Recalled components: brakes, latches, locks and linkages, and seat belts. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (97 complaints, 31%). Most-reported area: engine (197 complaints, 64%; median mileage when it happened: 83,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Santa Fe year
The 2016 drew 32 owner complaints in its first three years, against 93 for a typical Santa Fe year. It is not picked as a best year: it has a recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside until it is repaired.
Years to avoid: 2017 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
NHTSA listings: SANTA FE, SANTA FE SPORT. Hyundai campaign 163.
Seat belts
Mar 10, 2016
front · warning light/devices
Fails federal standard 208 (occupant crash protection)
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016.
NHTSA listing: SANTA FE. Hyundai campaign 141.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
What owners report
Owners have filed 310 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Santa Fe. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement97 · 31%
Median 95,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off48 · 15%
Median 82,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode43 · 14%
Check engine light42 · 14%
Median 107,600 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Median 83,000 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
Powertrain25 · 8%
Brakes23 · 7%
Electrical system18 · 6%
Air bags13 · 4%
Fuel and propulsion system12 · 4%
Seat belts9 · 3%
Unknown or other40 · 13%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Santa Fe recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2016 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 Santa Fe drew the most (260) and the 2016 drew 32.
Owner complaints
2016: 310 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Santa Fe
Model year
Complaints
2010
260
2011
181
2012
355
2013
809
2014
657
2015
339
2016
310
2017
1,332
2018
436
2019
232
2020
218
2021
190
2022
268
2023
295
2024
202
2025
251
2026
60
Safety recalls
2016: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Santa Fe
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
2
2012
1
2013
7
2014
7
2015
4
2016
3
2017
7
2018
5
2019
3
2020
2
2021
8
2022
8
2023
2
2024
7
2025
5
2026
4
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 310 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (97), stalling or shutting off (48), and loss of power or limp mode (43). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
How do I check if my Santa Fe has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SANTA FE, SANTA FE SPORT.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.