2020 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
14,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 75 of 207 complaints (36.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 75 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 9 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
Engine: 75; Unknown Or Other: 40; Power Train: 26; Electrical System: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 9; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 9; Service Brakes: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 163 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 37 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 51 |
| 2026 | 47 |
2020: 13; 2021: 18; 2022: 24; 2023: 37; 2024: 17; 2025: 51; 2026: 47
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11307050 · 2020-02-04 (February 4, 2020)
MY CAR IS SITING IN PARK, RUNNING WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN IN MY TOWN HOUSE PARKING LOT. I GET OUT OF MY CAR TO OPEN THE PASSENGER'S BACK DOOR AS WELL AS MY TRUNK FOR HER. I THEN GET BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I AM WAITING ON MY FRIEND TO LOAD HER ITEMS INTO MY NEW SANTA FE FOR AN OUT OF TOWN RETREAT. SHE FINISHES LOADING ITEMS AND PROCEEDS TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT. AS SHE IS GETTING INTO THE CAR, "SHE SAYS SHE NEEDS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM". I TELL HER LET'S GO NOW BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON OUR TRIP. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351707 · 2020-08-27 (August 27, 2020)
BRAKE HAS BEEN STICKING LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SO THAT I HAD TO PUMP BRAKE TO RELEASE TO START. THIS MORNING I WENT OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT GET INTO CAR WITH EITHER REMOTE OR BY USING BLUE LINK ON MY PHONE. I USED THE MANUAL KEY BUT COULD NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DOORS OR LIFT GATE. NO LIGHTS, HAZARDS, RADIO NO NOTHING. I HAVE HAD A FEW DEAD BATTERIES AND NEVER HAD A CAR THAT DEAD OVERNIGHT. I DROVE HOME FROM WORK PREVIOUS NIGHT AND I WAS OUTSIDE AFTER DARK NEXT TO MY CAR, NO LIGHTS LEFT ON. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, FIRST GUY SA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,918 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318304 · 2020-03-16 (March 16, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED VARIOUS WARNING ALERTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER PUGI HYUNDAI (1866 OGDEN AVE. DOWNERS GROVE, IL.) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387645 · 2021-01-12 (January 12, 2021)
LEASED A 2020 SANTA FE ON APRIL 24, 2020 AND ON JULY 9, 2020 IT STALLED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND AFTER 20 MINS. WAS ABLE TO START IT. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG. IN AUGUST 2020 THE CAR WOULDN'T START, AFTER A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE JUMP THE DEALER SAID I'M NOT STARTING IT ENOUGH. IN OCTOBER SAME THING HAPPENED I GOT A NEW BATTERY FROM THE DEALER. IN DECEMBER THE SAME THING HAPPENED I GOT ANOTHER NEW BATTERY. THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT SOMETHING IS DRAWING POWER FROM THE BATTERY IN THE OFF POSITION. INSTEAD …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337361 · 2020-07-03 (July 3, 2020)
DATE: FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020. MY CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. THOUGHT THE KEY FOB WAS DEAD AND GRABBED THE SPARE TO TRY AGAIN. NO LUCK WITH THAT ONE EITHER. TRIED USING THE BLUE LINK APP TO UNLOCK. UNSUCCESSFUL AGAIN. UNLOCKED MY CAR WITH THE KEY FROM THE FOB AND GOT IN. NONE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON (I KEEP THIS FEATURE ON). THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY FIRST CLUE. TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE LIKE THE OWNER'S MANUAL SUGGESTS IF THE KEY FOB BATTERY IS WEAK. DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED TO TEST DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY WORK IF A…
Owner-reported narrative. 840 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403919 · 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)
THERE ARE THREE ISSUES: 1.) IN SPORT MODE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES GET STUCK/HUNG IN GEAR (MAYBE GEAR 3 OR GEAR4) AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, EVEN WHEN INCREASING SPEED. 2.) ALSO IN SPORT MODE, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN SLIP INTO GEAR 5, AFTER REVVING HIGH AND CAN BE HEARD REVVING, BUT IT IS NOT REFLECTED ON THE TACHOMETER, AND THEN WHEN THE GEAR CATCHES IT IS A VIOLET JERK FORWARD. 3.) LASTLY, IN ANY MORE, BUT MOST PRONOUNCED IN "SMART MODE" AFTER TAKING OUT FROM A COMPLETE STOP…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11458051 · 2022-03-23 (March 23, 2022)
We are experiencing exactly what is listed in HYUNDAI TSB #21-BE-005H: intermittent abnormal camera image display conditions on the instrument cluster when the turn left signal is turned on or the radio screen when transmission is in reverse.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326236 · 2020-05-27 (May 27, 2020)
STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE DURING BACK UP, FROM STOP TO MOTION (LOW SPEED) MAKING TURNS. SOMETIMES HAPPENED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING AS WELL. THE FREQUENCY IS GETTING MORE AND MORE, VERY ANNOYING AND LITTLE BIT SCARY. WORRY STEERING WHEEL WILL BREAKDOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11574032 · 2024-02-26 (February 26, 2024)
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that one bolt on the fuel pump was sheared off and another was extremely loose. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 63,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11574032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11665651 · 2025-06-08 (June 8, 2025)
Driving vehicle at highway speed, engine RPMs dropped to less than 1500, could not maintain any speed, CEL illuminated. As soon as vehicle was pull to side of road, it would no longer run. It would start, idle roughly then stall out. Vehicle was towed to Mountain Hyundai in Denver. High pressure fuel pump failed, fuel pump in one cylinder failed, fuel was dumped into oil fouling all spark plugs. This is the second high pressure fuel pump failure on this vehicle.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11665651 at NHTSA ↗