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Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Cruz Tow Hitch Fire Risk
critical How serious is it? About this label
Owners are told to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
⚠ Park outside, away from buildings — fire risk. See all such recalls.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V181000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Mar 17, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Part affected | Trailer Hitches |
| Vehicles covered | 10 model/year combinations, model years 2019–2023 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | Yes — fire risk |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
Certain Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, and Santa Cruz vehicles equipped with a tow hitch wiring harness, either installed at the factory or added later through a Hyundai dealership, may allow water to build up on a circuit board inside the harness module. This buildup can cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
What you should do
2. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
3. Contact a Hyundai dealer, or call Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460, for the free repair.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 23V181000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (10)
Who to contact
Hyundai — official Hyundai recall lookup
Customer service: 1-855-371-9460
The bigger picture
- Hyundai Tow Hitch Wiring Recalls and Park Outside Instructions · all 3 Hyundai recalls in this area
Other Hyundai Santa FE recalls
- Apr 6, 2026Genesis and Hyundai Seat Belt Anchors May Detachhigh
- Nov 21, 2025Hyundai Santa Fe, Tucson Air Bags May Not Deployhigh
- Nov 21, 2025Hyundai Santa Fe rearview camera image may not displayhigh
- Oct 2, 2025Hyundai Santa Fe Starter Cover Risks Electrical Shorthigh
- Aug 26, 2025Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe Engine Bolts May Loosencritical
- Nov 21, 2024Hyundai Rearview Camera May Fail To Displaymedium
Official notice
- Component
- TRAILER HITCHES
- Summary
- 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.
- Safety risk
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.