2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. This model year has 232 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
Transmission / Drivetrain
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 151 | — | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 20 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 17 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 9 | 3 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 232 most recent complaints
Rod bearing failure while driving, engine made a clanking noise. Engine made a loud bang and shut off. It was difficult for the driver to get control of the vehicle and get it to the side of the road. Engine threw the rod and piston through the oil pan causing catastrophic inte…
Beginning about a month ago, I noticed a rattle upon the engine start up that lasted for a 1-2 seconds then stopped and everything sounded normal. I thought it could be b/c of the cold weather. I went in to get a routine oil change on 03/11/2026 and they said the oil looked fine,…
The motor began to making a knocking noise and started smoking like a fire was starting. We immediately turned off the vehicle preventing from a full fledge fire. We had children in the car as well which posed a safety concern for them. We had no prior warning lights or issues. I…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and failed to respond as intended. The contact coasted to the right side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and the ve…
My engine failed at 113,000 miles. It just sounded like a diesel truck when I started it one day. There were no warning messages at all. It did not have any power above 45 mph. I took it to a Hyundai dealer and showed him the extended warranty letter I received from Hyundai. The …
My 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe lost all power, shutting off and stopping abruptly in the middle of the road with no warning lights or “limp mode” being set off requiring my partner and I to push it into someone’s driveway with our two children in the car to get them to safety. We took …
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 v…
Engine oil runs out quickly
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had fai…
This is my 2nd engine on my 2016 Santa Fe Sport. My car has 190,000 miles and had a catastrophic engine failure, it’s been at the dealership for 2 months. Hyundai said my lifetime warranty on my engine is not covered cause I had a misfire in the #4 cylinder with less than 2,000 m…
While driving down the highway at 65mph my 2016 Santafe Sport experienced engine failure. We sat on the side of the highway, next to an on ramp with high traffic beside a cement wall. When the tow truck arrived the driver was nearly ran over! There was no way to get the car to a …
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 …
Car started to present problems at around 100k miles when it would start to hard shift any time it shifted in to 2nd gear. On several occasions it would fail to accelerate beyond 25 mph one of these instances happened while driving at speed on the interstate where pressing the …
Four weeks ago, I noticed my 2016 Santa Fe was not blowing any heated air into the cabin. A/C would come out fine, but room temperature air at best even when thermostat set to max. I took it in for diagnosis at a local mechanic who informed me that coolant was leaking out of the …
Hard Shift occurs between gear 1 and gear 2. The hard shift lurches the entire car. It occurs on both upshift and downshift. The hard shift occurs on cold starts. The problem goes away when you turn the vehicle off and then back on. There are no check engine lights. The dealer ca…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine failure due to oil consumption How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Car attempted to die on a highway, this could have been dangerous had I been in the o…
I purchased this vehicle less than a year ago from a dealership, used. I noticed the oil consumption after the first few months was unreasonably high. I have to keep a large jug of oil in my car and add the oil at least every two weeks or so depending on the miles I drive. I noti…
Engine has serious recall that I was not made aware of during purchase. My car has been burning oil and the engine has been on. I've taken out to several local mechanics who said "these model Hyundai's burn oil once they are over 100,000 miles" and that I would just need more f…
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…
Engine shuts off and slows down while driving.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Recalls for 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has 232 NHTSA owner complaints, 5 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (151 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
#1: Engine Problems (151 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (25 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (20 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has 5 crash-related complaints and 2 fire reports out of 232 total NHTSA complaints. 6 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The largest issue: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.