IllustrationExcessive oil burn off. Oil is getting into the cylinder, causing scorching. This causing engine failure.
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 44 of 209 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports
Engine complaints
76 reportsOil drain plug seal leaking, can’t tighten the bolt with the required torque setting to keep it from leaking.
After 110,000, the engine started using oil and it began to knock. According to the history of these engines, it will lead to engine failure. They have a record of being a lemon engine and there is not a engine of this type that this does not happen. The engine needs to recalled and replaced, They are the Theda II GDI series of …
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After 110,000, the engine started using oil and it began to knock. According to the history of these engines, it will lead to engine failure. They have a record of being a lemon engine and there is not a engine of this type that this does not happen. The engine needs to recalled and replaced, They are the Theda II GDI series of 2.0L and 2.4L four-cylinder engines from Hyundai/Kia.
2020 Hyundai SantaFe Limited AWD ... burning excessive oil. This only was noticed because the low oil light intermittently started coming on, and has only started happening in the last few months. low oil indicator flashing - 4QT low, went for an immediate oil change 78788 miles - oil changed 80252 miles - low oil - added 1QT …
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2020 Hyundai SantaFe Limited AWD ... burning excessive oil. This only was noticed because the low oil light intermittently started coming on, and has only started happening in the last few months. low oil indicator flashing - 4QT low, went for an immediate oil change 78788 miles - oil changed 80252 miles - low oil - added 1QT 80628 miles - low oil - added 1QT 81376 miles - oil changed 81999 miles - low oil - added 1QT 82755 miles - low oil - added 2QT These are the most recent events since we started logging it.
2020 SantaFe Limited AWD with ~81200 miles. This is the 3rd or 4th time the P07410 code pops up with the Engine Check light. Hyundai said they found no issues and cleared the code, again. There was once when the code came up and it cleared itself after 50 miles. Not sure exactly what the cause is and Hyundai is saying "there…
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2020 SantaFe Limited AWD with ~81200 miles. This is the 3rd or 4th time the P07410 code pops up with the Engine Check light. Hyundai said they found no issues and cleared the code, again. There was once when the code came up and it cleared itself after 50 miles. Not sure exactly what the cause is and Hyundai is saying "there is nothing wrong". Most recent occurrence Sept.4.2025.
Excessive oil consumption under warranty, . Hyundai says its normal consumption within 1,000 miles. engine its doing stalls now.
My engine has been sucking up oil since the day I bought it. Once I hit 100k miles it started sucking up oil faster than the recommended oil changes. I was driving home two weeks ago. I went to get in a major highway and she would not go past 35 mph. I went to trade it in and was told it needs a new engine and a new turbo. This …
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My engine has been sucking up oil since the day I bought it. Once I hit 100k miles it started sucking up oil faster than the recommended oil changes. I was driving home two weeks ago. I went to get in a major highway and she would not go past 35 mph. I went to trade it in and was told it needs a new engine and a new turbo. This is a known problem and Hyundai will not fix it. This car is not even 4 years old. I got it in April 2021
I had been driving about 1.5 hours when I exited the Interstate and the car engine shut off at a traffic light. When I shifted the car into park and tried to restart the car, smoke filled the cabin. Unbeknownst to me, an oil leak occurred while driving. No warning lights or other indicators that anything was awry. I had the v…
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I had been driving about 1.5 hours when I exited the Interstate and the car engine shut off at a traffic light. When I shifted the car into park and tried to restart the car, smoke filled the cabin. Unbeknownst to me, an oil leak occurred while driving. No warning lights or other indicators that anything was awry. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Hyundai dealer. Though the suv is under warranty, they say the oil leak was caused by improper oil plug installation at the last oil change. The oil leak caused the motor to seize and the resulting damage is in excess of $10,000. Hyundai says the warranty won't cover this as it is a service issue. Jiffy Lube says their technician did nothing incorrect and they won't take responsibility for the repairs.
Excessive oil consumption. Mechanic who changed oil said oil level was too low and he could find no leaks. He said this is a known Hyundai problem. The dealer acknowledged this. There was no warning light saying the oil was low. It was discovered during a routine oil change.
I had my oil changed at a reputable service center November 19, 2025 and the mechanic said my oil drip pan and plug needed to be replaced in the next few months because they were showing wear and could fail. He asked if I knew about a pending lawsuit against Hyundai concerning these items causing major issues. I said I was unaw…
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I had my oil changed at a reputable service center November 19, 2025 and the mechanic said my oil drip pan and plug needed to be replaced in the next few months because they were showing wear and could fail. He asked if I knew about a pending lawsuit against Hyundai concerning these items causing major issues. I said I was unaware, so I researched it. It seems to be legit. During my research there were multiple reports that many had oil leaking problems and some owners reported that the vehicle completely stopped running. That is especially dangerous driving on an Interstate. I was quoted about $350.00 to replace the pan and plug but I was told to contact the local dealership to see if they would replace it. They wanted $215.00 for a diagnostic plus parts and labor. That is quite a chunk of money for a drip pan and plug.
Official recalls
223V181000 · Trailer Hitches
Mar 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
21V00M000 · Visibility:windshield
Dec 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.