2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · OH

Vehicle intermittently drops into a “Limp Mode” while driving. Speed becomes restricted at 20 mph and engine RPM locks at 2000 RPM. Cannot accelerate when pressing on gas pedal. No engine lights come on when this occurs. Turning ignition off and restarting temporarily resets the computer and clears speed cap. Has happened 4 times since purchased. Has strong coolant smell and occasionally rotten egg smell. This is a safety hazard! Dealership has offered no solution other than if it happens again to pull over, call tow truck, leave car running and get it to them. Opened complaint with corporate. No help. I am afraid to drive my car. This could cause a major accident and harm myself or others. Asked dealership if they could contact an engineer and was told no.

Filed Oct 19, 2024 · Transmission · IA

First shift issue, no warning lights present, was able to get to dealer they hooked up computer and reset/restart vehicle and told me I probably hit gas and brake at same time and it was probably in limp mode. Month later went to store just fine, got back in my vehicle and check engine light was on, shift issues, was told to keep driving for over 2 weeks till they had available appointment, during that time battery died and check engine light went off but shift issues were still there and they had to drive it I believe they said 60 miles to get light to come back on so hyundai would approve transmission replacement. After that finally got replaced and I put almost 4k miles on their rental (yeah... took a while). I was back in less than a week before service transmission immediately indicator comes on, again got to my destination fine, got back in vehicle and I'm on my way back in the dealer again. I was told I was the third transmission back in to get replaced again after a week of being on the road. but wait, battery dies again, warning lights gone and they give back the vehicle. They were nice enough to offer me 10k less than what I purchased it for 6 months ago.

Filed Aug 23, 2024 · Transmission · WA

A check engine light illuminated and the transmission system malfunctioned. Vehicle lost acceleration and would not shift until RPM was over 3k. It also would not allow manual or paddle shifting. Reviewed recalls and saw there is one for possible need of transmission replacement. I contacted the dealership and they said all recall work was addressed (transmission has never been replaced). They may have changed a part and updated a computer related to this recall but they were ADAMANT my recall had already been addressed. They made noise like I needed to pay for diagnostics. I took the car to an independent shop and paid them to diagnose as I was hesitant the dealer was being 100% honest with me. As it turn out YES. The transmission has failed and needs to be replaced. They provided me with the documentation showing this issue is recall related. (38,000 miles). My concern is that dealerships may mislead customers about this recall and cause possible dangerous conditions.

Filed Jun 29, 2024 · Engine · MN

Instrument Panel said Navigation system had failed and to check the front sensor. Then the car went into limp mode and infotainment screen displayed - “A possible condition with your Engine Control System has been detected. A full system check is recommended to be done soon. Please contact you local dealership to schedule an appointment.” DTC 65312 was logged by the car. Took to dealer, they couldn't find the problem.

Filed Jan 25, 2023 · Transmission · WA

Car was driven 600 miles without issue on Sunday. Car was started Tuesday morning (outside temp 13F), driven a short distance, no issue, idled about 5 minutes, put in gear and attempted to drive. There was a severe lack of power, transmission was reluctant to shift, had to manually shift at 3500rpm. Was eventually able to reach 55mph in gear 5, upshift go gear 6 resulted in loss of speed. There was no response from accelerator. Pulled off highway, stopped engine, restarted, no change, still no power, transmission still would not shift. Drove about 5 miles to nearest exit, called for tow truck. Car was idling for about 45 minutes while waiting for tow. Eventually shut down engine, restarted car, miraculously it worked normally. Lack of transmission shift and engine power was not accompanied by any dash lights, warnings or notifications. The car simply decided it did not want to go, 5000 miles on odometer.

Filed Jan 9, 2023 · Engine · MA

Transmission problems , car went into limp mode.

Filed Sep 15, 2022 · Fuel system, Transmission · MS

When pulling out onto a major HWY, the vehicle lost power. Vehicle acted like it was in "neutral" but engine wouldn't rev when pressing gas and rpm was bottomed out. Vehicle then would not shift out correctly.

Filed Aug 15, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · FL

On 08/13/2022, I was driving from Miami, FL, already 2 hours on the road and like 9:45 PM I was driving with my wife on the Interstate I-95 in the City of Melbourne, state of Florida, and stop at the I-95 North Bound Rest Area to use the rest rooms and change driver seat with her. Then 10 minutes later we resume our travel and after entering the I-95 again, the vehicle suddenly went into some type of limp mode and lose power while merging in the I-95 and I had to do an emergency maneuver to the right shoulder to avoid being hitted by another vehicles. After stoping, I turned off the ignition and back on again, since I was on a place not too safe I continued the driving back home. No Check Engine Light was on whatsoever. The vehicle was driven normal for the next 20-30 minutes, then while driving State Road 192 and while driving 65-70 MPH, the engine stalled again. I had to stop in the middle of the darak and empty road on the right sholuder with my Emergency Lights on. I tried restarting the engine and the limp mode still and I got the Check Engine Light on and steady. I called pushing the button for the Hyundai BlueLink inside the car and nobody answer the emergency number. I verified the BlueLink application on my phone and then noticed a code for the malfuntion. DTC: P030100, DTC System: Powertrain, DTC Sub System: EMS After 2-3 minutes I was able to continue driving home, when I pushed the pedal I felt the condition like loosing cylinder power this time and I pushed hard, the vehicle then suddenly was able to accelerate as normal and I was able to get home. After that I was able to drive the vehicle but I am not sure it is safe or not. I contacted the dealer Holler Hyunday at Winter Park Florida, and they gave me an appointment for 08/23/2022. I need my transportation issue resolved before that date since is my only vehicle needed to work and make wages. As a note this happened driving in Smart Mode. I will contact Hyundai to escalate this case.

Filed Aug 1, 2022 · Transmission · GA

Vehicle would not shift into any of the gears after turning on. Still waiting for details. dealer mentioned the transmission fluid pump failed

Filed Jul 12, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · MO

Left my neighborhood and as I pulled away from the stop sign the 1-2 shift felt abrupt, which has never happened before. No other issues were noticed until I got about a mile from home and my Santa Cruz wouldn't accelerate past 25-30 mph. The transmission wouldn't shift and the engine wouldn't rev past 3000 rpm. I pulled over at the closest spot I could find and restarted my vehicle and made it to work with no other issues. No warnings were present on my dash, and the problem seemed to remedy itself. I will keep an eye on it and also cross my fingers that this isn't the beginning of a DCT issue at 4300 miles.

Filed Apr 19, 2022 · Transmission · TX

I was driving in a residential area, and my vehicle indicated that I should pull over immediately. During that time, the shifting was hindered and top speed was limited (below posted speeds). When I stopped, my vehicle would not move forward or backward again. This is the second time that this vehicle has had an issue where it would not shift or be able to achieve posted speed (the first time happened on an interstate highway and the top speed was about 40 miles per hour). This failure in being able to maintain appropriate speed and also not moving forward again after stopping is very concerning when in traffic. My vehicle was inspected, the high pressure pump was indicated to be at fault, and the transmission (housing the pump) was replaced.