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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls and problems

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1 safety recall and 218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer.

Urgent: recall 23V-181 carries a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
1
Complaints
218
Crashes / fires
14 / 9
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

Recall 23V-181: Trailer Hitches

Park outsideReported Mar 17, 2023 · 584,784 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: 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: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine81
Unknown or Other42
Electrical System26
Power Train26
Forward Collision Avoidance19
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Visibility14
Lane Departure10
Structure9
Service Brakes9
Air Bags7
Engine and Engine Cooling7

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 9
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 9
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 9
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 6
  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 4
  • Lane Departure › Assist — 4
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil/Lubrication › Sump/Tank › Drain Plug — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 15,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Oct 25, 2026
Hyundai Dealership, Pedder Hyundai of Poway, applied recall 9C2 to 2020 Santa Fe on 10/20/2026. Vehicle idle is now rough at startup and gas pedal angle no longer is reliable for controlling vehicle speed. Engine surges and jerks during initial operation on residential street due to software change. The vehicle did not operate in this manner for the last six years. I never felt like I had erratic engine control due to gas pedal response. I would like this recall removed and the original software re-applied, or my car bought back by Hyundai.
Structure · reported Oct 20, 2026
My incident relates to peeling paint on my white 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The paint has started to bubble, crack and peel off on the rear hatch of the vehicle. Hyundai has had issues with white color paint peeling off on a variety of their vehicles, across multiple years. Hyundai issued an extended warranty program (Z05) to cover the issue. I took my Santa Fe to the Hyundai dealer body shop near me to assess my peeling paint issue. While at the body shop facility I saw and took photos of multiple white Santa Fe's and Tucson's with peeling paint that appeared to have the same paint issue my 2020…
Engine · reported Oct 9, 2026
The vehicle is experience severe, progressive engine oil consumption, completely depleting its engine oil below the safe operating limit ("Low" mark on the dipstick) every 500 miles. This creates an imminent risk of sudden engine seizure, catastrophic mechanical failure, and sudden stalling at highway speeds. The authorized dealers (Safford Hyundai Manassas) and corporate case management (Case #43193472) have failed to fix the issue after multiple visits. Furthermore, dealership service staff explicitly instructed me that I must continue operating the vehicle for an additional 1000 miles even…
Fuel/Propulsion System · reported Oct 9, 2026
THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS MODEL … I HAVE A CLAIM INTO HYUNDAI TO ALLOW MY VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAME RECALL. This is a very dangerously problem and wish it to be investigated for the 2.0 Turbo as well. X Hyundai issued two main fuel-related recalls for the 2021 Santa Fe equipped with 2.5-liter turbocharged engines due to risks of fuel leaks and fires: & • Campaign 206 (NHTSA Recall 21V308000 / May 2021): The fuel pipe connecting the high-pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened to the proper torque during manufacturing. Dealers inspected…
Fuel/Propulsion System · reported Oct 5, 2026
I do not know what caused this. Here is what happened. While parking the car suddenly accelerated, over the curb, on the sidewalk narrowly missing the building because I turned hard right to avoid the building and I was able to brake to a stop glancing off a concrete pillar. We could have been hurt crashing into the wall/windows, anyone on the walk would have been hurt & anyone in the store could have been hurt. The car was towed to Hatchette Hyundai-East waiting to be looked at. There is no police report because it was private property and no damages except to my car. No warning lamps or…

Other Hyundai Santa Fe years

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Compare all Hyundai Santa Fe years · All Hyundai models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe: 23V-181 (trailer hitches). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Owners report engine problems most often (81 reports), followed by unknown or other (42). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 15,000 miles.

Are Hyundai recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Hyundai dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.