2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems and Complaints

Users Opinions on 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

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Disliked by Users

D
DRF
• 29/08/2021
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
The first time I had a problem I was driving about 40 miles an hour when all of a sudden I heard this grinding noise and the car slowed down. I managed to get out of traffic to get control of the situation. When I stepped on the gas pedal the car did celebrateRead More
Source: edmunds
N
Nancy
• 01/04/2021
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
... wanted to race, there’s no way I could zip around in this car. The car is very sluggish. I feel like I’m towing a trailer. The car shudders when I try to accelerate from a light and makes knocking noises from the engine often. When trying to accelerate from a stop at a light, the car hesitates for several seconds before moving. I worry about beingRead More
Source: edmunds
J
James
• 14/09/2020
Rating:
(2 Out Of 5 stars)
... gives you no confidence . I felt like that this car would be back in the shop getting a new transmission within the year . If you look online like I did after driving the Santa Fe you’ll see multiple complaints regarding this complaint of engine / transmission package . Sorry Hyundai but no sale for me Read More
Source: edmunds

Nathan Dyer

Senior Editor,

Updated on March 23, 2023

The Santa Fe is a popular crossover SUV from the Korean carmaker. It focuses on practicality and offers decent driving dynamics while the spacious interior offers plenty of room for an entire family along with their luggage. It's neither the quickest nor the most efficient, but it is fun and engaging to drive down twisty roads. The quality of the interior also could have been better, and the design too isn't dashing either but the exterior looks quite appealing.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has around 52 complaints on the NHTSA website and only 1 recall as of yet.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe User Complaints and Problems

Engine and Mechanical Problems

Engine - There are a few complaints that state that the engine lost power while accelerating, that the engine refused to start up, or the fact that the car decelerated. In all of these cases, the warning lights were illuminated. There were lots of other problems related to the engine which might have caused the issue and the failure.
Powertrain - The powertrain has been reported to have issues such as getting stuck, not shifting into the next gear and sometimes, it also slipped into gear 5 while driving in Sport mode. Another user complained that when stopping at a traffic light, the auto engine would turn itself off.

Miscellaneous Problems

Sunroof - A few users complained that while driving the SUV on the highway, the sunroof exploded and was completely shattered leaving a large hole in the roof. From the looks of it, the users inspect that the explosion must have come from inside the vehicle, but there was no collision and nothing coming in contact with the sunroof which might have caused the explosion.
Immobilizer - There are lots of reports coming from various owners of the 2020 Santa Fe which state that the vehicle can be easily broken into; hacked using a screwdriver or the end of a USB cable and hot wired. This is because the vehicles are not equipped with an immobilizer which makes theft of the vehicle easier.
Windshield - There are multiple reports of owners experiencing a cracked windshield as well. While driving the SUV on the highway, just like the sunroof, the windshield would also crack and shatter into pieces, which is quite dangerous.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	December 28, 2021	21V00M000	Inadequate windshield bonding	A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury	Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge

Should you buy the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Hyundai is known for its reliability and the Santa Fe is no different, despite a few problems. The Santa Fe has issues with it being easy to steal and the sunroof and windshield exploding. But to be fair, the issue with the windshield has been solved, thanks to the recall. The same cannot be said for the weak security of the car, however. Nonetheless, it is not a major dealbreaker and you can still consider the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe if you want a family crossover with good practicality and suave looks.