Owners have reported 10 crashes, 7 fires and 9 injuries to NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Santa-FE. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints38
ENGINE
Owners report that the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently experiences excessive oil consumption, often without visible leaks, leading to symptoms like engine knocking, loss of power, and flashing oil and check engine lights. Complaints typically arise after crossing significant mileage thresholds, such as 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Safety implications include instances of vehicles stalling on highways and, in some cases, engine fires. Additionally, some owners describe finding metal flakes in the oil, indicating potential internal engine damage. These issues may represent a concern for prospective buyers considering this model, particularly those with higher mileage.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints25
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report issues with glass components, particularly sunroofs and windshields, spontaneously shattering or cracking without impact. Complaints also highlight incidents of fires occurring both while driving and when parked, with some resulting in vehicle destruction and property damage. Additionally, multiple owners describe electrical or mechanical malfunctions such as non-functioning horns and doors that fail to unlock from the inside, posing significant safety risks. Reports indicate these problems often arise at various mileage intervals, with some occurring as early as 56,000 miles. Buyers should be aware of these potential safety hazards, including the risk of crashes and fires, as well as the potential for costly repairs.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 3 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several electrical issues with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, including frequent failures of the air conditioning system, which often stops blowing cold air due to a defective evaporator temperature sensor. Complaints frequently mention problems with the vehicle's dashboard and warning lights, such as intermittent warnings for safety systems like lane departure and forward collision warning, and issues with the backup camera. Some owners describe significant electrical failures that affect multiple systems, including the inability to start the vehicle or operate key safety features. These problems are reported across a range of mileages, with some occurring under 1,000 miles and others around 59,000 miles. Safety concerns are notable, with one report involving a fire originating from the vehicle seat and another describing a vehicle rolling backward while in park, resulting in a crash and injury. These issues suggest potential risks that prospective buyers should consider.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints18
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report issues with the vehicle's power train, particularly involving transmission and engine performance. Common symptoms include transmission rough shifting, shuddering, and failure to respond when accelerating, often accompanied by warning lights such as the check engine light or transmission warning light. These problems are noted across various mileage ranges, with some occurring as early as 20,000 miles. Safety concerns include unintended acceleration, stalling in traffic, and in one instance, smoke filling the cabin due to an oil leak, which may pose risks of crashes or loss of vehicle control. Buyers considering this model should be aware of potential transmission replacements and engine issues that could affect the vehicle's reliability.
Owner complaints6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report issues with the Forward Collision Avoidance system. Complaints commonly describe the vehicle unexpectedly applying the brakes at highway speeds, even when no obstacles are present, leading to a momentary loss of control. Some owners note that the system activates multiple times during longer trips, while others experience malfunctions in adverse weather conditions, such as snow or rain, which can disable the system. One report includes an injury due to the system engaging at low speed, resulting in physical harm. Owners also mention difficulties with obtaining repairs or responses from Hyundai, with one owner experiencing a prolonged wait for parts. These issues suggest potential safety risks, including the possibility of rear-end collisions if the system acts unpredictably.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints5
STEERING
Owners report several steering-related issues with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints frequently mention a sudden loss of power-assisted steering, often accompanying engine failure, which can result in a loss of vehicle control. Symptoms such as a loose steering wheel, unusual noises during low-speed maneuvers, and persistent noise from the steering system are described. These issues are reported at varying mileage, including as early as 19,750 miles. Safety implications are significant, with one owner detailing an incident that led to a traffic citation due to an inability to control the vehicle effectively.
Owner complaints4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners report several issues with the fuel/propulsion system in the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Common symptoms include gasoline fumes entering the cabin, difficulty starting the vehicle in cold conditions, and hesitation during acceleration, with one owner noting these issues at 49,100 miles. Turbo lag is frequently mentioned, with one owner experiencing near-accidents due to delayed engine response when merging or passing, a problem acknowledged by a dealership mechanic. A crash is reported where unintended acceleration led to a collision with a garage, despite brake application. These complaints suggest potential safety implications, particularly concerning acceleration control and engine responsiveness.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints4
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe report issues with the airbag systems, particularly in situations involving crashes and passenger seat occupancy. Two complaints involve crashes where airbags failed to deploy, one in a front-end collision and another in a rear-end impact, resulting in injuries. Multiple reports describe the passenger airbag warning light activating intermittently when the front passenger seat is occupied, with one owner attributing this to an ODS ECU and seat mat failure. These issues occur both during stationary and moving conditions, and the airbag system failures pose significant safety implications, especially in crash scenarios. Buyers should be aware of these potential airbag deployment issues and the associated repair costs.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints4
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report issues with the service brakes, including unintended activation of the electronic parking brake and brake pedal malfunctions. Symptoms commonly described include the park brake engaging without user input, persistent warning lights, and brake pedal lockup, preventing the vehicle from stopping. These issues are reported to occur both while driving and when the vehicle is stationary, with some incidents leading to crashes. One owner reported a crash resulting in injury, while another described the brakes failing to stop the vehicle, causing rear-end collisions. Complaints arise at various mileage points, with one specific instance occurring around 28,000 miles. These patterns suggest potential safety risks, including loss of control and collision hazards.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe report issues with unintended acceleration and sudden deceleration. Complaints frequently mention scenarios where the vehicle unexpectedly accelerates, particularly when parking or backing up, leading to crashes in two reported cases. Another owner describes the car dramatically slowing down on the highway while using cruise control, accompanied by warning sounds. These incidents occur without apparent driver error, often after routine maintenance or during normal driving conditions. The safety implications are significant, with reported crashes and loss of control, suggesting potential risks for used car buyers to consider.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
