2016 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 236 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 6 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideFeb 3, 2022
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.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 22V056000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJun 5, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, warning light/devicesMar 10, 2016
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 16V145000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Mar 15, 2024, crash
Someone backed out of a parking lot and I crashed into their rear passenger side. Other party at fault but my air bags for 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport did not deploy.
Air bags, Mar 13, 2024, crash
Had an accident where driver side front of vehicle was hit. The severity of crash resulted in total loss. The driver was hurt and concussed due to her head hitting the side window, driver side. The vehicle was equipped with front side impact and curtain airbags and all failed to deploy. The other vehicle's side curtains were deployed.
Air bags, Seats, Feb 8, 2024
I have seen this be reported online, but apparently it only covers the KIA Model, not the hyundai model. But the ODS Mat/Bladder defect in our passenger seat in our Hyundai Santa Fe 2016. Drops Codes B149000 and B1764 - this causes our air bag light to come on. This flipped on around 70k miles but because we are the second owner, we have to foot the bill out of pocket. Its asinine to think that we have to replace the entire seat and that Hyundai doesnt see this as a problem for them. Hyundai looked at our car, and again they stated we have to fix it ourselves - or pay them. They confirmed it. The problem is, it shuts our air bags off meaning if we dont foot the $2000-$3000 to replace it, our air bags just wont deploy. Thats a massive security risk. This seems to be a problem with various Hyundai and Kia models, but apparently only SOME models with the same codes get to be replaced. Ridiculous. Attached are various issues by Hyundai, Kia, with the same issue across various models. Here is the link to the same issues in a different model of Kia/Hyundai Cars [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air bags, Sep 25, 2023
The seat belt indicator on the console of a vehicle is illuminated the vehicle has not been any accidents or any problems other than that. I took it to the dealership and they stated it will take 2 to 3 weeks just a diagnostic this problem I think it should not be a problem.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Feb 8, 2022
The clockspring of hyundai steering wheels does not work and goes bad. This is a known problem within hyundais. A bad clock spring leaves without cruise control, a functioning horn, or most importantly, a functioning airbag. You would be unable to alert an inattentive driver and the airbag may not deploy in the event of a collision Problem is confirmed by dealership. No warning lamps or messages occur from the issue. You only know when your buttons or horns don't work.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DANBURY HYUNDAI (203-730-4700, LOCATED AT 102 FEDERAL ROAD, DANBURY, CT 06810) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Air bags, Sep 13, 2019, crash
WE WERE HIT HEAD ON BY A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK. WE SUSTAINED A LOT OF DAMAGE FROM THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION. WE WERE TRAVELING AROUND 10 MILES AN HOUR BUT THE OTHER CAR WAS GOING AT LEAST 20 MILES AN HOUR. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED DESPITE BEING HIT HEAD ON AND SUFFERING A LOT OF DAMAGE UPON IMPACT. WE WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. THE OTHER CAR TURNED INTO OUR LANE AND WAS ACCELERATING TOWARDS US.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Aug 22, 2019
ON JULY 27, 2019 DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AT 50 MPH IN DRY AND SUNNY CONDITIONS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I SCHEDULED SERVICE RIGHT AWAY. I STARTED MY CAR TO GO TO SCHWARTZ MAZDA IN SHREWSBURY NJ ON 7/27/19 FOR SERVICE THRU MY PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT THAT TIME, NEITHER THE AIRBAG OR SEATBELT LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT NERVOUS FOR MINE AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, I BROUGHT THE CAR ANYWAY. I WAS INFORMED BY JARROD IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY RESET MY COMPUTER AND TO LET HIM KNOW IF THE LIGHT(S) CAME BACK ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY ON AUGUST 11TH WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD GOING 35 MPH ON A DRY AND SUNNY DAY. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TO PARK AND THEN RESTARTED MY CAR TO RETURN HOME. THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. MONDAY AUGUST 19TH WHILE TRAVELING ON A COUNTY ROAD AT 45 MPH IN RAINY WET DRIVING CONDITIONS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY THE FLASHING PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AGAIN. MADE AN APPT FOR SERVICE ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 20TH WITH ONCE AGAIN, SCHWARTZ MAZDA IN SHREWSBURY NJ WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2018. BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON UPON MY ARRIVAL IN SUNNY AND DRY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THEIR CODE READER PRODUCED THE CODE "PASSENGER MAT SENSOR" AND I WAS INFORMED THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT TO CIRCLE HYUNDAI IN SHREWSBURY FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM JARROD AT SCHWARTZ MAZDA AT 11 AM ON THURSDAY AUGUST 22 WITH NEWS THAT MY REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST ALMOST $600. I AM FEARFUL FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND THE RESOURCES I HAVE REACHED OUT TO HAVE BEEN USELESS AND UNACCOMODATING. WHY IS NO ONE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF AIRBAGS THAT WILL NOT INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY? PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH A COURSE OF ACTION I CAN TAKE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2018
TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND MY SUV HAS BEEN IN 0 ACIDDENTS, THE AC AIR STATES IT'S ON BUT DOESN'T BLOW ANY AIR AT ALL! IT ONLY HAS 69640K MILES, KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I AM ON PARK OR HAVE THE BRAKE ON WHILE AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN!