hyundai Santa Fe problems
0 safety recalls. 232 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
On September 15, 2021 while driving the Santa Fe engine just stopped in the middle of an intersection , was able to coast to the side of the road. Vehicle has fuel, showed no issues prior. Tow truck driver attempted to jumpstart the vehicle with no avail, was towed to the local…
I am not sure what is wrong with my Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 because it is at the dealer at this moment waiting for a diagnostic test. I started the vehicle and heard a revving-up noise. I went to the doctor and on my way back to the house I accelerated and heard a rattling sound…
We purchased the vehicle in December 2017 with 30,753 miles and the engine seized in July 2021 with 79,896 miles. When we purchased the vehicle, we were told that Hyundai's warrantee would only be 50% of the original owner warrantee which means it would expire at 60,000 miles.…
DRIVING ALONE ON HIGHWAY, SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY 100 KM / HE. THERE WAS NOTHING OVERHEAD OR VEHICLES AHEAD THAT WOULD CAUSE SOMETHING TO BREAK IT. THE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY LOUD, ALL THE GLASS FEEL OVER ME CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS IT WAS…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 232 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 131 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Hyundai Santa Fe has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 232 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.