What 194 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Phev

The contact's daughter owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received a notification for an unknown emissions recall. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it remained for three weeks, and an ECU software update was completed. The vehicle was then driven to the contact's residence. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle jerked and chugged while driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ODI 11749004

Unknown

NHTSA ODI 11745371

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. The panoramic sunroof glass suddenly shattered/exploded without a collision and without any known impact. Glass shattered completely and created a safety hazard to occupants and traffic. Vehicle was purchased as Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned in 2021. Hyundai corporate case has been opened and advised dealer inspection. Dealer inspection is pending. Photos are available. Request that this be logged as a potential safety issue involving panoramic sunroof glass failure.

NHTSA ODI 11744729

Vehicle experiences severe, intermittent, un-commanded steering inputs from the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) system at highway speeds (55-70 MPH). The steering wheel violently jerks toward adjacent traffic lanes/shoulders without operator input, lane drift, or warning, requiring immediate high-force manual intervention to overpower mechanical torque and prevent a collision or roadway departure. Chronology of manufacturer notice: - Oct 2024: Initial consumer dispute logs flagged steering safety concerns and unresolved campaign items. - Dec 2024: Opened Corporate Case 24164934, formally alerting consumer affairs to dangerous steering wheel jerking. - Jan 2025: Presented to an authorized dealer; an OTA software update was deployed, but intermittent tracking failures persisted, including failure to recognize lanes at night. - June 2026: Under Case 42680760, the system failed acutely on the interstate, jerking the vehicle out of painted lanes. The malfunction originates in the LKA steering control module and camera hardware, which are intact and available for inspection. Dealerships have not replicated the defect during brief diagnostic windows due to its intermittent nature. The manufacturer has deflected these notifications and refused a forensic diagnostic sweep or mechanical remediation. Instead, case managers attempted to close the file by offering partial financial goodwill for an unrelated cosmetic paint delamination defect on the same vehicle. No warning lamps or error messages precede these events; the system executes aggressive mechanical intervention with zero notice. This system error bypasses driver override thresholds, conflicting with vehicle crash avoidance frameworks. Because the computer fails to log diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) during these steering drops, the manufacturer exploits this data vacuum to deny structural remediation, creating severe multi-vehicle side-impact and rollover risks.

NHTSA ODI 11743968

I took it to Hyundai Dealership in November 2025 and did the Service Campaign 9C2 and TSB 25-01-087H software update. Since that happened my engine is jumpy and I have taken it back to dealer and they can't find anything. Several people with this issue have been found since on several forums after having the update. One said the dealer knows about the issue and so does Hyundai, but when I ask they know nothing.

NHTSA ODI 11743466

The harness adjustment button on my Nuna RAVA car seat has failed, preventing the harness from being properly tightened. This makes it impossible to securely restrain my child. This issue involves the same harness adjustment mechanism that Nuna previously addressed in a voluntary recall, where debris could cause the adjuster to malfunction and result in a loose harness. The seat has not been misused and is within its expected usable lifespan. Despite this, Nuna has refused to repair or replace the seat, stating it is out of warranty. This is a safety-critical failure that directly impacts child passenger safety, as the harness cannot be properly secured in the event of a crash.

NHTSA ODI 11741452

We were driving on interstate 49 going south near Chester Arkansas when traffic came to a stop. I was rear ended by a vehicle driving 75 mph. My car hit the car in front of me where there was damage to both the passenger and driver side front area of the car. No airbags deployed in spite of the severity of the front and rear impact of the vehicle. I sustained three compression fractures to my back with several abrasions and bruises. Both my vehicle and the vehicle in front of me were declared total losses.

NHTSA ODI 11740682

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, while parking and while idling on different occasions, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11740006

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that he received an unknown service campaign from the manufacturer indicating that a software update for emissions was needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where an ECU update was completed and an NP001-SC9C2 was installed for the engine and transmission. The contact stated that when his wife drove the vehicle home from the dealer, she noticed that something was wrong with the vehicle but did not specify the failures. The contact stated that the next day, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and shifted improperly, and while depressing the brake, the vehicle accelerated forward. The contact stated that the failure persisted and became more prevalent in the morning after sitting overnight. The vehicle was then taken to the same dealer where a shift engine value reset, transmission value reset, shift adaptations were made (Part number 95447-6G200). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred the next morning and has persisted every morning thereafter. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 25,051.

NHTSA ODI 11740021

Just read possible recalls on Hyundai Santa Fe's 2025 and 2026's. Just spent $1727.68 at the Hyundai dealership in Gilbert, AZ to replace the front camera do to the faults showing up on the dash. By reading that article it made aware of what may have occurred had we not taken it in for service. This vehicle is a 2020 Sante Fe. You may want to check into it. Oh, I want a refund.

NHTSA ODI 11739954

I took my vehicle in to the dealership on April 24, 2026 for a software update after receiving notice in the mail. The update changed my auto stop/start so that it is on whenever the vehicle is started. When removing my foot from the brake the car surges forward without me touching the gas peddle. I took my Hyandai back in to the dealership on May 4, 2026, and was told that the auto stop/start was supposed to now be staying on as that was in the software update. They said they could not duplicate the surging of the vehicle. It has surged strong enough to move forward, while stopped at an intersection, that it put me out two to three feet. I felt it necessary to put it in reverse and back up it was out so far. This will absolutely put others at risk as I drive and work in a downtown area with lots of crosswalks with lots of people crossing, and should vehicles be stopped in front of me, it could hit them. I can turn it off, but in the beginning it seemed to be turning itself back on. Additionally, I am not used to always turning it off because I never had to before and I don't always remember. This week, something new: When pulling off after starting the car, even if I remember to turn off the start/stop, the car is jerking forward when I depress the gas. It's like it is getting surges of gas, or like the peddle is being pushed to the floor, let off, pushed to the floor, let off, etc. I am so incredibly scared now to just drive the vehicle I've loved for over five years now. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or any others. I did not know this was an option. I would love to get more information about how to go about this. There are no warnings of any kind when this occurs, which is every single time I get in it. Please, someone, tell me what I can do further. Continue taking it back to the dealership? Ride with them next time? I just am at a loss and incredibly scared. I am a woman in my 60s.

NHTSA ODI 11739708

Air bags didn’t deploy on a front crash. Safety of my entire family in car was put at risk without airbags deploying. The problem has not been confirmed. The vehicle has not been inspected, a first responder on scene of crash said we should check into why our air bags didn’t deploy. No warnings signs

NHTSA ODI 11739408

OVER THE LAST 4 WEEKS (NOTICED APRIL 15 AROUND 6PM GOING TO CHURCH) THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR OPENS AUTOMATIOCALLY WITHOUT ANYONE OPENING IT. THE DOOR IS LITTERALLY LOCKED AND SFERT DRIVEING THE DOOR JUST OPENS. FROM 4/15/26 UNITL 5/7/2026 THIS HAS HAPPENDED 5 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11736577

I took my car in for the EVM engine update. Since then whenever it starts it is jumpy. The rpm rev more than they should. It’s very concerning that it will rev and won’t stop and I could possibly hit someone. I took it back to the dealer and they called the timeline and they told them to do another update. They did and it is still like that. Was never like that before. I have connected with several people that have had the same thing happen. I will gave to take it in again and leave it which is a major inconvenience

NHTSA ODI 11735383

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe quartz white pearl paint and the paint is blowing off as I drive in multiple places. I took it to the dealer because when I called they said there's a Z05 recall on white Hyundai paint and it would be covered. When I take it in, they say 2020's weren't covered because the paint issue was corrected in 2020, when clearly it wasn't. In any case Hyundai agreed to pay 65% of the cost, nothing more. THEY NEED to include all years that present this issue. Unfortunately I've now picked my car up and the paint in the areas that were painted are a different color white. I'm not happy with this remedy and I'm not happy that Hyundai refuses to take ownership with ALL vehicles painted in white. This recall should be revised to include all vehicles from 2016 forward instead of skipping one year which just happens to be 2020. Any help is greatly appreciated. The paint is already starting to show signs of coming off in other areas but those won't be considered until it's obvious paint peeling larger than a certain size.

NHTSA ODI 11734970

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 50-55 MPH, the sunroof made an abnormal, exploding sound and shattered. The shade cover was closed during the failure. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was driven to the workplace of the contact's brother-in-law, and the sunroof was taped to prevent the shattered glass from flying off. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was inspected. The contact was informed that it was a common failure caused by the intermittent expansion of the body of the vehicle under certain temperatures. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11734584

I was driving out of the parking garage at work and happened to catch the oil light flicker on and then go off. I immediately drove it to an auto shop where I told them what happened. They looked at the dipstick and there was no oil showing on the dipstick. If I had just written the light off as an oddity I would have driven the car home from work (around 20 miles) and the engine could have stalled at 60mph creating a safety hazard. I have the oil changed regularly (about every 5,000 miles) and have my receipts. My car has around 80,000 miles in it and I’m the original owner. The auto shop said that I would need to take it to the dealership for an oil consumption test. I called and scheduled the appointment immediately and am in the process of having the test completed. The dealership noted a TSB for the issue on the write up and based on my research online this is not an unusual problem. Why have owners not been made aware of this issue? I don’t feel safe driving my car and am frustrated that this seems to be a known issue. There was no oil on the dipstick, no indicator that stayed on indicating an issue.

NHTSA ODI 11733709

We purchased a used 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe with approximately 105,000 miles. The vehicle has had regular routine maintenance and oil changes. Around 107,000 miles, the check engine light came on and the vehicle simultaneously started running rough. It was diagnosed with a failed valve on the #3 cylinder and now needs a total engine replacement. This issue also coincided with excess oil consumption. Despite having an oil change fewer than 2000 miles earlier, the oil was almost completely gone from the engine despite not having any leaks present. This goes well beyond normal wear and tear and is indicative of a defect/design flaw.

NHTSA ODI 11732776

The vehicle (2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2.0T, ~88,500 miles) experienced a sudden engine failure with no warning signs—no oil light, knocking, or overheating. After sitting overnight, the vehicle would not start and was later diagnosed by an independent repair facility as having a seized engine requiring replacement. The failure was unexpected and creates a potential safety risk, as it could have resulted in a loss of power while driving. The manufacturer has been notified but denied warranty assistance due to lack of maintenance documentation. The vehicle is currently available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11732577

Around Feb 15, 2026, at ~85,000 miles, the oil pressure warning light began illuminating at idle and extinguishing above idle speed. The vehicle had also been experiencing intermittent hard starts and occasional shuddering at idle — symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to connect to imminent engine failure. An independent mechanic performed a manual oil pressure test: 4 PSI (Hyundai minimum spec is 13 PSI). The authorized dealer confirmed 6 PSI and found metal shavings in the oil pan — the signature of connecting rod bearing wear documented in Theta II GDI engine failures. Dealer recommended full engine replacement ($8,500). Vehicle has been inoperable at the dealer since Feb 19, 2026. SAFETY CONCERN: At 4 PSI with metal debris in the oil system, this engine was at imminent risk of catastrophic seizure. I avoided highway driving after the warning appeared (max 50 mph, city streets only). Had the engine seized at highway speed, loss of power steering and brake vacuum assist would have created serious crash risk. The symptom profile — warning only at idle, clearing at speed, no knocking, no check engine light — is the pattern that puts less-vigilant drivers at risk of seizure at highway speed with no warning. KNOWN DEFECT: The 2.4L G4KJ Theta II GDI is identical to the engine subject to a $210M NHTSA civil penalty (2020), multiple recalls, and a ~$1.3B class action settlement extending lifetime warranties through MY 2019. The 2020 uses the same engine but was excluded. My failure mode is textbook Theta II. Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU update for 2019-2020 Theta II, issued Nov 2025) was incomplete on this vehicle — I was never notified. Completed after the engine had already failed. Manufacturer denied coverage (Case #XXX). BBB AUTO LINE claim #XXX filed Apr 16, 2026. No crash. No injuries. No fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11731527

I was at a standstill waiting for oncoming traffic to pass with my foot on the brake and all of a sudden the car accelerated and the forward collision warning fail to come on and I hit a trailer because of it

NHTSA ODI 11731625

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-75 MPH, the Automatic Emergency Braking system engaged erroneously, almost causing a crash. The contacted stated that the failure mostly occurred while driving at highway speeds with no other vehicle nearby. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11728981

I'm reporting a rearview camera issue in my Hyundai Santa Fe 2020. The camera image was previously static/distorted and has now completely stopped working. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, no image is displayed. This creates a safety risk, as the rearview camera is essential for visibility and preventing accidents while backing up. I am aware there has been a recall for similar rearview camera issues; however, my vehicle is not included because the recall is VIN-specific, despite experiencing the same problem.

NHTSA ODI 11726750

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, the sunroof shattered outward. The contact stated that his wife was able to drive the vehicle safely back to the residence. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11725909

I was driving on the road and all of the sudden my car went limp and would only move 45 miles per hour. I took it to the dealer which I have lifetime powertran on my car. It has been there for over a month at the dealer. They asked me to provide all oil changes,services, and registrations. I did that and then fidelity asked them to tear down the engine again to see if I had carbon build up. Then after the dealer did that they ask the dealer to tear the motor down even further to see if the exhaust valve was bad and if it was bad they would not replace my motor. My car consumed so much oil that I was changing my oil so often. I have been renting a car just to get back and forth to work. In my contract it says that the exhaust valve is covered under my lifetime powertran. I feel like hyundai and fidelity are giving me the run around. I took very good care of my car and I have shown that. Hyundai has had alot of problem with there motors with the oil consumption and motors just going limp. I feel I will never buy a hyundai again. I am losing money everyday because of the dealer and fidelity. I need the motor replaced and it was no abuse on my part I took care of my car. I want fidelity to tell me how I abuse the exhaust valve. I did my oil changes and took care of my car. I am still paying on my Hyundai and can't afford another car. I have alot of medical bills that I pay. Any help would be great. Sincerely [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11720704