Hyundai Santa Cruz fire or smoke problems

Filed May 7, 2026 · Engine · 7,738 miles · IL · fire

The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was suddenly heard coming from the engine compartment with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that immediately following the failure, the power steering and brakes became inoperable, making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact also noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment and was able to forcefully maneuver the vehicle to the side of the roadway. Shortly thereafter, the front of the vehicle near the engine compartment caught fire. After the vehicle was pulled over, the check engine warning light and low oil warning light illuminated. The local fire department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire had not yet been determined. The vehicle was extensively damaged and deemed destroyed. No injuries were sustained and no medical attention was required; however, the contact stated that a cough was suffered due to inhalation of smoke and fumes from the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 7,738.

Filed Sep 17, 2025 · Body · 18,000 miles · GA · fire

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 quarter panel. The contact called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to a savage yard, and the insurance will then have the vehicle towed to a body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact that they would inspect the vehicle, and they also offered to buy back the vehicle. Recently, he got an email informing him that they are not going to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was 18,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2025 · Electrical · MD · fire

The system that failed was electrical near or in the Tow Hitch which caused the vehicle fire. Vehicle is available for inspection at Auto Body Evolution Essex MD. The car caught fire in the back of the vehicle while parked in Owner's driveway and engine off. Neighbor pounded on Owner's door at 6:50 am. yelling for the residents to open the door that their vehicle was on fire in their driveway. Fire was dangerously close to the gas cap; parked vehicle was close to the owner's house, two boats in the driveway, and neighbor's house. After the incident, owner googled for any issues with Santa Cruz's. It was then and only then we learned that this vehicle had a fire recall on the Tow Hitch. We NEVER received a recall notice. In fact, we had this vehicle at the dealership approximately 6 weeks ago for another recall issue, thermostat, and the dealership NEVER checked for any additional recalls. Police and Fire Department were called to the scene by using 911. Officer Irwin who arrived on scene, Badge #6560, Police Report #[XXX], had to use his bully stick to bust the window to use a fire extinguisher before the fire department arrived. The car would not unlock and the windows would not operate. If we had been in the vehicle when the fire erupted or any other passengers in the vehicle, we would not have been able to get out of the car due to the electrical fire effecting the operation of the window and doors if the doors were locked. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · 38,000 miles · MN · fire

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he was made aware that flames had been observed emanating from the rear of the vehicle. Bystanders were able to safely extinguish the flames; however, local emergency services arrived as an added safety measure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who had yet to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 23V181000 (Trailer Hitches), but the VIN was not included. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 38,000.

Filed Nov 20, 2023 · Engine · TN

Took 2022 Santa Cruz Limited in for an oil change and tire rotation at Grayson Hyundai in West Knoxville, TN, 11-2-22, on the way home smelled burning oil. Found that the dip stick was out of the engine block and oil sprayed all over the interior of the engine compartment, underside components, underside shield, wheel wells, brake caliper, etc when I got home (85 miles away from dealership). I took pics off the engine compartment and dip stick that was left out before they towed it to the dealership. Contacted service adviser, they towed it back and provided loaner. They said, "it lost no oil" and was still full. They said they would remove all the oil from the engine compartment and figure out what the issue was. They had the vehicle for two weeks and said that the dipstick "failed" and showed me the original dipstick with now a very visible cut in the o-ring that was not there before when I took pics of the dipstick before they towed it from my home. I use my vehicle for emergency response and did not feel safe driving the vehicle with oil still all over the engine compartment and underside of all the vehicle. Hyundai customer service did NOTHING, they told me to drive it as it is despite being covered in oil. I went back and forth with Hyundai Customer Service and they would not give me higher position names, numbers or contact information for me to escalate my grievance and safety concern, then HUNG UP ON ME. I had to immediately trade the vehicle and lost my 2.74 interest rate and much of my equity as it only had 26000 miles on it with only 25,000 owed.

Filed Oct 11, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · OH

1.Spring 2023 Received a Recall on tow hitch wiring package (may catch on fire)... No solution yet! I was experiencing transmission problems around same time. 2. My Hyundai App warns of transmission problem on 07/22/2023. Took my (19 month old) 2022 Santa Cruz to Preston Hyundai 07/24/2023. Earliest appointment available was scheduled for 08/09/2023 (16 days waiting period). 3. 08/09/2023, at Preston Hyundai, says they must order a new transmission and refuses to give me my truck back claiming it is UNSAFE to Drive (even though I drove it 16 days (over 400 miles) waiting for my service appointment!). Truck has remained at Preston Hyundai since 08/09/2023 and replacement transmission ETA is 10/24/2023, making total time in dealership 76 days to date (or 92 days since being notified on my Hyundai appof transmission problem! Truck has not moved or been started since 08/24/2023. 4. Back on 07/22/2023, I attempted to program Navigation system with "vacation address" but Nav System displayed prompt that Nav it needed a map update. I cleared the "OK" prompt off the display but I started getting "Check Engine" dummy light appearing and other dummy lights appearing! Also my tachometer gauge (also is the right turn signal mirror camera), quit working and started beeping every 10 seconds or so. 5. On 07/24/2023, at Preston Service Dept., I ask them to update Nav System. I was told that it takes too long and they won't do it! (lacking personnel and time and I should do it myself. I researched "How To" and discovered many warnings from owners that their vehicles computer system got messed up attempting the map update. I've been communicating with Hyundai headquarters who suggested I inquire about the "BuyBack" Program at my Dealership! I did inquire on 10/10/2023 and they've never heard of it, but evaluated my truck and offered me $27,000 for my 20 month old truck, leaving me a $15,000 expense for a new 2024 Santa Cruze. 6. I've now contacted a "Lemon Law" Law Firm!

Filed Aug 21, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Car will not start properly and shuts itself off after which a strong odor of burning plastic is present in the vehicle. It will periodically do this almost once a day if not every other day. I have taken it in to the dealer 4 times last time they had my car for two weeks and could not replicate porblem because they only drive it 5 miles and it will not happen unless vehicle is being daily driven. I have found numerous other owners with the same complaint. Hyundai will not authorize shop to work on car and advises them to release it to me each time. They only attempted to fix once and gave it back to me all over times. The car is at the dealer again and they will not work on it till october to try to find the problem again. I will not drive this car due to risk of car deciding to turn it self off or start on fire due to whatever is melting when this happenns car is still at red mcombs northwest as of today.

Filed Jun 4, 2023 · Electrical · FL

I read the complaint someone made about a vehicle fire in their garage with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. My vehicle is wired incorrectly and the fused circuit protect doesn't protect the circuit. The Blower relay is rated for 35 amps, but it has a 40 amp multi-fuse protecting it. In addition to that, the low current coil that turns on/off the relay is also connected to the 40 amp multi-fuse. The E-CVVT relay is also a 35 amp relay. It has an incorrect mutifuse of 50 amps protecting the relay. The relay is the same type as the blower relay. The low current coil is protect by a 10 amp fuse unlike the incorrect 40 amps for the blower relay coil. The wire gauge of the wire going to the PCM and motor doesn't seem to handle this current if the Blower motor or E-CVVT motor were to seize and draw more current. The recall for the trailer wire harness included a 15 amp fuse replacement because the wire gauge of the wire cannot handle the additional amperes. The wiring shouldn't melt or catch on fire if the proper fuse was connected to protect the circuit including the wire in the circuit. It didn't meet the National Electric Code or industry standard.

Filed May 26, 2023 · Electrical · MI · fire

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 was completely engulfed in flames. My garage is attached to my home and the fire spread fast especially with 40 to 50 mile per hour winds feeding it. The only thing we could do was to get out with with our 2 dogs and nothing else. The consensus among fire professionals are that my vehicle started the fire. So here I sit with absolutely nothing!

Filed Jun 9, 2022 · Transmission · MN

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, 2.5T with 8-speed DCT, with 11,765 miles. This has happened 3 times in a 3 day period. Upon accelerating from a stop, there was a complete loss of power. I applied more pressure to the accelerator and still no power. It seemed like the vehicle was out-of-gear or had an engine misfire. After about 10 seconds, a puff of thick, dark smoke came out from the tailpipe and acceleration resumed as if nothing happened. Upon coming to a stop and exiting the vehicle, there was a smell of burnt rubber coming from under the hood, but I could not locate the source. There have been at least 3 other instances in the last week where there was some hesitation when accelerating from a stop (again, it felt like it was in the wrong gear or there was a misfire) but not a complete loss of power and dark smoke like in the other instances. After each of the above instances, I attached an OBDII tool to look for error codes but there were none.