Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
Inadequate Windshield Bonding
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (213)
213 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 213 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 78 | 36.6% |
| Unknown or other | 42 | 19.7% |
| Power train | 26 | 12.2% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 11.7% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 14 | 6.6% |
| Visibility | 14 | 6.6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 5.6% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 4.7% |
| Lane departure | 8 | 3.8% |
| Structure | 8 | 3.8% |
How 2020 compares with other Santa Fe years
Best and worst Santa Fe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 236 | 3 |
| 2017 | 968 | 6 |
| 2018 | 109 | 2 |
| 2019 | 201 | 2 |
| 2020 | 213 | 2 |
| 2021 | 166 | 7 |
| 2022 | 199 | 5 |
| 2023 | 210 | 1 |
| 2024 | 151 | 7 |
| 2025 | 134 | 5 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 362 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | $2,700 | 362 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 24 | $2,800 | 377 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 399 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 411 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Santa Fe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 23V181000 (trailer hitches), 21V00M000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners filed 213 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (78), Unknown or other (42), Power train (26) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 22 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Santa Fe compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Hyundai Santa Fe model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (109) and the 2017 the most (968). The 2020 drew 213. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.