2020 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

69Engine complaints

35.6%Of all 194 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE69 · 35.6%

Unspecified / other37 · 19.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23 · 11.9%

POWER TRAIN22 · 11.3%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11 · 5.7%

Share of the 194 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“High utilization of motor oil. Using 1 quart of oil every 300miles. Hyundai dealership (Gurnee Hyundai-Illinois) completed a "combustion system cleaning" but oil consumption continues…”NHTSA complaint 11647003 — filed 03/07/2025

“Check engine light began flashing suddenly as I was driving. My vehicle went into limp mode on the interstate in 70 mph traffic, it was…”NHTSA complaint 11638926 — filed 01/27/2025

“While driving down the highway my car started slowing down and would not accelerate. All the lights came up on the dash board and would…”NHTSA complaint 11627278 — filed 11/25/2024

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE: 69 of 194 complaints on file (35.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

194 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 15 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.