2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints
Owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Engine (152), Unknown Or Other (25), Power Train (22).
Key takeaways
- 238 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 152 | 64% |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 | 11% |
| Power Train | 22 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 7% |
| Electrical System | 11 | 5% |
| Hydraulic | 9 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 9 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | 3% |
| Structure | 6 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 2% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-11-02
Supplement to complaint 11743619. The 3.3L Lambda II GDI engine seized at highway speed on January 16, 2022 (connecting-rod-bearing failure, internal components through the block). The vehicle lost all power and power steering, left the roadway and crashed off-road while the driver tried to bring it to a stop, with fou...
Power Train - filed 2026-11-01
Total failure of rear differential / AWD electro-magnetic coupling. I was driving and came to a stop sign, when I went to go it jammed up sending me out of control almost killing me, As I regained control, I got about 20 ft further and hear a HUGE BOOM and my car was again out of my control I was able to slow it down b...
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-09-04
1. Component/System Failure & Availability: The failed component is the engine's internal Camshaft Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) phaser backing bolt within the 3.3L V6 engine assembly. An internal factory bolt unthreaded, backed out, and physically pierced directly through the upper valve cover. The vehicle and intact f...
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More for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.