Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ABS Unit May Cause Engine Compartment Fire
- Summary
- 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.
Secondary Hood Latch may Bind and not Latch
- Summary
- 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.
Absence of Front Seat Belt Audible Warning
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (236)
236 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 236 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 151 | 64% |
| Unknown or other | 25 | 10.6% |
| Power train | 21 | 8.9% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 7.2% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 4.7% |
| Air bags | 9 | 3.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 3.4% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 3.4% |
| Structure | 6 | 2.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 2.1% |
How 2016 compares with other Santa Fe years
Best and worst Santa Fe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 353 | 1 |
| 2013 | 605 | 3 |
| 2014 | 493 | 3 |
| 2015 | 254 | 2 |
| 2016 | 236 | 3 |
| 2017 | 968 | 6 |
| 2018 | 109 | 2 |
| 2019 | 201 | 2 |
| 2020 | 213 | 2 |
| 2021 | 166 | 7 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 409 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 409 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 432 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 457 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 446 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 476 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Santa Fe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 22V056000 (brake), 17V358000 (latch), 16V145000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners filed 236 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (151), Unknown or other (25), Power train (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 19 city, 26 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2016 Santa Fe compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Hyundai Santa Fe model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (109) and the 2017 the most (968). The 2016 drew 236. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.