2025 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Consider taking a break warning triggers continually; sometimes as frequently as every other minute causing distraction during driving. It has occurred since purchasing vehicle. Dealership says can not disable.

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Make: Hyundai • Model: Santa Cruz • Year: 2025 • Trim: Limited • Mileage: 2600 miles • Date of Purchase: July 2025 Description of the Problem: I am reporting a safety issue with the Forward Attention Warning (FAW) system on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, which unexpectedly disables Smart Cruise Control (SCC) during highway driving. The FAW system, which uses an in-cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness, frequently misinterprets normal driving behavior—such as wearing polarized sunglasses or holding the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position—as inattention. This causes SCC to deactivate abruptly, resulting in sudden speed changes that create a safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds (e.g., 65–70 mph). The issue occurs multiple times per drive, especially when wearing sunglasses, and persists even after attempting to disable FAW in the vehicle’s settings (Settings > Vehicle > Driver Assistance > Driver Attention Warning > Off). For example, while driving on [XXX], SCC deactivated without warning due to FAW detecting my sunglasses, causing the vehicle to slow unexpectedly and requiring immediate manual intervention to maintain speed. This has happened regularly, creating a risk of rear-end collisions or driver distraction. I contacted my Hyundai dealership and they stated that no software fix is available and the system is “working as designed.” Hyundai’s Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 25-GI-001H) acknowledges FAW issues with sunglasses and hand position but offers no solution. I also contacted Hyundai Customer Service (1-800-633-5151), but they provided no resolution. This issue is widely reported by other 2025 Hyundai owners (e.g., Tucson, Santa Fe) in online forums INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

Make: Hyundai • Model: Santa Cruz • Year: 2025 • Trim: Limited • Mileage: 2600 miles • Date of Purchase: July 2025 Description of the Problem: I am reporting a safety issue with the Forward Attention Warning (FAW) system on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, which unexpectedly disables Smart Cruise Control (SCC) during highway driving. The FAW system, which uses an in-cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness, frequently misinterprets normal driving behavior—such as wearing polarized sunglasses or holding the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position—as inattention. This causes SCC to deactivate abruptly, resulting in sudden speed changes that create a safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds (e.g., 65–70 mph). The issue occurs multiple times per drive, especially when wearing sunglasses, and persists even after attempting to disable FAW in the vehicle’s settings (Settings > Vehicle > Driver Assistance > Driver Attention Warning > Off). For example, while driving on [XXX], SCC deactivated without warning due to FAW detecting my sunglasses, causing the vehicle to slow unexpectedly and requiring immediate manual intervention to maintain speed. This has happened regularly, creating a risk of rear-end collisions or driver distraction. I contacted my Hyundai dealership and they stated that no software fix is available and the system is “working as designed.” Hyundai’s Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 25-GI-001H) acknowledges FAW issues with sunglasses and hand position but offers no solution. I also contacted Hyundai Customer Service (1-800-633-5151), but they provided no resolution. This issue is widely reported by other 2025 Hyundai owners (e.g., Tucson, Santa Fe) in online forums INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Make: Hyundai • Model: Santa Cruz • Year: 2025 • Trim: Limited • Mileage: 2600 miles • Date of Purchase: July 2025 Description of the Problem: I am reporting a safety issue with the Forward Attention Warning (FAW) system on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, which unexpectedly disables Smart Cruise Control (SCC) during highway driving. The FAW system, which uses an in-cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness, frequently misinterprets normal driving behavior—such as wearing polarized sunglasses or holding the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position—as inattention. This causes SCC to deactivate abruptly, resulting in sudden speed changes that create a safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds (e.g., 65–70 mph). The issue occurs multiple times per drive, especially when wearing sunglasses, and persists even after attempting to disable FAW in the vehicle’s settings (Settings > Vehicle > Driver Assistance > Driver Attention Warning > Off). For example, while driving on [XXX], SCC deactivated without warning due to FAW detecting my sunglasses, causing the vehicle to slow unexpectedly and requiring immediate manual intervention to maintain speed. This has happened regularly, creating a risk of rear-end collisions or driver distraction. I contacted my Hyundai dealership and they stated that no software fix is available and the system is “working as designed.” Hyundai’s Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 25-GI-001H) acknowledges FAW issues with sunglasses and hand position but offers no solution. I also contacted Hyundai Customer Service (1-800-633-5151), but they provided no resolution. This issue is widely reported by other 2025 Hyundai owners (e.g., Tucson, Santa Fe) in online forums INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SERVICE BRAKES

-Brake pedal feels unsmooth in temperatures below 75-80 (mainly below 70) degrees as well as extremely noisy squeaking / creaking sounds accompanied. Inspection is always available. -I currently don't believe there is any safety risk to the issue I'm experiencing, but rather that it's unknown if there is one. I'm just being told there is no safety concern while also being told the issue I'm experiencing has never been heard or seen before on any previous model of Santa Cruz (that my local dealer has experienced). -The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by a dealer on my vehicle as well as on a brand new model sitting in the dealers lot that wasn't nearly as bad as my car, but similar noises at reduced volume could be replicated. -As far as I've been told from the 5 total visits I've had by 2 different Hyundai dealers, I was told 1 time that the pedal components were inspected and everything looked as it should (this was visit 1 of 5). -No warning messages or codes. Car was bought brand new (8 miles on odometer) off the lot and began having issues 2 weeks into ownership. Issue has been with the vehicle ever since (at the time of this message 14+ weeks and 1,500+ miles driven). -Overall, I was told rubber inside the booster is likely rubbing together or booster vacuum could be hissing air (or both together). Advisor at dealer could not definitively say whether or not noise would eventually "break in" as I was told to keep trying to do ("Go put on 5,000+ miles and come back if noise persists"). Advisor also stated because issue has never been seen on pervious years models, that it could maybe one day be recalled. Otherwise, I was told there is no fix that would be covered by warranty as well as he feared if they completely replaced all brake pedal / booster components, that the issue would just start over again.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Since day one of purchasing the vehicle brand new, the Automatic Emergency Braking engages for basically no reason. The system is way too sensitive and will engage the brakes out of nowhere. This is very dangerous because the vehicle will come to a stop and it's only a matter of time when this happens and then get rear ended. Please address this issue, it's a major problem. Also, the Forward Collision Warning is way too sensitive too. Please have Hyundai fix these issues.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Since day one of purchasing the vehicle brand new, the Automatic Emergency Braking engages for basically no reason. The system is way too sensitive and will engage the brakes out of nowhere. This is very dangerous because the vehicle will come to a stop and it's only a matter of time when this happens and then get rear ended. Please address this issue, it's a major problem. Also, the Forward Collision Warning is way too sensitive too. Please have Hyundai fix these issues.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

After driving vehicle for 20-30 minutes. I receive on the dashboard an error message that the Driver Assistance System is not working properly. This has happen even if the sensor is clear of any type of debris or objects.