Most common 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Share of the 236 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by model year
Best Santa Fe years: 2018, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013, 2024. Compare all years →
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059.
Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning…
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
What 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe owners say
Engine & cooling all 153 →
The contact's husband owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. Despite the vehicle operating in LIMP Mode, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where an oil change was performed. The mechanic warned after the service was performed that there may be an ongoing failure with the engine. Several days later, the contact stated that while in stop and go traffic, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed; and the contact was informed that the failure might be related to the cam shaft. …
We recently had the car to the local dealership for engine problems. It took over 3 months, but they finally determined that the camshaft was "bent" and they had to remove the engine to replace it, costing almost $5000. We had it back for about 3 months but didn't drive it much since my wife works remotely from home now. My son was driving it on the interstate and the engine threw a rod, spilling oil onto the exhaust, which caught on fire. He managed to pull over and get out of the car and by then another motorist had called 911. There was a firetruck at the exit he had just passed who showed up in just a few minutes and put the fire out before the fuel system caught on fire, thankfully. While I'm glad my son was uninjured, I'm still very upset by this, especially since they just worked on the engine. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 21 →
1) My mechanic inspected my vehicle after a rattling noise began sounding from the engine bay while accelerating and increasing RPM - The noise began shortly before the flashing check engine light turned on. My mechanic inspected the car and ran the code for the check engine light and determined that an engine connecting rod had broken and ruined the engine. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. 2) The car experienced a loss of power and moderate vibration while driving to the mechanic after the issue. In hindsight I felt it was unsafe to have driven the car in that condition and if the mechanical issue first presented while driving at higher speeds I feel that it likely could have caused an accident or vehicle-vehicle collision 3) No. I am currently waiting for Hyundai to respond to my warranty claim. 4) No. The vehicle so far has only been inspected by my mechanic. 5) No. …
Was driving on a 5 hour car ride at 5pm on August 16th and was going up a hill, the vehicle quickly lost all power and the engine light lit. I was able to pull the car to the side of the road with the momentum that the car already had, but was not able to get the car to a safe space (its about 6 inches from an exit ramp lane), as the car would not drive. Once I got the car to the side of the road, I checked the engine and did not see any excessive heating or anything out of the ordinary. I tried to restart the car and the check engine light is lit and the battery system for the car turns on but the car will not start or try to turn over the engine. The car is currently sitting on the side of the road. My wife and my dog were in the car and we had to quickly move to a safer place away from the 70 MPH traffic. Calling a tow truck tomorrow to take it to a dealership. …
Brakes
Driving on a slight upgrade, lost power and smoke started to come out of the vents and from under the hood. Had no brakes and by the time we were able to drift to a stop, the engine compartment was on fire. There was no warning lights. Witnesses saw fire under the car while we were coming to a stop. The car and all contents were totally consumed. Following some research on NHTSA vin decoder we found that this car has the same engine (GDI THETA II) that has been involved in many fires and is involved in class action suits. Even though this car has the same engine, it was never recalled. That may indicate that there are other cars out there that may have the same problem but have not been informed.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the brake pedal was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle vibrated while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe a good car?
Based on 236 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Santa Fe rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Santa Fe at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The engine & cooling — 153 complaints, 65% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (21) and brakes (17).
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, the most recent from February 3, 2022 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Santa Fe?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013 and 2024. See the full Hyundai Santa Fe years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.