2020 Hyundai Santa FE Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 12%of 218 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,823miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE, 12% of the 218 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,823 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When stopped at a traffic light and the auto engine turn off kicks in as expected with my foot on the brake pedal. However, the behavior is very erratic when I release my foot from the brake. Sometimes the vehicle jumps aggressively without me applying any acceleration and sometimes the engine just starts and the vehicle does not move until I apply some acceleration. I almost rear ended the cars infront of me few times. I got way too skeptical and began turning off the auto turn off feature when I get into my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11396388, filed 2021-02, 2,400 miles“There are three issues: 1.) in sport mode, the transmission will sometimes get stuck/hung in gear (maybe gear 3 or gear4) and will not shift into the next gear, even when increasing speed. 2.) also in sport mode, after driving for about 10 or 15 minutes the transmission will often slip into gear 5, after revving high and can be heard revving, but it is not reflected on the tachometer, and then when the gear catches it is a violet jerk forward. …”
NHTSA complaint #11403919, filed 2021-03, 2,777 miles“New 2020 santafe took delivery on january 4th, 2021, with less than 5000 miles on march 21st the vehicle refuse to start after it was started and shut off while we were sitting in a parking lot. While attempting to start it getting forward collusion warning but the engine would not crank. Towed to the local dealer was told they cannot diagnose the car because they could not read the onboard computer, unable to say what's wrong. The car was towed back to the dealer where purchase and was told it was a blown fuse maybe lighting strike and other theories what's wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #11416261, filed 2021-05, 4,900 miles“On 07/12/2020 My 2020 SANTA FE Slipped out of park while in garage. It rolled backward until it hit neighbor's porch damaging my tailgate and tail light. It was taken to Hyundai dealership and they said they could not replicate the problem. On about 08/28/22 The next incident was the transmission slipped down into low gear and would not go over 40 MPH. Again the dealer cannot replicate and the car is still at he dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #11486718, filed 2022-09“Purchased my 2020 Santa Fe august 1st 2020. Mother’s Day of 2021 I was driving to Menards for a plant. I was going 40 mph on a street and braked too slow down to go on a ramp that was 25mph. Traffic appeared and I was stopped completely. I have the “auto” stop on and it would not start back up. I had to put my car in park, turn it off and turn it back on in the middle of traffic. So scary. And this happens monthly now, since august 2021.”
NHTSA complaint #11517769, filed 2023-04Related service bulletins
- 10241885Aug 25, 2023If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed, follow the service procedure and replace the related solenoid and…
- 10237190May 18, 2023This bulletin provides the procedure to update the TCU to revise the logic for P0741 (Torque converter clutch circuit).
- 10213720May 19, 2022If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10211671Apr 28, 2022If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10188244Feb 10, 2021This bulletin provides the procedure to update the TCU to optimize the Distance To Empty (DTE) display. This update includes the software for optimizing CLR_DIST (Distance…
- 10182314Oct 13, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10180993Sep 17, 2020This bulletin provides the procedure to update the TCU for a shift flare and shock on reacceleration when driving in Sport Mode.
- 10180977Sep 2, 2020This bulletin provides a procedure to transfer pressure data to the TCU using GDS Mobile. This procedure is necessary to reduce the transmission learning time and improve the…
- 10176198May 29, 2020This bulletin describes the Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system operation, diagnostic and battery sensor recalibration procedure. Refer to applicable Shop Manual and Ownerâs Manual…
- 10176196May 21, 2020If you are servicing any of the vehicles listed below with a harsh and/or delayed shift, use the GDS as shown in the Service Procedure to measure shift engagement time.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 8% |
| 2025 | 22 | 16% |
| 2024 | 45 | 29% |
| 2023 | 45 | 21% |
| 2022 | 57 | 28% |
| 2021 | 51 | 30% |
| 2020 | 26 | 12% |
| 2019 | 37 | 18% |
| 2018 | 10 | 9% |
| 2017 | 166 | 17% |
| 2016 | 21 | 9% |
| 2015 | 22 | 9% |
| 2014 | 36 | 7% |
| 2013 | 52 | 9% |
| 2012 | 24 | 7% |
| 2011 | 21 | 12% |
| 2010 | 109 | 42% |
| 2009 | 24 | 7% |
| 2008 | 24 | 4% |
| 2007 | 31 | 5% |
| 2006 | 5 | 5% |
| 2005 | 11 | 5% |
| 2004 | 21 | 7% |
| 2003 | 35 | 11% |
| 2002 | 13 | 8% |
| 2001 | 23 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE
81 complaintsOther or unknown
45 complaintsElectrical system
25 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsForward collision avoidance
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsLane departure
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology