HyundaiSanta Fe2020Overview/hyundai/santa-fe/2020/base/

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Santa Fe.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize crossover SUV that occupies a pivotal position in the model's production timeline, and with 195 total owner complaints filed, it represents a substantial improvement over the 941 complaints recorded at the model's peak in 2017; this complaint figure also places it well below the model's long-term average across its 2001-2026 production span, with the top complaint area centering on engine-related issues and two recalls issued for the model year.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 2630035505. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnONOEM · verified
Tire size235/55R19 101HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter2630035505
Fuel filter31112B1000
Spark plug1885709085 alt 1884911070

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.8 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase109.1 in
Curb weight4063 lb
Track (front / rear)64.6 / 65 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Santa Fe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.0–9.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 2021 Calligraphy 2.5T HTRAC
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019Ultimate 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-47.50 sec15.70 sec235 hpAWD
2019Ultimate 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.00 sec235 hpAWD
2019Ultimate 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.00 sec235 hpAWD
2019Ultimate 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec185 hpFWD
2019Ultimate 2.4L I-48.90 sec16.70 sec185 hpFWD
2019Ultimate 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-49.60 sec17.10 sec235 hpAWD
2021Calligraphy 2.5T HTRAC 2.5L Turbo I-46.00 sec14.50 sec277 hpAWD
2021Calligraphy 2.5T HTRAC 2.5L Turbo I-46.20 sec14.60 sec277 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque58.0-72.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.024; Rear: .370
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0004
Maximum Rotor Runout.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 78-82°34–38 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 78-82°34–38 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290-95°
390-95°
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290-95°
390-95°.

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 42,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 24,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 42,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe sits in a comparatively quiet stretch of the federal record, with 195 complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 investigation — nearly identical to the 2019 model (191 complaints, 2 recalls, 1 investigation) but with fewer TSBs (110 vs. 182), while the following 2021 model saw recalls jump to seven. Across the generation, complaints peaked at 941 in 2017, then fell sharply to 108 in 2018 and remained low through 2020, placing the target year in a post-peak, low-volume window. Its leading complaint categories were engine (43), unknown or other (23), visibility (10), and electrical system (9), and the file includes 13 crash-related and 7 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify causes. Given that 2020 carries low recall and investigation counts relative to earlier high-water years such as 2007, 2013–2014, and 2017, it reads as one of the more stable recent Santa Fe model years — a reasonable used-buy candidate as long as any open recalls are closed and routine service history is verified.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
110
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
195
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 195 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine43
Unknown Or Other23
Visibility10
Electrical System9
Power Train,Engine8
Forward Collision Avoidance7
Power Train7
Air Bags5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V00M000Visibility:WindshieldReported 28/12/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in… Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…

23V181000Trailer HitchesReported 17/03/2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original… Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 110 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-01-013H-2 DN2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
26-01-013H-2 TSB2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
9C2 0605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
9C2 DCS 2605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
9C2 OL2026-04-13EngineCertain 2019 – 2020 model year Santa Fe, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2015 –…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Santa Fe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Santa Fe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.