Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 153, 4.1× a quiet Santa Fe year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe were filed between 75k and 114k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Santa Fe owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 153 (64%) | 75k–114k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 17 (7%) | 13k–95k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 22 (9%) | 1k–41k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 11 (5%) | 6k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (4%) | 9k–53k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 5 (2%) | 2k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 238 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 16 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving about 65 MPH on the highway all of the warning lights (Engine, oil, etc...) came on at the same time and the car just shut down and lost power steering.
I had my 2016 Hyundai santa fe serviced by Hyundai for a tire change and oil change along with the recall update on jan 17, prior to going from st louis mo to wichita ks.
While driving on the interstate, I noticed a tapping noise that sounded like a flap hitting the car. I needed gas, so got off at the next exit.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: 3
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 99
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage
Certain 2013 - 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage
The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date…
2013-2019MY Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL (NC) Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system may exceed its capacity in certain situations
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Loss of Motive Power
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Neighbouring years
2015 Santa Fe: 255 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2017 Santa Fe: 974 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Santa Fe years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 153, 4.1× a quiet Santa Fe year. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe were filed between 75k and 114k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (153), brakes (17), transmission and drivetrain (22), electrical system (11), fuel system (9). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 75k–114k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 22V-056), Latches and locks (NHTSA 17V-358), Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-145). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.