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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe

Gas Compact SUV

202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
D
Safety Signal
69 / 100
DSafety Signal · 69 / 100
3Recalls · 1 critical
303Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
23 mpgFuel economy · best combined
⚠️
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Sport FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 303 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Santa Fe Sport FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl202723$2,700
Santa Fe Sport FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192622$2,850
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192622$2,850
Santa Fe FWDGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl182521$2,950
Santa Fe Sport AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl192521$2,950
Santa Fe AWDGasAWD3.3L 6-cyl182420$3,100
Santa Fe Sport AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo182420$3,100
Santa Fe Ultimate FWDGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl172320$3,100
Santa Fe Ultimate AWDGasAWD3.3L 6-cyl172219$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

critical
Park outside357,348 vehicles

Problem: 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: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 22V056000 · reported Feb 3, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Latches/Locks/Linkages

high
437,400 vehicles

Problem: 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: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 17V358000 · reported Jun 5, 2017 · Hyundai Motor America

Seat Belts

high
34,200 vehicles

Problem: 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: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 16V145000 · reported Mar 10, 2016 · Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (open)

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Engine — Loss of Motive Power (closed)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003

Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle — Throttle control system vulnerabilities (closed)

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defec

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023 · action DP21003

Owner complaints

303 complaints filed

10 involved a crash, 12 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2015: 3 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 30 · 2022: 39 · 2023: 63 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 32 · 2026: 24

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 192
  • Unknown Or Other — 39
  • Power Train — 21
  • Electrical System — 18
  • Air Bags — 13
“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated that the check engine, oil, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic where it w…”Oct 28, 2021 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY AT A PARKING LOT. CAR WAS JUST SERVICED AND INSPECTED A MONTH PRIOR AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAD NO PROBLEMS REPORTED. CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. FROM THE INITIAL REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THE VE…”Sep 17, 2020 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“TOOK CAR IN 1 MONTH AGO FOR SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SOFTWARE UPDATE) 2016 SANTA FE SPORT 83,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY YESTERDAY ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WENT IN TO 'SAFE MODE' WAS ABLE TO GO ABOUT 1/2 MILE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY STOPPED.. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED TODAY THE ENGINE FAILED. W…”Jun 17, 2019 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Santa Fe model years

A

2027 Santa Fe

0 recalls · 0 complaints

D

2026 Santa Fe

4 recalls · 46 complaints

F

2025 Santa Fe

5 recalls · 215 complaints

F

2024 Santa Fe

7 recalls · 176 complaints

C

2023 Santa Fe

2 recalls · 284 complaints

F

2022 Santa Fe

8 recalls · 262 complaints

F

2021 Santa Fe

8 recalls · 185 complaints

C

2020 Santa Fe

2 recalls · 207 complaints

D

2019 Santa Fe

3 recalls · 221 complaints

F

2018 Santa Fe

5 recalls · 427 complaints

F

2017 Santa Fe

7 recalls · 1,307 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 36208, 36209, 36210, 36326, 36212, 36334, 36213, 36325, 36333). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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