Fourth generation (TM)
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
The most reported problem on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is stalling, with 29 complaints, usually around 73,000 miles.
- 213owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 13involved a crash
- 30,595median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Santa Fe doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2020 model year.
Is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 213 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 233 for 2020 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Santa Fe model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019 and 2021
- At 30 complaints for each year on the road, the 2020 runs above the 2019 (25) and close to the 2021 (28).
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 29 complaints and engine failure has 27, out of 213 in all. A quarter of the 16 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 5,000 miles, and half by about 73,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 24 of the 213 complaints (11%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 13 reports mention a crash, 9 mention a fire and 15 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 4 of 13, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling and engine failure. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 51, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 53 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 29 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
213 complaints is about the median for a 2020 model on this site and about the median for a 2020 SUV. Among the 13 Santa Fe model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai filed 110 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. 17 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 29 complaints
If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.
Check engine light or misfire 3 bulletins · 23 complaints
If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed, follow the service procedure and replace the related solenoid and harness.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related input/output speed sensor and harness.
1 more on this problem
This bulletin provides information related to an Electronic Control Module (ECM) software update which revises DTC P00D2: Oxygen Sensor Heater Control Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1 diagnostic logic.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 4 bulletins · 13 complaints
Some 2020-2021 Santa Fe (TMa) and Palisade (LX2) may intermittently experience abnormal camera image display conditions on the instrument cluster when the turn signal is turned ON or the radio screen when transmission is in Reverse.
When using Wireless CarPlay, the system may intermittently auto disconnect. When Wireless CarPlay is disconnected, a pop up message âPhone Not Responding. Please reconnect it and try againâ will appear on the radio screen.
2 more on this problem
This bulletin provides the procedure to update the TCU to optimize the Distance To Empty (DTE) display. This update includes the software for optimizing CLR_DIST (Distance traveled since DTCs cleared) display.
This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection conditions. 3.
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 2 bulletins · 8 complaints
This bulletin describes the procedure to diagnose and repair tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) DTC(s) on some 19MY and newer Santa Fe (TMA), 2021MY and newer Santa Fe Hybrid (TM HEV), 2022MY and newer Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (TM PHEV), and 2019MY and ...
This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the âTire Balance Data Sheetâ must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) ...
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 2 bulletins · 6 complaints
Certain 2019-2020MY Santa Fe and 2018-2020MY Elantra equipped with the front multifunction camera may exhibit one or more of the following warnings on the instrument cluster;
Certain 2019-2020MY Santa Fe and 2018-2020MY Elantra equipped with front camera/multi-function camera may exhibit a series of Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Front Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), and ...
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
If you are servicing any of the vehicles listed below with a harsh and/or delayed shift, use the GDS as shown in the Service Procedure to measure shift engagement time.
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 5 complaints
Certain 2020MY Santa Fe vehicles (TMA) may experience air conditioning not blowing cold air from the vents after some period of normal operation. This condition may be caused by an out of specification Evaporator Temperature Sensor.
Battery dies or the car will not start 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
This bulletin provides information related to the ECU software update for improvement of: - ISG operation in relation to the battery SOH (State Of Health) condition will be removed - ISG engagement with satisfied battery SOC (State Of Charge) will remain
Hyundai vehicles are equipped with Dark Current Control logic to help reduce amperage draw amount and conserve Battery State of Charge (SOC%).
Complaints filed by year
53 complaints came in 2026. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
All 2 recalls on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Stalling, with 29 of the 213 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 73,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Of the 71 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 5,000 miles and half by about 31,000.
Is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?
Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has more complaints than the 2019 and about as many complaints as the 2021: 30 a year against 25 and 28.
How many 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
24 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No recall on file for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.