Worst 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 146 | — | 2 | 122,900 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 20 | — | — | 45,316 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 11 | — | — | 61,333 mi | |
| Airbags | 9 | 3 | — | 85,100 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 9 | — | — | 29,200 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 42,900 mi | |
| Brakes | 8 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | — | — | 18,667 mi | |
| Body Structure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Throttlebody/Manifold | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing:Stitching | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | — | — | — |
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.
Recalls for 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~828,948 vehicles.
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.
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.
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."
Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years
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?
What are common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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.
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