2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and recalls

64% of owner complaints on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe related to the Engine (150 of 235).

235
Complaints
3
Recalls
6
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
6
Injuries
43.3
Severity index

Severity index 43.3 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 43.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 115 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 18% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 150 complaints (63.8%)150 64%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 25 complaints (10.6%)25 11%Power TrainPower Train: 20 complaints (8.5%)20 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 17 complaints (7.2%)17 7%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 11 complaints (4.7%)11 5%HydraulicHydraulic: 9 complaints (3.8%)9 4%Air BagsAir Bags: 9 complaints (3.8%)9 4%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 8 complaints (3.4%)8 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE15063.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2510.6%
POWER TRAIN208.5%
SERVICE BRAKES177.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM114.7%
HYDRAULIC93.8%
AIR BAGS93.8%
SEAT BELTS83.4%

Complaints filed per year

028572015: 32016: 102017: 62018: 82019: 132020: 132021: 282022: 362023: 572024: 472025: 82026: 6 (partial year)15161718192021222357242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20153
201610
20176
20188
201913
202013
202128
202236
202357
202447
20258
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (112 against 77).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V35800005/06/2017LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHHyundai 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 clo
16V14500010/03/2016SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICESHyundai 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, re
22V05600003/02/2022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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 compartmen

Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.