2020 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

75Engine complaints

36.2%Of all 207 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

ENGINE75 · 36.2%

Unspecified / other40 · 19.3%

POWER TRAIN26 · 12.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 · 12.1%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12 · 5.8%

Share of the 207 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: 75 of 207 complaints on file (36.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

207 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 8 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 09/08/2026.