2022 Hyundai Tucson Body Fastener Recall (23V038)
Hyundai Motor America · 16,104 vehicles · Reported January 31, 2023
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 16,104 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz; 2022 Hyundai Tucson vehicles. The roof moldings may detach. A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V038 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V038000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 241 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz; 2022 Hyundai Tucson |
| Units affected | 16,104 |
| Component | Structure > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Hyundai Tucson in recall 23V038?
The roof moldings may detach.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles. The roof moldings may detach.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Tucson with recall 23V038?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached roof molding could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the critical fasteners.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V038?
Recall 23V038 covers 16,104 vehicles: 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz; 2022 Hyundai Tucson.
NHTSA lists 16,104 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | Hyundai | Santa Cruz |
| 2022 | Hyundai | Tucson |
What is the fix for the Tucson body fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 241.
When was recall 23V038 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 23V038 to NHTSA on January 31, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 30, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2023 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V038000. |
| March 30, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your Tucson was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Tucson is part of recall 23V038?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V038 is open on your Tucson, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V038000 is open on your Tucson, it will be listed there, along with Hyundai recall number 241. You can also ask any Hyundai dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Tucson owners do about recall 23V038?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V038000 applies to your Tucson.
- Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any critical fasteners symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Tucson owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 646 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 23V038 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 646 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Hyundai Tucson: 382 complaints in total, 1 about the body, doors and seats
- 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: 185 complaints in total, 1 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: 79 complaints in total, 2 about the body, doors and seats
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while self-inspecting the vehicle, he became aware that the moldings on the roof had detached. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V038000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was repaired; however, the failure recurred.
2022 Hyundai Tucson owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11530598, filed July 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated while the vehicle was in park, he attempted to load the vehicle through the rear tailgate door when the rear tailgate door completely detached. No warning lights had illuminated. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz owner, PR, NHTSA complaint 11599291, filed July 5, 2024
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.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11687864, filed September 17, 2025
Can recall 23V038 make my Tucson a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 23V038000 does not automatically make your Tucson a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Tucson been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Tucson recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V038
Is the 23V038000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 30, 2023.
How do I know if my Tucson is part of recall 23V038000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V038000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Hyundai. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.