How many problems does the 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe have?

The 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe currently has 154 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe?

The most common problems reported for the 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe Problems

ENGINE

30 complaints

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

Dec 18, 2025

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.

Dec 05, 2025

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.

Dec 04, 2025

While driving the oil light started flashing then the check engine light started flashing with no prior warning. The car was checked, it had burnt up the oil in it and then I put 3 quarts in it. It was 200 miles from needing an oil change. The engine had little to no power once oil was put in it. It died on the side of a highway. It had to be towed to a mechanic. There was no prior warning to this incident that the oil was low. This car put me and my child at risk of car accidents when on the road trying to get home with traffic behind me because the car wouldn't accelerate. I called Hyundai and they said they wouldn't help with no recall or extended warranty on the car.

Nov 10, 2025

I recently inquired about this vehicle that was for sale at Grayson Hyundai. It's has a KSDS that needs service immediately and the pre-owned manager is not willing to do that; in fact he's refusing because "They aren't Hyundai" when that is a lie and his dealership can definitely do that service. Safety is a huge concern because the engine could potentially catch on fire or worse. Nothing has been inspected or replaced or fixed at this dealership. I did not go to the dealership myself so I don't know what lights could be on. But with the recalls and this KSDS campaign service needing to be done I don't think there is anything else wrong with the vehicle.

Nov 06, 2025

+ 25 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

21 complaints

White pearl paint is chipping off from the vehicle by itself without any outside force. This is outbreaks over all Hyundai white pearl paint vics and they are not account for their defect. This problem eventually cause erosion on the body of the vehicle and treat safety of the drivers and people around it. This seems common issue with my research, please look close into this problem and protect driver and customer who have no power to defend their right.

Nov 21, 2025

My rear window suddenly shattered while I was driving. My safety was put at risk as it sounded like someone shot into my back window. The vehicle was inspected by state police.

Oct 06, 2025

I am writing to formally express my serious concerns regarding an ongoing safety issue with a certified used vehicle I purchased from McDonough Hyundai, [XXX] , in December 2024 and the dealership’s repeated failure to resolve the issue, even after a car accident occurred due to this malfunction. Two months after purchase, I discovered that my horn did not work when I attempted to use it. I brought the vehicle back for service and was told the issue had been resolved. However, the horn continued to malfunction. I have returned to the dealership approximately five times with the same complaint. Each time, I was told the horn works, yet it continues to fail intermittently. In June 2025, I was involved in a car accident and was unable to alert the other driver because the horn did not work. Despite the severity of the situation, no one at the dealership has taken appropriate action to identify or correct the issue. During my most recent visit, Service Manager [XXX] witnessed firsthand that the horn did not work. His technician pressed it once, and because it worked in that moment, the vehicle was returned to me without further inspection. This intermittent failure has still not been addressed. I have time-stamped video evidence showing the horn failing just two days after the last service visit. A non-working horn is a major safety hazard. The repeated dismissal of this issue is unacceptable. I expected better from a pre certified used vehicle. I would be happy to provide any information needed to resolve this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Sep 26, 2025

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

A few days ago, while driving on one of Chicago’s busiest expressways, my Hyundai 2020 Santa Fe with only 56,000 miles and a complete record of up-to-date maintenance, suddenly started smoking, smoke coming from under the front hood then caught fire without any warning. The fire consumed the entire front end of the vehicle from underneath the car to the top hood of car, to make matters worse, my seatbelt temporarily locked up during those critical moments, compounding the terror of the situation, potential risk to my life and property. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to escape unharmed, but I remain visibly shaken and traumatized by the experience. As you can imagine, this unexpected event has profoundly affected my peace of mind and trust in the safety of Hyundai vehicles. It is extremely concerning that a modern car, properly maintained according to its manufacturer's recommendations, could catch fire during regular operation, no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of any problems prior to the incident. I have always valued Hyundai’s engineering and safety standards, which is why I find this incident especially alarming. I am uncertain to what component failed the fire department stated it could have been either the brakes or electrical. As of writing this no official inspection to determine cause has been conducted however, I have reported the fire and filed an insurance claim and asked If they are able to determine how this happened to provide me with this information.

Jun 10, 2025

Fire: 1

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that after the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in the residential carport, she was in bed for the night and four bystanders stopped outside the contact's residence. One bystander knocked on the contact's door, the second bystander ran to the back of the house to search for a rear entrance to enter the home and the third bystander grabbed the water hose and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The contact mentioned the parts of the vehicle exploded. The fourth bystander called 911 and the contact evacuated from the home. The contact did not sustain injuries. The contact mentioned the bystanders did not sustain injuries either. No medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The fire departments arrived on the scene, and the firefighters extinguished the fire. The fire consumed the vehicle in the carport and the fire spread to the house causing damage. Fire department reports were filed but no report number was available. The vehicle currently remained on the scene. The insurance company deemed the vehicle and her home totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and an inspector from Progressive Insurance in addition to an inspector from American Modern Home Insurance out to the contact's residence after careful review they could not discover a product defect responsible for the vehicle incident. The failure mileage was 61,000.

Feb 20, 2025

Fire: 1

+ 16 more complaints for this component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

9 complaints

Unknown Sometimes when i stop the vehicle the engine shuts off and wont come back on until i put the car in park and turn the ignition off. Not safe at all when your in heavy traffic

Nov 23, 2025

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD, VIN [XXX] , 30,000 miles. Air conditioning fails to blow cold air; climate control displays -10°F, indicating a defective evaporator temperature sensor per Hyundai TSB 21-HV-002H (2021). Dealer diagnosed evaporator/thermostat failure, quoted $2,500, despite TSB specifying a $30–$50 sensor replacement. Vehicle is 9 months past 5-year warranty but under 60,000 miles. This known defect causes driver discomfort and potential visibility issues (fogging in humid conditions). I have dash photos and dealer quote. Request NHTSA investigate for recall due to widespread HVAC issues in Hyundai models. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Oct 02, 2025

The backup camera will sometimes have black lines and flash off/on while in reverse. Other times, it will display a solid blue screen and the camera doesn't show an image at all. I took it to the dealer and since they weren't able to replicate the problem, they didn't look at it. I showed them a video I recorded, but that wasn't good enough. It's happening more often and seems to mostly occur after the vehicle has been parked outside.

Jan 13, 2025

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

Jun 27, 2023

Pantalla de instrumentos se apaga instrument display turns off

Mar 26, 2023

+ 4 more complaints for this component

VISIBILITY

8 complaints

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds in hot climate, the air conditioning failed to blow cold air. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic for a second opinion, where it was diagnosed with an evaporator temperature sensor failure. The contact was informed that the evaporator temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 21-HA-001H; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

Jun 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00M000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mar 09, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00M000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted but was unable to confirm when parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that the wiper was finally repaired by using the proper glue.

Mar 09, 2023

Moon roof suddenly shattered while on the highway, no other vehicles around, nothing was thrown or anything object found to hit the car, glass was thrown in vehicle, Had to slow down due to wind entering car, dealer was called and he declined to repair, said it was an insurance problem, adjuster will be out to inspect damage, there was no warning, only a loud boom then strong outside wind, until I slowed down and pulled over.

Jan 28, 2023

The very front glass portion of the sun roof suddenly shattered . I have years of aviation experiences involving inspecting of crash damaged parts and sudden failures. This glass shows no signs of any external damage from a strike of a foreign object. It appears to be a manufactured discrepancy or a stress issues. I have enclosed some pictures of the discrepancy glass. I reported the issue to Automation Hynduia in Corpus Christi, Texas. They said it’s a common issue that falls on the owner. The warranty does not cover this issue, I also paid several thousand dollars for a extended warranty besides my new auto insurance . This is definitely a safety issue that should be addressed by the auto manufacturer. I appreciate your help in making these people accountable for this poor design that involves safety. I taped the glass to profit from the weather. Thank You

Jan 16, 2023

+ 3 more complaints for this component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

6 complaints

I was driving on the highway going about 75 to 80. My vehicle will start warning me that a car was in front of me when the cars was about 3 to 4 car links ahead of me. The emergency brake will start for at least a mile down the road. Then shut off. It will happen at least 5 times on a 4 hour trip. This really need to be fix before someone get rear end.

Jul 19, 2024

On Interstate 95 in Virginia, multiple times, going ~68-70 MPH the vehicle automatically applied the brakes causing an unsafe situation with a momentary loss of control. Multiple times this has happened with no other vehicle or obstacle in front of, or beside me. It has happened now for no reason causing the loss of control of the vehicle. We have reported this to Hyundai and they cannot find any fault code, or record of the incident. Our understanding is that this is a widespread problem with this vehicle and system, but also includes other vehicles with the same technology. We are afraid this may end up causing serious damage, injuries or fatality(ies). We have asked Hyundai to turn the system off, and they have refused. They have no solution, and we have spent time and money on this.

May 02, 2024

I was pulling out of a sidestreet and realized a car was coming and used the brake. The Automatic Braking system activated and VIOLENTLY stopped the car. I was only going about 5 miles an hour but the tremendous force from the Braking system caused my rotator cuff and my bicep to tear. It cost me thousands to pay for surgery and physical therapy. I am very worried about all the injuries that this system causes. I have since had the dealership turn it off. I can not risk being injured like that because the car thinks that there will be a collision when I know that my manual braking was sufficient. There was no chance of any accident. I had Hyundai (case # 20962390) inspect the car & they claim (after 4 different inspections) that there is no issue with the system. They also claimed that it wouldn't activate at 5mph but I know that is not true. So if it works correctly, how many people are injured? Before you mandate that the car stop at 65mph, you need to gather more info on how many injuries have occurred.

Jul 19, 2023

Injuries: 1

This vehicle has the Accident Avoidance system which is great until it snows or there's a heavy rain then you get lights on the dash and the Accident Avoidance system and cruise control turn off because the sensor gets covered with snow or heavy rain. I spoke with a service technician who said it's a know issue but there are no fixes at this time. What the sense in having a safety system that shuts off when you need it the most in bad weather. Once you clean the snow or ice off the sensor area the lights go out. It happens any speed.

Jun 01, 2023

The adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision avoidance systems in my SUV have been defective since purchase in June 2019. Hyundai has replaced the radar sensor but the dealer is waiting on a part to calibrate it which has been on indefinite backorder. I have waited over a year to have this issue fixed. I am paying a car payment which includes these features as the total cost and would like reimbursement for the cost difference, for the issue to get escalated and fixed, or the dealer to offer a vehicle buyback so that I may purchase a vehicle with no defects.

Sep 19, 2022

+ 1 more complaint for this component

POWER TRAIN

6 complaints

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that he shifted to park(P), turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure had recurred 5 times while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the immobilizer warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 30,595.

Dec 01, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated at high speed without warning. Additionally, while in traffic, the vehicle started to stall with a delay while accelerating. The contact attempted to shift into reverse however, the vehicle failed to respond with the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Jul 21, 2023

Purchased my 2020 Santa Fe august 1st 2020. Mother’s Day of 2021 I was driving to Menards for a plant. I was going 40 mph on a street and braked too slow down to go on a ramp that was 25mph. Traffic appeared and I was stopped completely. I have the “auto” stop on and it would not start back up. I had to put my car in park, turn it off and turn it back on in the middle of traffic. So scary. And this happens monthly now, since august 2021.

Apr 19, 2023

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.

Sep 27, 2022

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.

Mar 19, 2021

+ 1 more complaint for this component

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

5 complaints

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.

Dec 06, 2025

First of all the transmission locked up at 97,423 miles when I was on my way to work. It took almost a month to get this fixed under warranty. I bought the vehicle in 2021 with 55 miles on it. Now at 164,000 it has to have a new motor. It has burnt more than a quart of oil every week for the last 2 years. I have had it to the dealership multiple times to be checked and never got a response as to why it was burning oil. Then in December of 2024 I was on my way to work and the vehicle was struggling to go. I would push the gas and it would go a little but as soon as I let off the gas it would stop running. Took it to the mechanic recently (due to other issues) and was told that it is only running on 3 cylinders. Also that in order for it to stop burning 2 quarts of oil a week that the pistons needed replaced. Mechanic stated it would be cheaper and better with the other issue to replace the whole motor.

May 18, 2025

High utilization of motor oil. Using 1 quart of oil every 300miles. Hyundai dealership (Gurnee Hyundai-Illinois) completed a "combustion system cleaning" but oil consumption continues unabated. Getting run-around from dealership and manufacturer. I am original owner. Care has 87K miles.

Mar 07, 2025

I got flashing check engine light in my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0T. My car won’t rev beyond 2000rpm when it happened. Blue link app and car’s infotainment notified of P1326 Error. It is available for inspection. I was turning left in a yield on green light, I was at risk when my car stuttered and won’t rev beyond 2000rpm. I contacted my local dealer, they said they can’t take my car even for diagnosis due to no appointment availability till June 1st week. I was able to get hold of another dealer who can take my car in this Friday itself. Hyundai Roadside assistance said they will only tow vehicle to my local dealer and I would have to pay for tow charges if I go to any other dealer. They can’t provide me loaner car at all. My insurance said they won’t provide rental car unless it is an accident. My vehicle has not been inspected by anyone yet. Based on my initial research there has been class action lawsuit against Hyundai on Theta II 2.0T engines but it only covers till 2019 model. I received flashing check engine light warning in my dashboard and app notification in Bluelink about ECM fault DTC P1326. I was driving vehicle normally without any issues on engine before this happend

Mar 15, 2023

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)

Dec 23, 2022

TIRES

4 complaints

235/60R18 Tire leak & brittle texture

Aug 02, 2023

Failed tire in question: Tire failed immediately when apparent road hazard occurred on a major freeway. Exited freeway and located a area where I was able to pull over. After changing said tire (Kumho 235.60/R18) I attempted to inspect tire and found the steel belt failed (punctured). Upon further investigation I observed that the steel belt has covered with less than as less than a 1/6th inch of rubber thereby exposing the belt for a potential failure. At this point the mileage said tire was 7700. As of yet the tire warranty has not been confirmed. This tire was delivered on a new 2020Hyundai Santa Fe limited.

Sep 10, 2021

The driver rear tire may be leaking air and the pressure monitoring system shows the pressure is 27-28. The car was brought brand new from Hyundai of Torrance, CA on 20 Jan 2020 and as of this date, 23 May 2021, the mileage is 2,007 miles. I have taken the car into the dealership twice about the tire (second time was on 20 May 2021) and they keep saying they don't fix tires and it may have a slow leak. I find this unacceptable and I feel like I'm being taken advantage of (I'm a senior citizen). I plan on driving to another state and I want to ensure the safety of myself and passengers. Just now, I checked the pressure monitoring system and the light is not on. At this point, I don't know if it's tire issue or the electronic system issue. Unfortunately, I don't have any documentation, but perhaps the Hyundai dealership have something on their service database/computer.

May 23, 2021

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 40 MPH, SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 TO 15 MPH TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON MY 2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VIN: [XXX], EXPLODED RIPPING SEVERAL INCHES INTO THE SIDEWALL. HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TIRE EXPLODING AND NOTHING IN THE ROADWAY TO CAUSE SAID DAMAGE AT THE SIGHT OF THE EXPLOSION. TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION WAS ABOUT 55 DEGREES, NOT TO COLD OR TO HOT. HAD ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MILES ON THE TIRE PRIOR TO EXPLOSION, SO HEAT WAS MOST LIKELY NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM. TIRES WERE MADE BY HANKOOK TIRES, DYNAPRO HP2, SIZE 235/65/R17 104H, DOT 15M8R RT HO 2719, WITH ABOUT 29,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, VERY LITTLE WEAR AT ALL THE TIRE, WITH AIR PRESSURE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES TO ABOUT 35 TO 36 PSI WHICH WAS CHECKED ALMOST DAILY. OF ALL OF MY YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE HAD FLAT TIRES, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD A TIRE JUST EXPLODE AS IN THIS INSTANCE WITH THIS TIRE. FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN CASE OTHERS MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THESE TIRES. HANKOOK, DYNAPRO HP2, 235/65R17 104H, DOT 15M8R RT HO 2719. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mar 13, 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

2020 Sante fe with 59000 miles on it. Air stops blowing cold, I look it up and there is a TSB for the Evaporator Temperature Sensor from May of 2021. This is a safety issue because if you run the air conditioning or defroster if the sensor is bad it clicks off the compressor which can affect the fan and overheat the car. I watched it happen on my car when they ran the diagnostic trying to fix it. It came up as a bad sensor, and it clicked off the compressor. The fact that a 6 year old car with 59000 miles needs work on an air conditioner is ridiculous and in this case not safe.

Nov 03, 2025

The vehicle seat caught fire overnight, Sept 26th, and was discovered the morning of Sept 27th 2024. The fire was contained to inside the vehicle and melted parts of the driver seat and lower part of steering wheel. The vehicle interior was covered in orange dust and had extremely toxic smell inside. Insurance 3rd party inspected and declared it a total loss. A few weeks later, a neighbor and fellow Hyundai SantaFe owner mentioned that he had heard of an issue with the Santa Fe catching fire. With this new information, I called Hyundai to alert them. Hyundai opened an investigation, but closed the claim since the 3rd party that declared it a total loss had already sold it as salvage. They also denied any recalls pertaining to my specific vehicle or knowledge that electrical fire was a potential issue for this model and year. There was a recall for a tow hitch that lead to fires....but mine did not have a tow hitch. Obvious concern is that this could be a wider issue than just 1 vehicle and lives and property of those owners and others could be at significant risk.

Dec 09, 2024

Fire: 1

BRAKE HAS BEEN STICKING LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SO THAT I HAD TO PUMP BRAKE TO RELEASE TO START. THIS MORNING I WENT OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT GET INTO CAR WITH EITHER REMOTE OR BY USING BLUE LINK ON MY PHONE. I USED THE MANUAL KEY BUT COULD NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DOORS OR LIFT GATE. NO LIGHTS, HAZARDS, RADIO NO NOTHING. I HAVE HAD A FEW DEAD BATTERIES AND NEVER HAD A CAR THAT DEAD OVERNIGHT. I DROVE HOME FROM WORK PREVIOUS NIGHT AND I WAS OUTSIDE AFTER DARK NEXT TO MY CAR, NO LIGHTS LEFT ON. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, FIRST GUY SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A SHORT, PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE AND CAR STILL DID NOT START. A DIFFERENT TOW TRUCK HAD TO COME WITH DOLLIES AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY AT 4918 MILES! THANKFULLY I WAS AT HOME AND THE HEAT INDEX WAS NOT AT 105 DEGREES YET FOR THE DAY.

Aug 27, 2020

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

3 complaints

Maintenance has been maintained on this SUV. SUV has about 20,000 miles. While at a complete stop at stop light, the SUV jerked a few times and when attempting to drive the accelerator pedal the SUV would not respond. I then put in park then back in drive slow acceleration, was able to pull over. After turning SUV off and waiting a few minutes , turned SUV back on engine light is on. Home is 10min. away, engine light is on and acceleration sucks. By time I park the engine light is off. Wait 2 hrs. drive around the block no light acceleration is off. Dealership is not helpful no engine lights can 0914not tell what is wrong with SUV. Its has been a week no engine light but acceleration still fill off.

Sep 21, 2025

Driving vehicle at highway speed, engine RPMs dropped to less than 1500, could not maintain any speed, CEL illuminated. As soon as vehicle was pull to side of road, it would no longer run. It would start, idle roughly then stall out. Vehicle was towed to Mountain Hyundai in Denver. High pressure fuel pump failed, fuel pump in one cylinder failed, fuel was dumped into oil fouling all spark plugs. This is the second high pressure fuel pump failure on this vehicle.

Jun 08, 2025

Car stalling and don't move when it's in a complete stop

Jun 07, 2023

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe 2020 had it only a year my sunroof is a panoramic and it busted out of nowhere. Nothing hit it just shattered on its own when I was going down the road. I know nothing hit it because nobody was on the road near me and I looked around and saw nothing. I was told to report it here so that’s what I’m doing.

Jun 18, 2025

While driving on the highway, the front pane of the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered. No contact from a foreign object was observed or heard prior to the breakage. The roof was closed, thus our family avoided any glass showering down into our cabin, but this would have been catastrophic had it happened with the roof open. This problem has happened to prior year models of the Santa Fe. Hyundai dealership has agreed to repair the broken sunroof at no cost, however, does not admit fault with the manufacture of the glass.

Sep 10, 2021

MY CAR IS SITING IN PARK, RUNNING WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN IN MY TOWN HOUSE PARKING LOT. I GET OUT OF MY CAR TO OPEN THE PASSENGER'S BACK DOOR AS WELL AS MY TRUNK FOR HER. I THEN GET BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I AM WAITING ON MY FRIEND TO LOAD HER ITEMS INTO MY NEW SANTA FE FOR AN OUT OF TOWN RETREAT. SHE FINISHES LOADING ITEMS AND PROCEEDS TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT. AS SHE IS GETTING INTO THE CAR, "SHE SAYS SHE NEEDS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM". I TELL HER LET'S GO NOW BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON OUR TRIP. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE MEETING ABOUT 10 COLLEGE STUDENTS. SO I GET OUT OF MY CAR SINCE I HAVE THE HOUSE KEYS. MY CAR IS STILL IN PARK AND RUNNING. I DO LEAVE MY DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN ABOUT A 20-25 DEGREE ANGLE. MY FRIEND WALKS AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR. AS WE ARE WALKING TOWARD MY TOWNHOUSE, I TURN AROUND BECAUSE I HEAR A NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY SEE MY CAR NOT ROLLING BUT BACKING UP ON A SMALL INCLINE UPWARD ACROSS MY PARKING LOT. IT SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP SPEED AND THEN HITS THE BACK OF A PARKED CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR HITS THE PARKED GRAY CAMRY WITH SO MUCH MOMENTUM THAT IT BUTTERFLIES MY DRIVER'S DOOR COMPLETELY OPEN AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWS DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUES MOVING WHILE THE INSIDE OF MY DRIVER'S DOOR SCRUBS THE PARKED CAMRY. AFTER MY CAR MOVES PAST THE CAMRY IT IS STILL MOVING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. I AM YELLING AND RUNNING TO MY CAR WITH MY KEYFOB TRYING TO PUSH BUTTONS TO GET IT TO STOP. MY FRIEND IS RUNNING AND CHASING MY CAR. SHE IS ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR AND JUMP IN WHERE SHE PUSHES ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. IF SHE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT MY CAR WOULD HAVE HIT A PARKED BLACK TRUCK OR WOULD HAVE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND RAN INTO A TOWNHOUSE BEFORE IT STOPPED. ONCE MY FRIEND GOT THE CAR TO STOP. SHE LOOKED DOWN AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK AND WAS NOT MAKING THE DINGING NOISE IT USUALLY DOES WHEN IT IS IN REVERSE.

Feb 04, 2020

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

The airbag light comes on intermittently when a passenger is sitting in the front seat. Took to a LaCrosse WI Hyundai dealer for OBD code. The dealer reported the following: “Body Elect Concern. ODS ECU and Seat Mat Failure. Inspected found code b149000 found code due to ECU failure. Tested seat mat and found mat also failed due to high resistance outside of spec range. Repair estimate given at $2,800.00.

Mar 29, 2025

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

Jan 07, 2025

I WAS IN A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT AND THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH HIT ME IN THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I GOT HIT.

May 05, 2021

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

WHEELS

3 complaints

Front drivers side wheelwell cover come off on the highway, I could have had a wreck

May 19, 2024

The Driver's-side rear wheel came completely off the vehicle while traveling at 65 mph on Interstate 75. The vehicle violently swerved into the left lane, and then my wife was able to pull off to the right side of the road. She almost tipped over from the side of the road being on a steep incline. A couple of days before this, the vehicle was at the Hyundai dealership getting a 'Service' where they changed the oil and performed a 'safety' inspection. They did NOT perform the inspection, but lied on the form saying all systems passed. They reluctantly admitted that they didn't do the inspections. There were NO warning lights of any kind before or after the incident, which could have killed my wife.

Jun 23, 2022

Injuries: 1

The tires has a big noise like, it sounds like bum bum bum bum bum, and I bought this car brand new, I went To the dealer and they said there is not warranty for tires, that’s not good, because the noise still there.

Feb 11, 2022

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 complaints

There is a problem with the car's headlights. They are having to be replaced every couple months. I have taken it to the dealership and they told me it would be several hundreds of dollars to diagnose, but cannot tell me anything upon inspection other than needs replacement. We are having to purchase new bulbs every 2-3 months. One side goes out, then the other. We are being careful when replacing them, not to handle them with our fingers and using the bulb lubricant as advised per the parts store. I have receipts for multiple headlamp purchases.

Aug 29, 2025

Intermittently when you turn the left turn signal, it will be a delay of 2-3 seconds to actually turn on the lights. Usually it happens in the morning when cold.

Oct 03, 2023

SEAT BELTS

2 complaints

Nothing just have a question for me and my friends that all own newer Hyundai SUV’s that seem to be having similar seatbelt issues

Jul 17, 2025

Front passenger seat belt will no longer click and lock into place. When held in place by hand, the warning lamp turns off and the audible warning alert turns off. It has not yet been checked by any service department.

Jan 15, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

2 complaints

Vehicle killed the battery even with new alternator and new battery. Dealership does not know why and it died while at the shop. Vehicle has extremely high oil consumption and light comes on every once in a while. Vehicle started shaking and took to two dealership. Vehicle was diagnosed with a burnt valve in cylinder one. Dealer stated they have not heard of this problem. Called Hyundai representative corporate and was told they never had this problem before and have not heard of it. Out of warranty and was informed I would have to pay for it even though it is common in these vehicles.

Jun 23, 2025

Prior to these occasions, the Hyundai Santa Fe was constantly needing oil added. On top of that, starting on [XXX], my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe coded with a check engine light blinking in the upper right corner of the dashboard. I was on [XXX] in NW Indiana on my way to a meeting. The SUV would not accelerate past 2,000 rpm and bogged down on a national interstate sending me into a panic. I had my car towed back to my house. I called my brother in law, [XXX] , who sold me the vehicle in November 2020, to get advice on what to do next. I was told to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. After having my car sit there for two weeks, Webb Hyundai finally looked at it. They upgraded the knock sensor software and had the knock sensor replaced. With the plethora of things that I asked to be repaired or looked at, they only fixed the knock sensor. Due to an extended warranty, I paid $100. Two days later, the SUV got a flat tire. The SUV sat for a week or week and a half due to a flat tire and the place not having it in stock. [XXX] driving back from getting my new tire put on in Valparaiso, Indiana, the vehicle coded again on [XXX]. It caused another very dangerous situation as the vehicle slows to 2,000 rpms. Once again, I had the SUV towed back to my home in Cedar Lake, Indiana. It sat for a few days while I was deciding my next move. This time, I had the vehicle towed to Gerald Hyundai, where my brother in law works and where the vehicle was originally purchased. The vehicle arrived [XXX], 2024. The SUV only sat for one day before telling me all the work that needed to be done. Some of the charges were covered by the extended warranty. Total bill was $540. The work was done on May 13, 2024. I could not pick up the vehicle until the weekend. However, my other car was in an accident, so I did not make it until [XXX] 2024. Shortly after picking up my vehicle, the SUV coded again on [XXX] going back to Indiana. More to follow.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jun 06, 2024

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

I was backing out of a parking spot and suddenly the car accelerated backwards into a wall. The floor mat was NOT on the accelerator pedal. Obviously, I might have accidently pressed the gas pedal. But, I strongly believe I did not. For me to be mistaken, all three of the following would have to be true: 1) I would have had to put my foot on the accelerator by mistake, even though I am of sound mind and body, I was not distracted, and I have been driving for decades without having done such a thing. 2) I would have had to continue holding my foot to the gas pedal even as I felt myself racing backwards. 3) Having slammed into the wall, I would have had to be unaware that I had caused the accident. That all three conditions were true seems highly unlikely. (Not impossible. Just unlikely.) I can't imagine stepping on the gas when I meant to step on the brake and then not realizing that I was doing so and then not remembering that I had done so. Cars have computers and computers sometimes have bugs. It seems more likely that a computer glitch caused the crash. And, I suspect that, if it has happened to others, they did not report it because they assume they would not be believed. (When I told a friend of mine what had happened, he told me that, on two separate occasions, he applied the brakes on his Hyundai (a different model) only to have the engine rev up and "fight" his braking. He had to press harder on the brakes to stop his vehicle.) Question: does the onboard computer record all of the car's and computer's activities? (Note: I called the police, who came to document what had happened. I don't believe he filed an official report, but if you need what he recorded, let me know.)

Mar 24, 2025

Crash: 1

On May 17th, I had an oil change completed on my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe at a Hyundai dealership. On May 18th, I was parking my Santa Fe in a parking lot with which I am very familiar. I parked in front of the building, but realized that I had not pulled up far enough to the curb. I went to pull up a couple feet and as I started to put my foot on the gas pedal, I heard the engine roar and take off. I hit the brake, but it didn't stop, and I drove through the window and into the building. I was stunned. I have been driving for 44 years, and I have never had an accident that has been my fault. I was in shock that the car would not stop. I thought there might be a recall regarding this issue, but there wasn't. A friend told me he though he read somewhere that Kia and Hyundai were having acceleration issues. I went online and I was shocked that there are so many reports of sudden unintended acceleration and my Santa Fe was one of those vehicles. I saw one website where over 60 people with Santa Fe's have had similar issues. I was very lucky that I did not injure or kill anyone. Hyundai needs to investigate these instances, before more people are injured or killed. I feel these vehicles need to be recalled immediately. I have contacted Hyundai USA and opened a case file. After the extensive repairs to my vehicle were complete, I took my car to the dealership and instructed them to replace the throttle body assembly. To NHTSA: Please grant Defect Petition DP21-003 and investigate these issues.

Jun 29, 2022

Crash: 1

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2 complaints

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that one bolt on the fuel pump was sheared off and another was extremely loose. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 63,000.

Feb 26, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED, THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE GAS CAP HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF FORT MYERS (2850 COLONIAL BLVD, FORT MYERS, FL 33966; (239) 277-1222) WHERE THE GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,862.

Dec 09, 2020

ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 complaints

Oil leak from oil pan area. Took the car to the dealer twice to get it fix and the problem temporarily stop but now is continuing to leak again. All they did was retighten the oil plug the first time and then the second time replaced the oil plug with a new one. They said it was a bad oil plug washer and now it should stop the leak, but now it’s leaking again. Took notice of the leak when the car was parked in garage overnight and a pool of oil formed under the car again. This is scary because losing oil like this is not normal and if it continue it could seize the engine while the driver is driving it risking the safety of the driver and car.

Nov 05, 2023

Driving down the road I heard a loud noise when I stopped I noticed oil under my car. When I was 0.1 mile from my house the oil light came on. I arrived home called Hyundai and they towed the vehicle and reported that the oil plug had was missing and I need to contact the place that changed my oil last.

Mar 27, 2023

VISIBILITY/WIPER

2 complaints

I had been driving my vehicle for about 5 minutes when I heard what sounded like a loud bang or gunshot followed by the sound debris falling. I realized the front piece of my panoramic sun roof had literally exploded. When I got out to look at it the glass around the hole was pointed upwards so it looked like it exploded from the inside out. The glass had no prior damage and nothing hit it before the explosion. I was on a paved road by myself.

Sep 14, 2023

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PIN-HEAD SIZE STAR SHAPED CRACKS THAT MOSTLY CAN BE SEEN WHEN CAR IS POINTED TOWARD THE SUN. THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. I TRIED TO PHOTO BUT I CAN NOT GET A GOOD PICTURE. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING.

Jan 14, 2021

LANE DEPARTURE

2 complaints

Blind Spot System randomly fails to detect vehicle on right side, I have videos of failure. Dealer unable to find problem cause, contacted Hyundai customer service, waiting for response.

Jan 26, 2022

HYUNDAI 2020 SANTA FE LIMITED BLIND SPOT COLLISION-AVOIDANCE ASSIST (BCA) SYSTEM WHEN SET IN ACTIVE MODE AND UNDER THESE CONDITIONS ITS ACTIVATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS: IN THREE (3) OR MORE LANES OF TRAFFIC. IN NEITHER OF THE OUTER LANES. PASSING A TRUCK IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT. VEHICLE(S) IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE LEFT. VEHICLE(S) IN THE LANE ON THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT. AT SPEEDS OF 50 ' 70+ MPH. WHEN THE SANTA FE APPROACHES THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK, THE BOW WAVE OF AIR FROM THE TRUCK PUSHES THE SANTA FE TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE LINE ACTIVATING THE BCA, WHICH VIOLENTLY JERKS THE SANTA FE TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS AND THE SANTA FE IS MOVED VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE RIGHT LINE LANE, THE BSA DETECTS THE TRUCK (OR OTHER VEHICLES) IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, AND VIOLENTLY JERKS THE SANTA FE TOWARD THE LEFT HAND LANE. UPON DOING SO THE SANTA FE BSA AGAIN DETECTS VEHICLES IN THE LEFT HAND LANE AND AGAIN IMMEDIATELY JERKS THE SANTA FE TOWARD THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THIS ACTION CONTINUALLY OCCURS UNTIL THE DRIVER FORCIBLY REGAINS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND/OR DEPRESSES THE BRAKE. THIS REPEATED VIOLENT JERKING THE SANTA FE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LANE IT'S IN HAS VERY NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN AT LEAST TWO (2) OCCASIONS (OCT 27 & 28, 2020) UNTIL WE FOUND THAT THE BCA COULD BE DEACTIVATED AND SET TO WARNING ONLY. THIS VIOLENT ACTION OF THE BCA SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SANTA FE VEHICLE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.

Nov 12, 2020

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND THE FRAME. THERE ARE TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT SHOWING THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATE CUTTING OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP.

Sep 10, 2020

Crash: 1

HAVE ONLY HAD THE 2020 SANTAFE 2.0T FOR A FEW WEEKS - 1,000 MILES. IT IS GOING TO THE SHOP (SELLING DEALER). THE TURBO LAG HAS ALMOST GOT ME T-BONED TWICE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DID NOT SEEM THIS WAY ON THE TEST DRIVE. THE OVERALL POWER HAS GONE DOWN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE - HAH, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM, BECAUSE THAT TURBO LAG WILL BITE YOU IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU PULL OUT AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO KICK IN. AFTER AN INSPECTION BY THE DEALER - THEY SAID " NOTHING IS WRONG, IT IS PERFORMING EXACTLY AS DESIGNED AND WITH SPECS". REALLY SCARY WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER TELLS YOU - "IT IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". I TAKE THAT TO MEAN THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW/DEFECT. THE DEALER THEN SAID - JUST DRIVE IT IN THE "SPORT" MODE AND IT WILL NOT BE AS BAD. THAT IS LUDICROUS. THE DEFAULT MODE IS "COMFORT" AND THAT IS WHERE THE BEST RIDE AND PERFORMANCE, MILEAGE, ETC. IS TO BE ACHIEVED. I TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER'S MECHANIC. HE ADVISED THAT HE GETS THIS COMPLAINT EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT IS A SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT INHERENT IN THE ENGINE. HE CHECKED FOR ANY ERROR CODES OR SOFTWARE UPDATES - NONE ARE PRESENT OR AVAILABLE. THE MECHANIC VERBALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE "ENGINE LAG" IS CLEARLY THERE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SERVICE WRITER COMPLETED THE TICKET, HE WROTE THAT THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE UN-TRUTH. IN MY OPINION - THIS IS A VERY CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OR PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE.

Jan 03, 2020

TRAILER HITCHES,ENGINE

1 complaint

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH onto the ramp, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle stalled and shut off, and the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact was calling for Roadside Assistance and noticed white smoke coming from under the hood. The stated that the smoke then turned dark brown and then black, and then flames appeared under the hood. The contact grabbed several things of value and exited the vehicle and started running. The vehicle was engulfed in flames, and the EDR was destroyed. The contact sustained minor scratches after falling while running away from the vehicle. No medical attention was sought. The Police and Fire Department were called to the scene. The contact stated that a Police report was not filed due to the incident not being related to a crash. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The local dealer where the vehicle was purchased was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had been purchased two months prior to catching on fire. The vehicle was inspected by the Insurance provider and declared a total loss. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000 (TRAILER HITCHES); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 94,400.

Nov 25, 2025

Fire: 1

Injuries: 1

ENGINE,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and lost power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted immediately. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had an air leak with the fuel. The contact added that the leak was stopped after an undisclosed repair, but the failure reoccurred a day later. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was then taken to the same dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred two days later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,700.

Nov 13, 2025

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report repeated safety system failures in my Hyundai vehicle that have resulted in significant injury and ongoing hardship. The first incident occurred in 2021, when my vehicle was struck from the front by another driver who fled the scene. Despite the impact causing visible front-end damage, the airbags did not deploy, and the seatbelt did not engage properly. The vehicle was repaired by an authorized Hyundai dealership, yet at no point was I informed that the vehicle’s safety systems might be compromised or that it should not be driven. The second and more severe incident occurred in December 2024, when my vehicle was rear-ended by a commercial truck and subsequently pushed into four other vehicles. Once again, neither the airbags deployed nor the seatbelt engaged, resulting in multiple bodily injuries for which I am still undergoing treatment. After reporting this second failure to Hyundai, I was informed that the airbags and seatbelts may not activate when the vehicle is struck from behind. However, this explanation does not address the fact that the same safety failures occurred in the 2021 front-end collision as well. I believe these repeated malfunctions indicate a serious defect in the vehicle’s safety restraint and airbag systems that poses an ongoing danger to drivers and passengers. I am requesting a full investigation into these safety system failures, including whether the dealership’s repair process or Hyundai’s design or manufacturing contributed to these malfunctions. Due to these failures, I have experienced significant physical injury, emotional trauma, and ongoing medical issues, and I am seeking appropriate accountability and resolution.

Oct 14, 2025

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. After scanning the vehicle, the contact received a code for torque converter damage. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the TCM update was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The oil light was illuminated and then turned off. The contact became aware that the engine oil was 4 1/2 quarts low, and it was determined there was an oil consumption issue with the engine. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Oct 01, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

*Problem Parts:I only could check 1 box- should be Brakes and Steering too *ADAS: Lane Keeping Assistance too Over the course of two days, my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced a serious electrical and safety system failure. It started with the blind spot monitoring lights flickering in the side mirrors and warnings for Forward Collision Avoidance (disabled), ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Downhill Brake Control, Parking Brake & Brake Fluid (blinking red). The rearview camera failed and the screen remained on the radio display when in reverse. The Lane Keeping Assist Indicator shifted from white/green to orange. The next morning, I had trouble opening the vehicle with the key fob. Auto Hold, Master Warning, Forward Collision, ESC, and Downhill Brake Control lights were now steadily on. The MPH numbers on the dash were blurred, and a message appeared saying “Put in P” even though the vehicle was already parked. The accessories light came on, but the engine would not start. Interior lights continued to work. I had to manually open the car and start it by pressing the fob to the button. While trying to exit a parking garage (where a tow truck couldn’t reach me), more warnings appeared: AWD, Low Tire Pressure, Malfunction Indicator (not engine), and Power Steering. I felt tightness in the wheel and had to pull over. The temp and gas gauges dropped to zero along with the RPMs. I have a newer car battery and recently replaced fob batteries, so this was not a simple battery failure. I’ve reported the issue to Hyundai Consumer Affairs. No recall appears under my VIN, despite similar failures being widely reported in this model. I’m a single parent who typically drives with two young children, including one with serious medical needs. I rely heavily on this vehicle for medical travel. The vehicle has since been towed to a Hyundai dealership for diagnostics. This is a serious safety concern and could have led to a loss of control or failure in an emergency situation

Jul 28, 2025

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

June 2020 I purchased the car brand new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 2.5L from dealership, after the first year I started having issues with my display monitor just shutting off and my car going idle at red lights or when I’m sitting in traffic. I’ve never been in an accident and I’m not a reckless driver to my standards besides occasional potholes, the car going idle happened 3 times before I reached out to a dealership asking questions only for them to tell me, “it sounds like I’m using the start-Stop feature too much and it’s not recommended to be used often”. So I stopped using it completely. Fast forward throughout the years, it still happened about 5-10 times a year for the past few years, I’ve learned to hurry up and put it in park, give it gas, then put it in drive. Fast forward 2025, Feb I was passed due for an oil change about 300-500 miles the the oil light came on and when I check it myself the oil tank was completely empty, I assumed it was normal since I was passed due for an oil change, and a family friend told me that wasn’t normal, I follow the recommended oil change interval on my warranty paperwork 7,500 even set my car to it, after the oil change my car was fine. I took it in at 130,284 miles, fast forward June 2025, I start my car a morning for work & it’s at 135,658 miles, the oil light comes back on and I notice it’s completely empty again. 2nd time it’s happened this year, and two family friends that are licensed mechanics tell me that’s not normal especially if I’ve gotten an oil change this year & it’s seems like the engine is burning oil too quick. I took it in to get another oil change, tell them about the issue of it being empty when I’ve been this year and it doesn’t seem right, the dealership & a local quick oil change place tells me it’s due to me not bringing it in for regular maintenance. There are no lights on on my dashboard, and when I called the dealership to ask about using the lifetime powertrain warranty I have, I have to pay.

Jun 11, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Frequent intermittent dash warning lights, no speed indicated, no tach indicated, cycles through warnings of safety systems malfunctioning. No lane departure, no adaptive cruise, no cruise, no forward collision warning, no blind spot warning. The disabling of these systems puts all drivers at risk. Dealership replaced front camera and windshield to fix this issue. Not fixed, continues to alarm at random times while driving.

May 28, 2025

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

Engine oil disappear at 2,000 miles. Car dead stop while driving without any warning ️ break fails at 95 degrees curves. Steering wheel loose and make noise. Hyundai dealer refused to fix the issue.

Mar 19, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

Back up camera glitches. Causes driver assist to take control at times when not necessary. Have has this in for service at least 4 times since purchasing vehicle in 2020. Service states repaired each time bit eventually happens again. This last time is getting more severe cause multiple electrical short in Overhead lights, Panoramic roof failure to close at times and rear hatch sometimes only partially opens. I saw recent recall for 2021 and 2022 Santa fe's, I believe this problem is what is happening with my 2020 Santa fe and the scope of the recall should be expanded.

Dec 03, 2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at higher speeds, the vehicle experienced a momentary loss of motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. An unknown local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to Auto Zone where a diagnostic scanner was used to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was informed that the MAP sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto Parts where, the DTC code: P2565; was retrieved. The contact stated that the spark plugs, and the MAP sensor were previously replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,363.

Nov 27, 2024

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

The park break keeps turning on by its self, rather I'm driving or sitting at a light or stopped at a stop sign. Putting me and my passengers as well as the other motorist on the road at risk for collision.There is an orange EPB light that never goes off that came on about two months ago, and the emergency park break started being engaged without me engaging it after last driving the car, every time I get back in the car. A red park break light comes on and continously blinks and that has been happening for the last month and a half. The breaks lock and I have to keep pushing the park break disengage button and turning the car off several times to get it to disengage at some point, while in traffic. I haven't had this problem checked out yet, because it is so costly, but I plan to.

Sep 14, 2024

SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I parked my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe in a hospital parking garage on the morning of July 30, 2024. I was getting ready to leave after my doctor’s appointment. I slowly reversed my car and hit a pillar behind me. As I put the car into drive to come forward slowly, the car accelerated forward at a very fast speed. I took my foot off of the gas and kept pressing the brake pedal, but the car kept speeding forward on its own and I crashed headfirst into a concrete wall. The impact cracked the concrete barrier on the outside of the parking garage. The air bags deployed, causing fractures in my sternum and L1 vertebrae. This accident occurred near the elevators/stairs and cars were all around. IF a person had been walking in my path to get to their car, he/she would have been severely hurt or killed. I was able to frantically steer the accelerating car into a handicap parking space and crash into the concrete wall, thus avoiding other cars. If that space was not available, my car could have crashed into another car with people inside. We were just told that the car is going to be totaled. If necessary, it could be inspected before that happens. I thought that I was going to die… the car was out of control. I do not want this to happen to others with this type of car…or put others in its path at risk.

Aug 01, 2024

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

While driving on the highway loss of power and all the light on the info area lit up had to pull over on shoulder and shut off car and restart. And on two separate occasion while on low speed local road brake pedal locked up and I could not stop the car using the brake it was like it was press down already and I was unable to stop.

Jul 19, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

Sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving on the highway. There were no other vehicles around and nothing visibly seen that hit the roof.

Feb 11, 2024

STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

La guagua a tenido problemas con el tren delantero. Comenzó con un sonido en el Guía. La Hyundai le reparo esa pieza y luego continuó con el mismo ruido. Ahora tienen que cambiarle el Rack and Piñogn. Mi guagua tiene solo 19,750 millas creo que vino mala de fábrica.

Dec 11, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Numerous different occasions since I bought the vehicle this year in March 2023 when on highway, side streets and even in parking lots with nothing, no cars no objects or humans in front or behind the vehicle my forward collision warning and rear end collision warning has came on which caused the car to break on its own and it is a safety concern. I have been to the dealer numerous times since I’ve bought the vehicle and currently have reached out to Hyundai Motors of America and pretty much got told to suck it up nothing they can do for me as the computer isn’t showing any codes or issues my car has now been at dealership where I bought it for 2 weeks now and no resolution besides come get the car and figure it out on my own and as a single mother with a child with disabilies I don’t know what else to do.

Oct 18, 2023

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

Catalytic converter is failing Lane collision warning failing driver side rear view mirror

Oct 12, 2023

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

I was driving and heard a sound like an explosion. When I was able to safely pull over, I examined my 2020 Sante Fe and noticed the panel of glass right before sunroof exploded. No rock hit it, just exploded.

Aug 23, 2023

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

I was driving on an interstate highway at approximately 75 mph. I had cruise control activated. Suddenly the car dramatically slowed down, accompanied by rapid beeping noise. Luckily, there was no one close behind me.

Jun 24, 2023

TRAILER HITCHES

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:23V181000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Jun 06, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

On Thursday, May 11, 11:45 am, I experienced a distressing incident at Moulton Elementary School in Laguna Niguel, CA, 92677. my car was parked near the school building, with the engine turned off and the gear set to park. I was there to pick up my children, and at that time, nobody was inside the vehicle. Unexpectedly, my car started moving backward as if in neutral gear, despite being in park mode. I estimate I was approximately 10 feet from the vehicle in front of the school building. The situation was alarming because numerous children were nearby, which could have resulted in a tragedy. Thankfully, no one was injured or hit by the moving vehicle. Instinctively, I attempted to stop the car by using my entire body to push against it. Unfortunately, my efforts were unsuccessful, and as a result, I sustained severe back pain. I have been on bed rest for the past five days due to the discomfort caused by the incident. Subsequently, the vehicle collided with another car, which belonged to a teacher. The incident shocked everyone, and the reason behind the car's unexpected movement remains unclear. Later, I discovered through online research that my car was actually on the recall list, but I had not been informed of this beforehand. As a result of the incident, we contacted the police, and they arrived at the scene can confirm that the car was indeed in park gear during the incident. It is vital to investigate this matter thoroughly to determine the cause of the vehicle's accidental movement and prevent future accidents. I hope that this statement provides a clear account of the accident that occurred at Moulton Elementary School. I strongly urge authorities and the involved parties to take immediate action to address the issues surrounding my car's movement and prevent any similar incidents from happening again.

May 18, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

Large sections of paint peeling from vehicle. Paint starts to bubble and then crack in large pieces. One section has peeled and flew onto the windshield while driving. Hyundai has recently had issues with this white color paint and it is continuing to be a problem. Report has been made to Hyundai with no resolution.

Mar 26, 2023

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

Vehicle not moving transmisión fail after u turn off the engine it will work again Oil leak by bolt in the oil pan

Mar 03, 2023

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1 complaint

Driver’s door is not opening brought it to freeman Hyundai here in Irving and after a month I am still experiencing the same problem.

Sep 04, 2022

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

The Windshield cracked without anything striking it. The windshield is being replaced at my expense. There is wind noise coming from the area below the crack where it is attached to the vehicle.

Jul 13, 2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was not able to stop immediately while the brake pedal was depressed, causing his vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. The failure recurred on a separate occasion while the contact's husband was driving, and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle from crashing into their daughter's residence. The air bags did not deploy in either collision. No injuries were sustained and no medical attention was received for either collision. No police report was filed for either collision. The contact's husband was able to drive the vehicle away from both the scenes of the collisions. The vehicle's front end was damaged; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

May 05, 2022

Crash: 1

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

We are experiencing exactly what is listed in HYUNDAI TSB #21-BE-005H: intermittent abnormal camera image display conditions on the instrument cluster when the turn left signal is turned on or the radio screen when transmission is in reverse.

Mar 23, 2022

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

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.

May 12, 2021

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST.

Feb 04, 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, WITH ONLY 252 MILES ON IT. ON THE THIRD DAY OF OWNING IT WE WERE DRIVING AND WITHIN 5 MILES THE CAR BEGAN ALARMING WITH THE CENTER DRIVER CONSOLE INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT DROPPED SLIGHTLY AND FLUCTUATED IN THE UPPER 2/3S OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE REGION. WE DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS WITHIN 10 MILES. ONCE WE WERE WITHIN HALF A MILE THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN RATTLING EVERY-TIME I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AT THIS POINT REMAINED IN THE REDLINE. IN ADDITION, DURING ALL OF THIS WE TURNED THE HEAT ON TO PULL SOME HEAT FROM THE ENGINE BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW. WE WERE WITHIN THE 3 DAY GRACE PERIOD OF NO QUESTIONS ASKED RETURN POLICY SO WE DECIDED TO RETURN THE CALL AS IT WAS BRAND NEW AND HAD SUCH A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHY THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED.

Sep 11, 2020

VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Jun 19, 2020

STEERING

1 complaint

STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE DURING BACK UP, FROM STOP TO MOTION (LOW SPEED) MAKING TURNS. SOMETIMES HAPPENED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING AS WELL. THE FREQUENCY IS GETTING MORE AND MORE, VERY ANNOYING AND LITTLE BIT SCARY. WORRY STEERING WHEEL WILL BREAKDOWN. *TR

May 27, 2020

2020 HYUNDAI Santa Fe Problems & Complaints

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