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
213 reports, newest first.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED, THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE GAS CAP HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF FORT MYERS (2850 COLONIAL BLVD, FORT MYERS, FL 33966; (239) 277-1222) WHERE THE GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,862.
Lane departure, Nov 12, 2020
HYUNDAI 2020 SANTA FE LIMITED BLIND SPOT COLLISION-AVOIDANCE ASSIST (BCA) SYSTEM WHEN SET IN ACTIVE MODE AND UNDER THESE CONDITIONS ITS ACTIVATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS: IN THREE (3) OR MORE LANES OF TRAFFIC. IN NEITHER OF THE OUTER LANES. PASSING A TRUCK IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT. VEHICLE(S) IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE LEFT. VEHICLE(S) IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT. AT SPEEDS OF 50 ' 70+ MPH. WHEN THE SANTA FE APPROACHES THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK, THE BOW WAVE OF AIR FROM THE TRUCK PUSHES THE SANTA FE TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE LINE ACTIVATING THE BCA, WHICH VIOLENTLY JERKS THE SANTA FE TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS AND THE SANTA FE IS MOVED VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE RIGHT LINE LANE, THE BSA DETECTS THE TRUCK (OR OTHER VEHICLES) IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, AND VIOLENTLY JERKS THE SANTA FE TOWARD THE LEFT HAND LANE. UPON DOING SO THE SANTA FE BSA AGAIN DETECTS VEHICLES IN THE LEFT HAND LANE AND AGAIN IMMEDIATELY JERKS THE SANTA FE TOWARD THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THIS ACTION CONTINUALLY OCCURS UNTIL THE DRIVER FORCIBLY REGAINS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND/OR DEPRESSES THE BRAKE. THIS REPEATED VIOLENT JERKING THE SANTA FE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LANE IT'S IN HAS VERY NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN AT LEAST TWO (2) OCCASIONS (OCT 27 & 28, 2020) UNTIL WE FOUND THAT THE BCA COULD BE DEACTIVATED AND SET TO WARNING ONLY. THIS VIOLENT ACTION OF THE BCA SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SANTA FE VEHICLE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
Electrical system, Sep 25, 2020
WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. (THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT DIDN'T.) THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK. THE DETERMINATION WAS THAT THE "DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING HAS INTERNAL MALFUNCTION". THE PAPERWORK SHOWS THAT IT WAS REPLACED. YESTERDAY, APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. (BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE, SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR.)
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 10, 2020, crash
I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND THE FRAME. THERE ARE TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT SHOWING THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATE CUTTING OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP.
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
Steering, 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
Engine, Mar 16, 2020, fire
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 THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WAS REPLACED. LATER, AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS TAKEN AS THEY BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 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 INSPECTION BY THE DEALER - THEY SAID " NOTHING IS WRONG, IT IS PERFORMING EXACTLY AS DESIGNED AND WITH SPECS". REALLY SCARY WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER TELLS YOU - "IT IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". I TAKE THAT TO MEAN THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW/DEFECT. THE DEALER THEN SAID - JUST DRIVE IT IN THE "SPORT" MODE AND IT WILL NOT BE AS BAD. THAT IS LUDICROUS. THE DEFAULT MODE IS "COMFORT" AND THAT IS WHERE THE BEST RIDE AND PERFORMANCE, MILEAGE, ETC. IS TO BE ACHIEVED. I TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER'S MECHANIC. HE ADVISED THAT HE GETS THIS COMPLAINT EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT IS A SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT INHERENT IN THE ENGINE. HE CHECKED FOR ANY ERROR CODES OR SOFTWARE UPDATES - NONE ARE PRESENT OR AVAILABLE. THE MECHANIC VERBALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE "ENGINE LAG" IS CLEARLY THERE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SERVICE WRITER COMPLETED THE TICKET, HE WROTE THAT THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE UN-TRUTH. IN MY OPINION - THIS IS A VERY CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OR PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE.