2020 Hyundai Santa FE: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Hyundai Santa FE?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE than on all cars registered in 2020.

• Track rod ends9.8× usual
  Hyundai Santa FE

  3.9% All 2020 cars

  0.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

• Shock absorbers3.1× usual
  Hyundai Santa FE

  4.9% All 2020 cars

  1.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.3% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2020 Hyundai Santa FE MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Hyundai Santa FE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  24% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  16% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Suspension
  9% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  6% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Lights and electrics
  3% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  1% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• eCall recall (built Sept to Dec 2020)

  Built late 2020

  On cars built 1 September to 14 December 2020 the emergency call system might not work because the car's details weren't registered with the software. A dealer update fixes it. Few other faults are reported.

  At the viewing: Ask a Hyundai dealer whether the update was done.

  Source: What Car?: used Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Hyundai Santa FE

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 9.8× as often on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2020 Hyundai Santa FE as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?