2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
20/100
#5 most-complained of 6 Santa Fe Sport years
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ranks 5th worst of 6 model years, with a complaint index of 20 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Santa Fe Sport years. It has 69 complaints, 10 fires, and 1 recall, with Engine issues making up 65% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 69
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 10
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 26 hwy
Top 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine45 (65%)
- Other14 (20%)
- Electrical System8 (12%)
- Brakes6 (9%)
- Airbags4 (6%)
- Fuel System4 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (4%)
- Structure & Body2 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
- Lane Departure1 (1%)
What owners report
- Owners report engine fires, sometimes with smoke pouring from under the hood shortly after starting or during normal driving.
- Some describe the engine losing power or failing to engage after a replacement, with RPMs unable to climb past a certain point.
- Electrical system complaints include a vehicle catching fire spontaneously while parked, despite a recent dealer inspection.
- One owner reported fuel leaking from a recall-related fuel line after an engine replacement, which then ignited near the exhaust.
- A hood latch failure caused the hood to fly open and strike the windshield, leading to a crash.
- One owner reported an axle or wheel breaking, causing the vehicle to veer into a parked car and sever the wiring harness, preventing airbag deployment.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V358000Jun 5, 2017Structure & Body437,400 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Santa Fe Sport years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport reliable?
- Compared to other Santa Fe Sport years, 2016 ranks 5th worst of 6 with a complaint index of 20, earning a "Best" verdict. It has fewer complaints (69) than the 2017 (350) and 2018 (320) model years.
- Does the 2016 Santa Fe Sport have engine fire problems?
- NHTSA lists 45 Engine-related complaints for 2016, 65% of all complaints for the year, and the data shows 10 fires reported in total across all systems.
- What recalls affect the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?
- NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 17V358000) for a secondary hood latch cable that can corrode and bind, potentially letting the hood open while driving. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the median mileage when problems occur on the 2016 Santa Fe Sport?
- Across all reported failures, the median mileage at failure is 81,500 miles. Engine complaints specifically show a higher median mileage of 105,112.5 miles.
- How does the 2016 model compare to the 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sport?
- The 2016 model has a complaint index of 20 versus 80 for 2017 and 100 for 2018, both of which carry an "Avoid" verdict, making 2016 a comparatively better choice among these years.