Hyundai · Santa Fe · 2020
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
2
Recalls
178
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 2 recalls and 178 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (40 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 40 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe currently shows 2 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 178 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (40), unknown or other (23), visibility (9).
- Vehicle
- 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Recalls
- 2
- Complaints
- 178
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
15.5% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 23V181000March 17, 2023
TRAILER HITCHES
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 Status
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.
NHTSA ID: 21V00M000December 28, 2021
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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 Status
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.
Owner Complaints
178 totalENGINE
Apr 16, 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...
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SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
CRASH1 injuryApr 13, 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
ENGINE
Mar 30, 2026
The vehicle (2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2.0T, ~88,500 miles) experienced a sudden engine failure with no warning signs—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...
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ENGINE
Mar 28, 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...
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VISIBILITY
Mar 13, 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...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Feb 20, 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 ...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 17, 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...
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ENGINE
Feb 15, 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 — symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to conn...
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ENGINE
Feb 4, 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
Feb 1, 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...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 178 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2020 Hyundai models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Hyundai Santa Fe Years
2021 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.7r154c2019 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.2r183c2022 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.5r174c2018 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.2r106c2023 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.1r186c2017 Hyundai Santa FeCompare this year against 2020 for complaint and recall shifts.6r910c
More 2020 Hyundai Models
2020 Hyundai PalisadeAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.5r485c2020 Hyundai ElantraAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.3r226c2020 Hyundai TucsonAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r160c2020 Hyundai SonataAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.4r154c2020 Hyundai KonaAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r145c2020 Hyundai VenueAnother 2020 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r40c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has received 178 owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe are engine (40 reports), unknown or other (23 reports), visibility (9 reports).
Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.