YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, 8% of its 236 total complaints that year, with 1 fire and no crashes or injuries reported. A related ABS recall (22V056000) covers this exact issue, and median mileage at failure was 82,000.

Brakes complaints
19
8% of 236
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
82,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the ABS and traction control warning lights turning on and off sporadically, sometimes worse in humid weather.
  • Some describe a sudden loss of power and power steering while driving, with the engine shutting down and the car unable to restart.
  • One owner reported smoke and fire coming from under the hood and vents while driving on an upgrade, with total loss of braking before the vehicle caught fire.
  • Multiple owners who received the ABS recall notice (campaign 22V056000) said dealers had no replacement parts available and repairs were delayed well beyond a reasonable time.
  • One owner reported abnormal squealing from the brakes when the pedal was pressed, along with the vehicle jerking forward while accelerating.

When 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 13, 2020, latest Mar 24, 2025.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe brakes complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2020Oct 2022Jan 2023May 2023Aug 2024Oct 2024
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Mar 2025; peak Oct 2022 (4).

Brakes recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe

  1. 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.

Brakes complaints by Santa Fe model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201014 (5%)
  2. 201127 (15%)
  3. 201230 (8%)
  4. 201372 (12%)
  5. 201467 (14%)
  6. 201529 (11%)
  7. 201619 (8%)
  8. 201769 (7%)
  9. 201819 (17%)
  10. 201914 (7%)
  11. 202010 (5%)
  12. 20216 (4%)
  13. 202211 (6%)
  14. 202325 (12%)
  15. 202413 (9%)
  16. 20254 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

Is there a brake recall for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes. NHTSA recall campaign 22V056000 covers the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module on 2016-2018 Santa Fe and related models, which can malfunction and create a fire risk. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the repair is complete.
How common are brake complaints for the 2016 Santa Fe?
NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2016 Santa Fe, which is 8% of the 236 total complaints filed for that model year.
Are the brake problems dangerous?
NHTSA records one fire tied to a brake-area complaint for the 2016 Santa Fe, with no crashes or injuries reported. The related recall itself is a fire-risk concern, which is why Hyundai advises parking outside.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2016 Santa Fe?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 82,000 miles.
Did owners have trouble getting the recall repair done?
Yes. Several 2022 complaints describe dealers lacking replacement parts for the 22V056000 ABS recall, causing delays beyond what owners considered a reasonable time.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.