The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 154 of 238 complaints (65%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 255 in 2015 to 238 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 238
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,700–$3,300
- Combined MPG
- 19–23
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,300 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,600–3,300 | 2,600–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–23 | 19–23 | 19–23 | 19–24 | 19–24 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–20 / 22–27 | 17–21 / 22–28 | 17–21 / 22–28 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 387–478 | 387–476 | 387–476 | 379–475 | 379–475 | |
| Complaints filed | 493 | 255 | 238 | 973 | 110 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 30 | 13 | 2 | 23 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine: 154 of 238 NHTSA complaints (65%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (9)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 387 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg | 26 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 403 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg | 26 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 409 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 415 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 429 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 457 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 432 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 476 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 446 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 154 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 22 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 26 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Defect
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
- Defect
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
- Defect
- 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.