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2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Maintenance Schedule

Manufacturer-recommended service intervals for the Service Reminder and open recall alerts for your 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

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Recalls2Full scheduleKnown issues8

How Hyundai schedules service: Service Reminder

Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.

⚠️

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Campaign #23V038000 · Jan 31, 2023

Issue: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.

Risk: A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 241.

TRAILER HITCHES

Campaign #23V181000 · Mar 17, 2023

Issue: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

Recall data refreshed Jul 26, 2026.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

🛢️

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

🔄

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

🛑

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

🧪

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

💨

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

⚙️

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

⚡

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

🌡️

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

🌬️

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

🔗

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Reported to NHTSA

DCT shifting failure and limp mode

POWER TRAIN

16 NHTSA complaints · 2022-11 → 2025-10

“The dual clutch transmission frequently, though not consistently, malfunctions under acceleration. Typically, when accelerating from a stop, when the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, the clutch will slip causing a sudden loss of acceleration and shaking of the vehicle…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11529402
“Truck stopped shifting corrrectly with 11550 miles. Would get stuck in 8th gear or 2nd gear. Shifting into manual mode produced no response. I brought it to the dealer 6/12 and upon receiving the P1c2d03 code, they told me it would be a hp oil pump.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11600528

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel injector failure and cylinder misfire

ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-10 → 2025-05

“Received error code P030300 and the third cylinder fuel injector had to be replaced. There is approximately 36000 miles on the vehicle.”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11659417
“Vehicle has multiple engine misfires, resulting from faulty fuel injectors. Unable to maintain speed, vehicle controls become hard to control due to vehicles engine misfires. Vehicle has less ten 20,000 miles. Dealership unable to obtain new fuel injectors…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11552363

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine oil and coolant leaks at caps and gaskets

ENGINE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-02 → 2026-02

“Oil filter cap oil leak problem. Typical problem with this vehicles that require attention. These defective oil leak caps are a safety and environmental concern. The engine almost starved of oil while driving on the highway.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11656960
“My coolant reservoir was so low that there was less than 8oz of coolant left in the tank. I contacted my local Hyundai dealership and had them service my Santa Cruz.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11641829

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Radiator damage from road debris through grille

ENGINE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-12 → 2024-07

“Coolant leaking onto engine shield and ground from front a small rock that hit of vehicle radiator. The radiator is not nearly shielded well enough to protect it from rocks and other debris. A 1/4 inch diameter rock struck the front of radiator through grill opening…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11513356
“Joined a Santa Cruz Owners blog immediately after purchase. This safety defect involves BOTH the 2022 and 2023 - ALL models. The front grill (especially the lower section) has no mesh and the openings are too big.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498350

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Trailer hitch recall repair parts unavailability

TRAILER HITCHES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2023-06 → 2023-10

“The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11549576
“The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11526080

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of motive power during acceleration

POWER TRAIN

14 NHTSA complaints · 2023-01 → 2025-09

“On 3 separate occasions this has occurred . When accelerating, the engine or power train completely loses all propulsion. Twice I was starting a left hand turn and crossing oncoming traffic.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11619977
“Upon pulling onto a street, the vehicle lost power. Pressing on the gas pedal provided no power or faster RPM's. No warning lights were activated. I pulled in and out of two different side streets with very little power. Parked and shut off the vehicle.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11528861

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle fire while parked

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2023-05 → 2025-09

“The contact owned a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle to go into a store, he looked back and noticed the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned he noticed the fire was coming from the rear driver's side…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11687864
“On May 1, 2023 I pulled my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz into my garage at about 5pm and fyi It was blustery outside and had been raining & snowing all day. At about 5:15 pm I heard a loud bang followed by another. I looked out the back door and saw that the whole garage…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11524087

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Emergency braking activation without obstruction

SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-06 → 2025-11

“While driving on the highway at a speed of approx 35 mph, no traffic in front of me, I got an audile warning and the car started slowing down, and the message on the dash said EMERGENCY BRAKING, this has happened twice in the last month.”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11697025
“The emergency brake system comes on while driving 60 - 70 miles an hour on freeway. It has happened twice. It does not happen every time I drive 60 - 70. The light comes on stating Emergency Braking and my vehicle slows down. It does not last for very long then goes away.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11648471

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

  • 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz →
  • 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz →
  • 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz →
  • 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz →
  • 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Jul 27, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Jul 27, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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