2020 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11296985 · 2020-01-03 (January 3, 2020)
HAVE ONLY HAD THE 2020 SANTAFE 2.0T FOR A FEW WEEKS - 1,000 MILES. IT IS GOING TO THE SHOP (SELLING DEALER). THE TURBO LAG HAS ALMOST GOT ME T-BONED TWICE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DID NOT SEEM THIS WAY ON THE TEST DRIVE. THE OVERALL POWER HAS GONE DOWN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE - HAH, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM, BECAUSE THAT TURBO LAG WILL BITE YOU IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU PULL OUT AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO KICK IN. AFTER AN INSPECTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11296985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298608 · 2020-01-11 (January 11, 2020)
THE FCA (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) SYSTEM DOES NO WORK AS IT SHOULD. IT DOES NOT SEE VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHILE NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE ONLY TIME THE SYSTEM ALARMS IS WHEN FOLLOWING A VEHICLE, WHICH IS IN THE SAME LANE ON CITY STREETS, AND THEN THE TARGET VEHICLE TURNS RIGHT AND CREATES NO HAZARD. THE FCA DOES NOT WORK ACCORDING TO WHAT IS MENTIONED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, NOR DOES IT OPERATE LIKE IT IS SHOWN IN A YOUTUBE VIDEO SPONSORED BY HYUNDAI.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298608 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 11329766 · 2020-06-19 (June 19, 2020)
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329766 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 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V00M000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 2021-12-28 (December 28, 2021)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Consequence: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V181000 · Trailer Hitches
Reported: 2023-03-17 (March 17, 2023)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗