2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL
5NMS3CAD1LH174635
Vehicle history report for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL (VIN 5NMS3CAD1LH174635). Blue, sport utility vehicle (suv)/multi-purpose vehicle (mpv), 2.4L 4-cyl 185 hp, gasoline. 26,703 mi reported. Registered in Tx. 2 open safety recalls. Unlock full title, salvage, lien & accident history.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
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What a full report checks for VIN 5NMS3CAD1LH174635
A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.
Safety recalls 2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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 a crash.
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 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
NHTSA Campaign #21V00M000 · 28/12/2021TRAILER HITCHES
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 equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short,…
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 of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service
NHTSA Campaign #23V181000 · 17/03/2023We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.
💥 2 involved a crash 🚑 5 reported injuries
🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
🔍 Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 193
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.
ENGINE
Unknown
NHTSA ODI #11745371UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 ins…
NHTSA ODI #11744729STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
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…
NHTSA ODI #11743968ENGINE
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 …
NHTSA ODI #11743466Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
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 l…
NHTSA ODI #11741452AIR BAGS
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 sustaine…
Crash · 3 injured · NHTSA ODI #11740682SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 wa…
NHTSA ODI #11740006POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
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 …
NHTSA ODI #11740021+ 185 more complaints on record.
