IllustrationVehicle not moving transmisión fail after u turn off the engine it will work again Oil leak by bolt in the oil pan
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
Power Train complaints
26 reportsAs I was driving on the highway, the engine oil light came on. As I was trying to safely get off highway, the engine light came on. The engine stopped operating, but I was able to coast to a safe spot off highway. Car would not start after that. Towed to dealership. Noticeable oil was on the flat bed. Have not received update on…
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As I was driving on the highway, the engine oil light came on. As I was trying to safely get off highway, the engine light came on. The engine stopped operating, but I was able to coast to a safe spot off highway. Car would not start after that. Towed to dealership. Noticeable oil was on the flat bed. Have not received update on vehicle from the dealership. Car is available for inspection. The safety of me and my family were are risk due to not being able to accelerate on the highway. Oil light came on first. 5 minutes later engine light came on. DTC P123600 appeared in my Hyundai app. Car is owned by me and my wife (Jennifer Reardon)
On 07/12/2020 My 2020 SANTA FE Slipped out of park while in garage. It rolled backward until it hit neighbor's porch damaging my tailgate and tail light. It was taken to Hyundai dealership and they said they could not replicate the problem. On about 08/28/22 The next incident was the transmission slipped down into low gear…
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On 07/12/2020 My 2020 SANTA FE Slipped out of park while in garage. It rolled backward until it hit neighbor's porch damaging my tailgate and tail light. It was taken to Hyundai dealership and they said they could not replicate the problem. On about 08/28/22 The next incident was the transmission slipped down into low gear and would not go over 40 MPH. Again the dealer cannot replicate and the car is still at he dealer.
NEW 2020 SANTAFE TOOK DELIVERY ON JANUARY 4TH, 2021, WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON MARCH 21ST THE VEHICLE REFUSE TO START AFTER IT WAS STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START IT GETTING FORWARD COLLUSION WARNING BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WAS TOLD THEY …
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NEW 2020 SANTAFE TOOK DELIVERY ON JANUARY 4TH, 2021, WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON MARCH 21ST THE VEHICLE REFUSE TO START AFTER IT WAS STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START IT GETTING FORWARD COLLUSION WARNING BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT READ THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, UNABLE TO SAY WHAT'S WRONG. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE MAYBE LIGHTING STRIKE AND OTHER THEORIES WHAT'S WRONG. THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE FUSE AND COMPUTER AFTER 52 DAYS THE CARE IS STILL AT THE DEALER WAITING ON PARTS. TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH NO RECOURSE AT THE MOMENT, HYUNDAI MOTOR OF AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WANTS US TO SIGN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO REFUND OUR EXPENSES AND HAVE NOT FIXED OR REPLACED THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURE IS TOTALLY DRAGGING THEIR FEET AND DENYING THE CAR SUFFER A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, WHILE THE BATTERY WAS STILL IN WORKING CONDITION ACCORDING TO AAA.
THERE ARE THREE ISSUES: 1.) IN SPORT MODE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES GET STUCK/HUNG IN GEAR (MAYBE GEAR 3 OR GEAR4) AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, EVEN WHEN INCREASING SPEED. 2.) ALSO IN SPORT MODE, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN SLIP INTO GEAR 5, AFTER REVVING HIGH AND CAN …
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THERE ARE THREE ISSUES: 1.) IN SPORT MODE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES GET STUCK/HUNG IN GEAR (MAYBE GEAR 3 OR GEAR4) AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, EVEN WHEN INCREASING SPEED. 2.) ALSO IN SPORT MODE, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN SLIP INTO GEAR 5, AFTER REVVING HIGH AND CAN BE HEARD REVVING, BUT IT IS NOT REFLECTED ON THE TACHOMETER, AND THEN WHEN THE GEAR CATCHES IT IS A VIOLET JERK FORWARD. 3.) LASTLY, IN ANY MORE, BUT MOST PRONOUNCED IN "SMART MODE" AFTER TAKING OUT FROM A COMPLETE STOP, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ENGINE GOES INTO AUTO SHUT OFF MODE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL STUTTER AT ABOUT 3 - 5 MPH AND FEELS AS IF POWER HAS BEEN LOST FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS IS MOST TERRIFYING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO TRAFFIC, AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN OR NOT.
WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE AUTO ENGINE TURN OFF KICKS IN AS EXPECTED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE BEHAVIOR IS VERY ERRATIC WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE JUMPS AGGRESSIVELY WITHOUT ME APPLYING ANY ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES THE ENGINE JUST STARTS AND THE VEHICLE DOES NO…
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WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE AUTO ENGINE TURN OFF KICKS IN AS EXPECTED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE BEHAVIOR IS VERY ERRATIC WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE JUMPS AGGRESSIVELY WITHOUT ME APPLYING ANY ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES THE ENGINE JUST STARTS AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL I APPLY SOME ACCELERATION. I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CARS INFRONT OF ME FEW TIMES. I GOT WAY TOO SKEPTICAL AND BEGAN TURNING OFF THE AUTO TURN OFF FEATURE WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR.
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.