The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 86 of 218 complaints (39%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 205 in 2019 to 218 in 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 218
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,500–$2,850
- Combined MPG
- 22–25
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Advertisement
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,600–3,300 | 2,500–3,300 | 2,500–2,850 | 1,850–2,600 | 1,850–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–24 | 19–25 | 22–25 | 24–34 | 24–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–21 / 22–28 | 17–22 / 22–29 | 20–22 / 26–29 | 21–36 / 25–31 | 21–36 / 25–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 379–475 | 362–479 | 362–411 | 264–378 | 264–378 | |
| Complaints filed | 110 | 205 | 218 | 190 | 267 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine: 86 of 218 NHTSA complaints (39%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 22–25 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $2,500–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 399 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 362 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 411 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg | 27 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 377 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 86 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 10 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 24 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 42 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
- Defect
- 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.