Severe Issues

2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. This model year has 178 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Engine Problems.

178
Complaints
11
Crashes
7
Fires
10
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
2
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
70
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:1
Fires:3
Injuries:2
#2
36
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

Crash-related:2
Fires:4
Injuries:2
#3
22
complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:1
Fires:1
Injuries:1

Considering a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Engine Problems7013β€”
Uncategorized Issues3624β€”
Electrical Faults2211β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain21β€”β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB121β€”β€”
Visibility12β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System102β€”β€”
Brake System94β€”β€”
Structural Problems6β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects5β€”β€”β€”
Lane Departure5β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper4β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions42β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration42β€”β€”
Tire Issues4β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System3β€”β€”β€”
Gasoline3β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues31β€”β€”
Wheel Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Trailer Hitches2β€”1β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures2β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures1β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Hydraulic11β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 178 most recent complaints

Engine ProblemsApr 24, 2026

I was driving out of the parking garage at work and happened to catch the oil light flicker on and then go off. I immediately drove it to an auto shop where I told them what happened. They looked at the dipstick and there was no oil showing on the dipstick. If I had just written…

Engine ProblemsApr 21, 2026

We purchased a used 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe with approximately 105,000 miles. The vehicle has had regular routine maintenance and oil changes. Around 107,000 miles, the check engine light came on and the vehicle simultaneously started running rough. It was diagnosed with a failed v…

Engine ProblemsApr 20, 2026

The vehicle (2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2.0T, ~88,500 miles) experienced a sudden engine failure with no warning signsβ€”no oil light, knocking, or overheating. After sitting overnight, the vehicle would not start and was later diagnosed by an independent repair facility as having a se…

Engine ProblemsApr 16, 2026

Around Feb 15, 2026, at ~85,000 miles, the oil pressure warning light began illuminating at idle and extinguishing above idle speed. The vehicle had also been experiencing intermittent hard starts and occasional shuddering at idle β€” symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to conn…

Brake SystemπŸ’₯ CrashApr 16, 2026

I was at a standstill waiting for oncoming traffic to pass with my foot on the brake and all of a sudden the car accelerated and the forward collision warning fail to come on and I hit a trailer because of it

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEBApr 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-75 MPH, the Automatic Emergency Braking system engaged erroneously, almost causing a crash. The contacted stated that the failure mostly occurred while driving at highway speeds with …

Uncategorized IssuesMar 24, 2026

I'm reporting a rearview camera issue in my Hyundai Santa Fe 2020. The camera image was previously static/distorted and has now completely stopped working. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, no image is displayed. This creates a safety risk, as the rearview camera is essentia…

VisibilityMar 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, the sunroof shattered outward. The contact stated that his wife was able to drive the vehicle safely back to the residence. The vehicle had not been taken to a deale…

Transmission / DrivetrainFeb 26, 2026

I was driving on the road and all of the sudden my car went limp and would only move 45 miles per hour. I took it to the dealer which I have lifetime powertran on my car. It has been there for over a month at the dealer. They asked me to provide all oil changes,services, and reg…

Visibility/WiperFeb 25, 2026

The front piece of the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while sitting in my parked vehicle. I heard a loud pop and saw that the entire piece of glass was totally shattered. I took it to the dealership and they told me it is a known problem with this type of sunroof on th…

Electrical FaultsFeb 23, 2026

On the morning of February 20 2026 at around 6:35am. I was on my way to work when the engine light started flashing and the speed started to decrease. I was traveling on a major highway in heavy rain with a lot of traffic. I had to put on my hazard lights and quickly pull off …

Engine ProblemsFeb 23, 2026

Our vehicle has encountered a catastrophic engine failure (burnt valves) due to a known and ongoing issue with the piston rings install in this engine.

Engine ProblemsFeb 21, 2026

HI! Leaking valve cover gasket which damages spark plugs, ignition coils and fuel injector. Defective High Pressure Fuel Pump and fuel injector causing fuel to spray into engine and into engine oil. Large amount of fuel found in oil pan when oil changed. Complaint filed with Hyua…

Structural ProblemsFeb 16, 2026

The roof of my car between the sunroof and the windshield (called panoramic sunroof) shattered as I was driving down the highway. It was about 10:00 pm on a weeknight and there were no cars within sight distance in front of me. When it happened it sounded like a gun shot going of…

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 11, 2026

On the morning of December 10, 2025, I left my home for an appointment. I traveled for about 15 minutes before entering onto the highway. As I entered the highway, I traveled about half a mile and was scared by a very loud explosion! I pulled over to assess my vehicle and the sur…

Steering DefectsFeb 6, 2026

While driving, the engine catastrophically failed without warning, causing an immediate loss of power-assisted braking and steering. The failure occurred while traveling downhill. I was unable to slow or control the vehicle properly and was forced to proceed through a school bus’…

Engine ProblemsJan 18, 2026

Excessive oil burn off. Oil is getting into the cylinder, causing scorching. This causing engine failure.

Engine ProblemsJan 3, 2026

Oil drain plug seal leaking, can’t tighten the bolt with the required torque setting to keep it from leaking.

Engine ProblemsDec 29, 2025

After 110,000, the engine started using oil and it began to knock. According to the history of these engines, it will lead to engine failure. They have a record of being a lemon engine and there is not a engine of this type that this does not happen. The engine needs to recalled …

Fuel/Propulsion SystemDec 26, 2025

I have a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2.0T. I recently experienced the following issues; gasoline fumes coming into the car at low speeds, difficulty starting the car when it is cold and hesitation when trying to accelerate quickly. The check engine light came on and the dealer diag…

Page 1 of 9

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Recalls for 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

2 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

21V00M000Invalid Date
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

23V181000Invalid Date
TRAILER HITCHES

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 178 NHTSA owner complaints, 11 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (70 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?β–Ύ

#1: Engine Problems (70 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (36 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (22 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?β–Ύ

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 11 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 178 total NHTSA complaints. 10 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The largest issue: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?β–Ύ

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.