2020 Hyundai Santa FE: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 213 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (34% of complaints); the 2018 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 14 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Mar 2023
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 213 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Codes P0172 and P016B. Oil has fuel in it due to high pressure fuel pump leaking. Possible premature engine failure or fire. This is a 2020 santa fe limited 2.0T.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“My car has the 2.0 T GDI theta 2 motor and it went into limp mode and after scanning the codes it's the p1326 code. The vin doesn't show to be apart of the class action lawsuit but it's the same motor”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“My car is consuming an immense amount of oil, the manufacturer recommends oil changes every 7,500 miles, I get an oil change less than 3,000 miles and on my last oil change i was told that there are oil shavings in my oil filter. I just got the SC9C2 update and now my engine is knocking. Car drives super rough and has signs of rod bearing failure. My engine is the Theta II 2.4GDI, a class action lawsuit was filed against Hyundai but my car wasn't included. I don't understand how Hyundai can know about this issue with this engine and not cover replacement. A car should at the very least last for the life of the loan, I am going to end up with no car and still making payments.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Vehicle began running sluggish, gas smell noticed. Vehicle was due for oil change, took car in for oil change to AAA and mentioned gas smell. AAA identified gas leaking from fuel pump posing immediate safety issue that needed to be resolved.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2026
“I went to the store, came home , parked and turned off the car. Went to go outside about 10 minutes ,maybe. Black smoke coming from right front. By the time i grabbed the keys and fire extinguisher there were flames coming from the engine compartment”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2026
“I was quoted $3,000 to replace defective mat sensor in seat so that the airbag light will go off and my vehicle can be inspected. My family can't afford this fix and I'm stressed out and do not know what to do. My vehicle was not in an accident nor was anything done that would cause damage and result in this fault. I am aware that the 2019 Santa Fe has an extended warranty for this exact defective mat sensor. My 2020 has the identical setup and failed just past the standard mileage limit. Because this is a critical SRS safety system that prevents my airbags from working properly I request help form the NHTSA. I read online a lot of owners are in my same situation.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00M000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Visibility · Jul 2026
“2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. The panoramic sunroof glass suddenly shattered/exploded without a collision and without any known impact. Glass shattered completely and created a safety hazard to occupants and traffic. Vehicle was purchased as Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned in 2021. Hyundai corporate case has been opened and advised dealer inspection. Dealer inspection is pending. Photos are available. Request that this be logged as a potential safety issue involving panoramic sunroof glass failure.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jun 2026
“Air bags didn't deploy on a front crash. Safety of my entire family in car was put at risk without airbags deploying. The problem has not been confirmed. The vehicle has not been inspected, a first responder on scene of crash said we should check into why our air bags didn't deploy. No warnings signs”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“Just read possible recalls on Hyundai Santa Fe's 2025 and 2026's. Just spent $1727.68 at the Hyundai dealership in Gilbert, AZ to replace the front camera do to the faults showing up on the dash. By reading that article it made aware of what may have occurred had we not taken it in for service. This vehicle is a 2020 Sante Fe. You may want to check into it. Oh, I want a refund.”Owner report · Lane Departure · May 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 15 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Santa FE years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Santa FE by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE reliable?
NHTSA has 213 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE. The most complained-about area is engine (34% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Santa FE problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 28,000 miles or less.
Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning trailer hitches. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.