove the potential risk of fire.
Then you won’t be able to tow for months because Hyundai doesn’t have replacement parts ready to go. According to the TFL Truck, the replacement part could take between six to 18 months to arrive.
That’s an insanely long time to be without a crucial feature. This may put a damper on those planning to haul trailers this summer for work, vacations, or moving. Some drivers may have even picked the Santa Cruz because it can tow more than the Ford Maverick.
Also, now people have to visit the service center twice. Once to have the harness removed and again when the replacement part actually arrives.
The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine cranks out 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It has standard AWD and is pre-wired, so it can tow up to 5,000 lbs. It can also carry a payload of up to 1,794 lbs. The Maverick can tow up to 4,000 lbs.
Is the Santa Cruz reliable?
Yes, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a reliable truck. It earned a reliability score of 83 out of 100 from J.D.Power, which places it in the above-average bracket. Scores between 70 and 81 are average, and anything between 91 and 100 is best.
The 2022 model had four recalls, which is normal for a brand-new vehicle, and the 2023 model has two so far. The 2022 Maverick has six recalls, and the 2023 model has one so far. The year is early, so things could change.
We hope the Santa Cruz gets back on its feet soon. People have things to tow! We will continue tracking this story for updates. Stay tuned for fresh Hyundai and Ford news.
