Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 and 236 complaints filed by owners. One of them carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning until repaired. It has 9% fewer complaints than the average Hyundai Santa Fe from 2016–2025 (259 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Hyundai Santa Fe 2016? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016
Brakes (hydraulic)
NHTSA campaign 22V056000 · 2022-02-03 !
Owners are advised to park it outside and away from structures until repaired (fire risk).
What happens
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.
Consequence
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Latches and locks
NHTSA campaign 17V358000 · 2017-06-05
What happens
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.
Consequence
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.
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 16V145000 · 2016-03-10
What happens
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."
Consequence
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.
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
236 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
6 with a crash · 2 with a fire · 6 injuries
Most reported problems on the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016
- Engine: 151 (64% of complaints)
- Powertrain and transmission: 21 (9% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 10 (4% of complaints)
- Brakes (hydraulic): 9 (4% of complaints)
- Brakes: 8 (3% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Hyundai Santa Fe 2016
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- On the test drive, check for smooth shifts with no jerks, slipping or noises; check the transmission fluid condition.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
NHTSA has no 5-Star rating published for this model and year (models before 2011 used a different system).
Hyundai Santa Fe recalls by year
- 2016 : 3 recalls · 236 complaints
- 2017 : 6 recalls · 968 complaints
- 2018 : 2 recalls · 109 complaints
- 2019 : 2 recalls · 202 complaints
- 2020 : 2 recalls · 214 complaints
- 2021 : 7 recalls · 166 complaints
- 2022 : 5 recalls · 200 complaints
- 2023 : 1 recalls · 211 complaints
- 2024 : 7 recalls · 153 complaints
- 2025 : 5 recalls · 134 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (151 of 236 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 13, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).