2016 Hyundai Santa Fe · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 53owner reports
- 93,000median miles
- $9,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 4, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
176 of the 236 complaints on this car are about the engine. 53 of those describe stalling. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 53 reports
Stalling on other Santa Fe years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (5 reports), the battery (4 reports) and the fuel pump (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Santa Fe
3.3l engine loss of motive power (lomp). Closed may 16, 2024.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 20V-061.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed may 10, 2019, led to recall 18V-907.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-226.
Front axle shaft failure. Closed sep 20, 2013, led to recall 13V-355.
Transmission intermediate driveshaft. Closed may 10, 2011, led to recall 11V-258.
Engine seizure. Closed aug 12, 2002.
What owners paid
5 of the 53 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $7,000 to $12,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 75,622 and 116,000 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Was driving on the highway going about 65mph when the engine just lost power. Pressing the accelerator and there was nothing happening. Had the car towed home. And then to a mechanic who told me the rod was bent. Iâve always kept up on oil changes and maintenance. I just had an oil change less than a month prior. There were no warning signs leading up to this incident.”
Filed Jun 7, 2024
“Vehicle is at 106,000 miles. Coming to a stoplight the vehicle completely shut down. Upon inspection seeing the drive belt was missing. Vehicle will not turn over, battery is fully charged no other issues. Check engine light is now flashing AFTER it shut down NOT before like NHTSA recommends..”
Filed Aug 13, 2023 · 106,000 miles
“My car just started making a noise and the check engine light came on. The car shortly there after stalled. I tried to restart the car but it sounded terrible. I later had the car towed to a mechanic who told me of a common engine problem with Hyundai's. He recommended taking it to a dealer for further evaluation.”
Filed Jul 13, 2022
“Vehicle died while driving. No warning lights on at all. Dealer states that I have engine damage just by listening to it. Same issue is under recall for the santa fe sport engines but I am told that this will not be covered. This could have been an accident if I had been driving on a highway or a high traffic area.”
Filed Feb 22, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 53 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 90 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 36 reports