2020 Hyundai Santa FE problems
Owners have filed 288 complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 24.7% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 9%.
Complaints288
Crashes18
Fires12
Injuries21
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine 24.7% · 71
Unknown or other 13.9% · 40
Electrical system 9.0% · 26
Power train 8.3% · 24
Forward collision avoidance 6.6% · 19
Visibility 4.9% · 14
Fuel/propulsion system 4.2% · 12
Lane departure 3.5% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 18 describe a crash, 12 describe a fire and 21 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Hyundai Santa FE in this data, 2020 sits 17th by complaint volume. 2017 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 162 in the last three years against 106 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 5,800 miles.
In owners' own words
I took it to Hyundai Dealership in November 2025 and did the Service Campaign 9C2 and TSB 25-01-087H software update. Since that happened my engine is jumpy and I have taken it back to dealer and they can't find anything. Several people with this issue have been found since on several forums after having the update. One said the dealer knows about the issue and so does Hyundai, but when I ask they know nothing. Engine
Change the oil in the engine and found metal flakes in the oil. Took it to the dealership and they stated this is normal. After going to another dealership they found that this was not normal and had to replace the motor. Now three (3) months later the check engine light is flashing. It has a code of P1326. Was told this could be a knock sensor or it could be something wrong ever further into the engine. Engine
After 110,000, the engine started using oil and it began to knock. According to the history of these engines, it will lead to engine failure. They have a record of being a lemon engine and there is not a engine of this type that this does not happen. The engine needs to recalled and replaced, They are the Theda II GDI series of 2.0L and 2.4L four-cylinder engines from Hyundai/Kia. Engine
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…