2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
7/100
#15 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks 15th of 16 model years with a complaint index of 7 and a Best verdict. Engine complaints dominate at 67% of reports, but crash and fire counts stay low with 236 total complaints and 3 recalls.
- Complaints
- 236
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 23.5 hwy
Top 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine157 (67%)
- Other26 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (9%)
- Brakes19 (8%)
- Electrical System13 (6%)
- Airbags9 (4%)
- Fuel System9 (4%)
- Structure & Body9 (4%)
- Seat Belts8 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (2%)
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in head-on or side-impact collisions despite significant vehicle damage.
- Engine camshaft issues have led to full engine removal and replacement after a smell of burning while driving.
- Brake loss combined with smoke and an engine-compartment fire occurred while driving uphill, with no dashboard warning.
- Sunroof glass has spontaneously shattered while driving at highway speed, scattering glass on rear passengers.
- Transmission shifts unexpectedly into drive when the driver selects reverse while parked.
- Rear passenger seat screws loosen, causing abnormal noise that recurs even after dealer repair.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V056000Feb 3, 2022Brakes357,348 vehiclesPark Outside
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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
- 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.
- NHTSA 16V145000Mar 10, 2016Seat Belts34,200 vehicles
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 when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
- Among 16 Santa Fe model years tracked, 2016 has a complaint index of 7 and ranks 15th worst (meaning it's near the best), earning a Best verdict compared to other Santa Fe years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2016 Santa Fe?
- Engine complaints make up 67% of all reports for the 2016 Santa Fe, with a median failure mileage of 87,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2016 Santa Fe have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Santa Fe covering brakes (ABS module), a hood latch cable in the structure and body, and front seat belt buckle wiring.
- How does the 2016 Santa Fe compare to the 2017 model?
- The 2017 Santa Fe has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict with 966 complaints, far worse than the 2016 model's complaint index of 7 and Best verdict.
- How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2016 Santa Fe?
- NHTSA has 236 complaints on file for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, along with 6 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries reported.