The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·23V181000·Announced 2023-03-17

Hyundai Santa Cruz and Santa Fe recalled for tow hitch fire hazard

Hyundai is recalling 2019-2023 Santa Fe and related variants plus 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles equipped with tow hitch harnesses. Water accumulation in the harness module may cause electrical short and fire.

NHTSA safety advisory

Park this vehicle outside

NHTSA advises parking it away from buildings and other vehicles until the repair is done — the risk exists even when the vehicle is switched off.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm defect—electrical fire from water accumulation in the tow hitch harness—without reported injuries or actual fire incidents. The hazard is serious but theoretical, placing it at the High severity level.

Plain-English summary

Hyundai Motor America is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV, and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles that came equipped with a tow hitch harness as original equipment or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership.

The tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) can accumulate water, which may cause an electrical short. This short can result in a fire while the vehicle is parked or driving.

Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit at no cost. Hyundai began sending owner notification letters starting May 16, 2023. Owners can contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 for more information or to schedule service.

The recalled product

Product
HYUNDAI SANTA FE PLUG-IN HYBRID, SANTA FE HYBRID, SANTA CRUZ, SANTA FE
Brand
HYUNDAI
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Category
Vehicle — Tow Hitch / Electrical
Hazard
Affected units
584,784

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (4)

  • SANTA FE PLUG-IN HYBRID
  • SANTA FE HYBRID
  • SANTA CRUZ
  • SANTA FE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · HYUNDAI

Same manufacturer · Hyundai Motor America

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Same hazard · fire

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