Where to Find the Air Filter in a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has two main air filters: the engine air filter, located inside a rectangular black box in the engine bay on the driver’s side, and the cabin air filter, located behind the glove box inside the passenger compartment. Both are accessible without special tools and can generally be checked or replaced at home with basic care.

Understanding the Two Air Filters in Your Santa Fe

The question “Where is the air filter in a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe?” can refer to either the engine air filter or the cabin air (pollen) filter. The engine air filter protects the engine from dust and debris drawn in during combustion, while the cabin air filter cleans the air entering the interior through the HVAC system. Knowing the locations of both helps you maintain performance, fuel economy, and interior air quality.

Location of the Engine Air Filter

The engine air filter is located in the engine bay, inside a plastic air filter housing (air box). This is the filter that feeds clean air to the engine for combustion.

Exact Position Under the Hood

On most 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe models with the 2.4L or 2.0L turbo gasoline engines, the engine air filter is found in a rectangular black plastic box on the driver’s side of the engine bay, near the front. When you open the hood and stand facing the vehicle, you will typically see:

• A large black plastic box (the air filter housing) on the left-hand (driver’s) side.
• A thick plastic intake tube coming out of that box and running toward the engine.

Together, these details confirm you have located the engine air filter housing, which contains the removable paper filter element.

How to Access the Engine Air Filter

Once you have located the housing, accessing the engine air filter is straightforward and typically does not require advanced tools.

The following steps outline how to reach the engine air filter in a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe:

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, turn off the engine, and let it cool.
2. Open the hood using the release lever inside the cabin, then the secondary catch under the hood.
3. Identify the rectangular black air filter housing on the driver’s side of the engine bay.
4. Release the metal clips or remove the screws around the top of the air box cover.
5. Lift or tilt the cover upward carefully, just enough to expose the filter element inside.
6. Pull the old filter straight up and out, noting its orientation (which side faces up/front).
7. Inspect the housing for leaves, dust, or debris and gently clean if needed.
8. Insert the new filter in the same orientation as the old one, making sure it seats properly.
9. Lower the cover back into place, ensuring edges align and no wiring or hoses are pinched.
10. Secure the cover by refastening the clips or screws fully.

After completing these steps, the engine air filter is properly reinstalled, maintaining the engine’s air supply and helping preserve performance and fuel efficiency.

Location of the Cabin Air Filter

The cabin air filter is separate from the engine air filter and is installed inside the vehicle’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Its job is to filter dust, pollen, and other particles from the air that enters the passenger compartment.

Exact Position Behind the Glove Box

In the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, the cabin air filter is located behind the glove box on the passenger side. When you sit in the front passenger seat and open the glove box, the filter is hidden behind a rectangular access panel at the back of the glove box area.

These are the main reference points you’ll see when looking for the cabin air filter:

• The standard glove box in front of the passenger seat.
• Side stoppers or tabs that prevent the glove box from dropping straight down.
• Once the glove box is lowered, a rectangular plastic cover (often with clips on each side) on the HVAC housing directly behind it.

Recognizing these parts confirms you are looking at the correct location for the cabin air filter.

How to Access the Cabin Air Filter

Replacing or inspecting the cabin air filter generally requires no more than a few minutes and no specialized tools. It mostly involves lowering the glove box and popping off the access panel.

The steps below describe how to reach the cabin air filter on a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe:

1. Turn off the vehicle and ensure the HVAC system is off.
2. Open the front passenger door and fully open the glove box.
3. Empty the glove box to prevent items from spilling when it is lowered.
4. Locate the side stoppers or tabs inside the glove box that limit its downward movement.
5. Gently compress the sides of the glove box inward to clear those stoppers, allowing the glove box to swing further down.
6. If there is a small damper arm on one side, carefully unhook it so the glove box can drop fully.
7. With the glove box dropped, look at the exposed HVAC housing at the back; find the rectangular cabin filter access cover.
8. Release the clips or tabs on each side of the cover and remove it.
9. Slide the old cabin filter straight out, observing the airflow direction arrows marked on the frame.
10. Insert the new filter, aligning the airflow arrows with the marking on the housing (typically “UP” arrow or directional arrows).
11. Reinstall the access cover until the clips snap into place.
12. Lift the glove box back up, reattach the damper arm if equipped, and let the side tabs snap back into their normal position.

Completing this process restores effective air filtration for the cabin, improving interior air quality and helping the HVAC system run efficiently.

Why Knowing These Locations Matters

Understanding where both filters are located allows owners of a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe to stay ahead of routine maintenance without always relying on a service center.

The following key points highlight the benefits of knowing where your air filters are located:

• Cost savings: Engine and cabin air filter replacements are among the simplest maintenance tasks, often marked up at dealerships.
• Performance and efficiency: A clean engine air filter helps the engine breathe, supporting power delivery and fuel economy.
• Comfort and health: A fresh cabin air filter improves interior air quality and can help reduce odors, dust, and pollen.
• Preventive care: Regular checks help you spot excessive debris or contamination early, which can indicate other issues (like rodent nesting or unusual dust exposure).

Together, these advantages make it worthwhile to know exactly where your filters are and how to reach them in your 2020 Santa Fe.

Recommended Maintenance Intervals

While the question focuses on location, filter maintenance intervals are directly tied to how often you should access these components.

These general guidelines apply to the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, though exact figures can vary by engine and region, and the owner’s manual should be checked for your specific trim and market:

• Engine air filter: Typically inspected around every 15,000–20,000 miles (24,000–32,000 km) and replaced around 30,000 miles (48,000 km), sooner in dusty or severe conditions.
• Cabin air filter: Commonly recommended every 12,000–15,000 miles (19,000–24,000 km) or about once a year, with more frequent replacement in urban, polluted, or high-pollen areas.
• Severe use: Driving on unpaved roads, in heavy traffic, or in areas with smoke, construction dust, or extreme pollen may justify checking both filters at shorter intervals.

Following these timeframes helps ensure that knowing the location of the filters translates into practical, consistent maintenance.

Summary

In a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, the engine air filter is located under the hood inside a rectangular black air box on the driver’s side of the engine bay, while the cabin air filter is positioned behind the glove box on the passenger side, inside the HVAC housing. Both filters are designed to be accessible with basic steps and minimal tools, allowing most owners to inspect and replace them at home. By understanding these locations and how to reach them, drivers can better protect engine performance, fuel efficiency, and interior air quality, while reducing routine maintenance costs.