Third generation, long, wheelbase (NC / Santa Fe XL)
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
The most reported problem on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is engine failure, with 90 complaints, usually around 87,000 miles.
- 236owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 6involved a crash
- 73,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 4, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

What is your Santa Fe doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has 236 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 248 for 2016 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Santa Fe model years since 2014, it has the 4th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 21 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs well under the 2017 (97). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: engine failure, named in 90 of the 236 complaints (38%). A quarter of the 44 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 71,000 miles, and half by about 87,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 236 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 6 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 6 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 3 of 6, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 57 and have dropped every year since, to 8 in 2025. So far in 2026, 7 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 90 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
236 complaints is about the median for a 2016 model on this site and about the median for a 2016 SUV. Among the 13 Santa Fe model years here it ranks 4th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai filed 111 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. 4 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 3 bulletins · 36 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.
1 more on this problem
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE UPDATE TO PREVENT AN INCREASE IN THE CATALYST TEMPERATURE WHICH MAY RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WITH THE FOLLOWING DTC(S): H P0171 - SYSTEM ...
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 17 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Complaints filed by year
57 complaints came in 2023. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
NHTSA summary
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Throttle control system vulnerabilities. Closed jun 20, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
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."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
All 3 recalls on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine failure, with 90 of the 236 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 87,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Of the 116 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 31,000 miles and half by about 73,000.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 21 a year against 97.
How many 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No recall on file for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.