2020 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 213 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 13 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 15 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesPark outsideMar 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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V181000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldDec 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.
A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 21V00M000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2022
The ignition systems in mainly 2015-2021 Hyundais with physical keys could be easily hacked using a screwdriver, pliers or the end of a USB cable, because the vehicles are not equipped with immobilizers that require the presence of a key fob. I want a recall so I won't have my car stolen like I hear about on the news about every week.
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2022
Crack windshield
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2022
The Windshield cracked without anything striking it. The windshield is being replaced at my expense. There is wind noise coming from the area below the crack where it is attached to the vehicle.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2022, crash
I have a 202 Hyundai Sante Fe. I was pulling into a parking garage parking spot, going about 3 miles per hours. Suddenly about 3 feet away from the wall (with my foot on the break) my SUV's engine suddenly race and propelled me forward into the wall. No warning lights or messages. No front- end auto breaking, I have reported it to Hyundai. I was injured from the air bag and the seat belt, my passenger was not injured. I am waiting for my SUV to be assessed by my insurance and my auto body company. I have read many articles about circumstances like these and am considering contacting an attorney.
Other or unspecified, Mar 10, 2022, fire
This car just caught on fire in my fathers driveway at midnight last night...doesnt appear to be from engine compartment
Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2022
THE DRIVERS DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED. WHEN YOU DRIVE IT ON THE ROAD YOU CAN HEAR A HISSING SOUND OF THE AIR PENETRATING IN THE CABIN. THE DOOR APPEARS NOT TO BE CLOSED PROPERLY, THERE IS A GAP. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ALGINMENT OF THE PASSANGERS DOOR, THE DOOR IS PROPERLY ALIGNED WITH THE REST OF THE BODY OF THE SANTA FE, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR. I AM PLANNING CONTACTING HYUNDAI DIRECTLY, BECAUSE IF THEY MAINTAIN QUALITY CONTROLS, THIS CAR DID NOT PASSED THAT TEST. DURING 2021I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON THE ROAD, BUT LATELY I TOOK 4 TRIPS TO SC, AND ON THE ROAD THE HIZZING SOUND IS NOTICIBLE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2021
This is the 1st of two 2020 Santa Fe's that this has occurred on as well as a 2019 Santa Fe that we formally owned within the last 2 years. The windshield does not take rock hits well. On all three vehicles a rock strike on the windshield not only left a large star impact, but the crack from the impact reaches all the way to the roof pillar. The crack is long. I believe the windshield glass is substandard and needs to be looked into closer as being a possible safety risk. Replacing the windshield and camera recalibration is expensive.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2021
This is the 2nd 2020 Santa Fe that this has occurred on as well as a 2019 Santa Fe that we formally owned within the last 2 years. The windshield does not take rock hits well. On all three vehicles a rock strike on the windshield not only left a large star impact, but the crack from the impact reaches all the way to the roof pillar. The crack is long. I believe the windshield glass is substandard and needs to be looked into closer as being a possible safety risk. Replacing the windshield and camera recalibration is expensive.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 10, 2021
While driving on the highway, the front pane of the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered. No contact from a foreign object was observed or heard prior to the breakage. The roof was closed, thus our family avoided any glass showering down into our cabin, but this would have been catastrophic had it happened with the roof open. This problem has happened to prior year models of the Santa Fe. Hyundai dealership has agreed to repair the broken sunroof at no cost, however, does not admit fault with the manufacture of the glass.
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2021
The Rear Occupancy alarm, a Safety Feature, goes off commanded usually at night with the vehicle locked and unoccupied. Dealer is unable to find a fix and has no way to prevent further occurrences. They recommend disabling the system, removing this system from the safety features of this vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2021
ON 9/25/20 I FILED A VEHICLE COMPLAINT BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE HORN ON MY 2020 SANTA FE HAD TWICE WORKING, REQUIRING THE DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS. (TRACKING NUMBER 11371071.) THE HORN HAS AGAIN STOPPED WORKING AND IS BACK IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATATELY 5600 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED IN 7/20.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 11, 2020
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, WITH ONLY 252 MILES ON IT. ON THE THIRD DAY OF OWNING IT WE WERE DRIVING AND WITHIN 5 MILES THE CAR BEGAN ALARMING WITH THE CENTER DRIVER CONSOLE INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT DROPPED SLIGHTLY AND FLUCTUATED IN THE UPPER 2/3S OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE REGION. WE DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS WITHIN 10 MILES. ONCE WE WERE WITHIN HALF A MILE THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN RATTLING EVERY-TIME I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AT THIS POINT REMAINED IN THE REDLINE. IN ADDITION, DURING ALL OF THIS WE TURNED THE HEAT ON TO PULL SOME HEAT FROM THE ENGINE BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW. WE WERE WITHIN THE 3 DAY GRACE PERIOD OF NO QUESTIONS ASKED RETURN POLICY SO WE DECIDED TO RETURN THE CALL AS IT WAS BRAND NEW AND HAD SUCH A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHY THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 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 SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A SHORT, PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE AND CAR STILL DID NOT START. A DIFFERENT TOW TRUCK HAD TO COME WITH DOLLIES AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AT 4918 MILES! THANKFULLY I WAS AT HOME AND THE HEAT INDEX WAS NOT AT 105 DEGREES YET FOR THE DAY.
Other or unspecified, Jul 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 VEHICLE IS OFF (I.E. THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS AND HAZARD LIGHTS). NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TO MY DEALERSHIP, WHICH HAS TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND (4TH OF JULY). I WILL NOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER. I DID NOT LEAVE ANY LIGHTS ON OR ANY DOORS OPEN. I JUST USED MY CAR THE DAY BEFORE THIS AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON TO ALERT ME OF ANYTHING AND MY CAR IS ACTING DEAD. MORE DEAD THAN YOUR REGULAR NEEDING A JUMP START DEAD. THE ONLY THING I HAVE NOT TRIED IS JUMP STARTING IN FEAR OF INVALIDATING THE WARRANTY IN SOME WAY. THANKFUL MY CAR IS JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I'M NOT STRANDED WITH MY KID SOMEWHERE.
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2020
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 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 MEETING ABOUT 10 COLLEGE STUDENTS. SO I GET OUT OF MY CAR SINCE I HAVE THE HOUSE KEYS. MY CAR IS STILL IN PARK AND RUNNING. I DO LEAVE MY DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN ABOUT A 20-25 DEGREE ANGLE. MY FRIEND WALKS AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR. AS WE ARE WALKING TOWARD MY TOWNHOUSE, I TURN AROUND BECAUSE I HEAR A NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY SEE MY CAR NOT ROLLING BUT BACKING UP ON A SMALL INCLINE UPWARD ACROSS MY PARKING LOT. IT SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP SPEED AND THEN HITS THE BACK OF A PARKED CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR HITS THE PARKED GRAY CAMRY WITH SO MUCH MOMENTUM THAT IT BUTTERFLIES MY DRIVER'S DOOR COMPLETELY OPEN AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWS DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUES MOVING WHILE THE INSIDE OF MY DRIVER'S DOOR SCRUBS THE PARKED CAMRY. AFTER MY CAR MOVES PAST THE CAMRY IT IS STILL MOVING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. I AM YELLING AND RUNNING TO MY CAR WITH MY KEYFOB TRYING TO PUSH BUTTONS TO GET IT TO STOP. MY FRIEND IS RUNNING AND CHASING MY CAR. SHE IS ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR AND JUMP IN WHERE SHE PUSHES ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. IF SHE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT MY CAR WOULD HAVE HIT A PARKED BLACK TRUCK OR WOULD HAVE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND RAN INTO A TOWNHOUSE BEFORE IT STOPPED. ONCE MY FRIEND GOT THE CAR TO STOP. SHE LOOKED DOWN AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK AND WAS NOT MAKING THE DINGING NOISE IT USUALLY DOES WHEN IT IS IN REVERSE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 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.