2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Part of Generation 4 — 2019–2023.

20192021
Complaints
246
per 10K Sold
24.2
US Sales
101,513
Crashes
16
Fires
9
Injuries
16
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

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

#162 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:31,111 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
#222 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:11,111 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#321 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:28,945 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Engine Problems
62
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
31,111
Electrical Faults
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
11,111
Transmission / Drivetrain
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,945
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
1,236
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
1,000
Sunroof/Moonroof
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,667
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
4,500
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,000
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,000
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,300
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Sump/Tank:Drain Plug
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Warning
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Trailer Hitches
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~611,197 vehicles.

23V181000Trailer Hitches
~584,784 affected

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.

21V00M000Visibility:windshield
~26,413 affected

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.

Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ

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

Is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 246 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 62 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (62 complaints, avg 31,111 mi); Electrical Faults (22 complaints, avg 11,111 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (21 complaints, avg 28,945 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 23,045 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe include 16 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 611,197 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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

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

Check Your Specific 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

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