16 complaints reported

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
16
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2026

The motor began to making a knocking noise and started smoking like a fire was starting. We immediately turned off the vehicle preventing from a full fledge fire. We had children in the car as well which posed a safety concern for them. We had no prior warning lights or issues. It has yet to be inspected by anyone.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2026
Mar 2024

In May 2023, I booked an appointment to get the software update for the immobilizer issue on my Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2016. Issue resolved. In February 2024, the vehicle was vandalized in a driveway but was NOT stolen. However the alarm did not trigger unless it was 'tripped.' Why???? Today it is March 15, 2024 and vehicle is still at collision shop getting everything repaired.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2024
Mar 2024

The door on the drivers side does not lock. It appears that something came out of place causing the door to remain unlocked even with the use of the fab. The car is not drivable because the door swings open. It has happened in a few occasions where the lock appears to get stuck but was always fixable. On this occasion it was not. Thankfully, I was parked when this occurred.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2024
Sep 2023

Oil burns through engine Oil light doesn’t work when I need an oil change. So I’m having to put 4 quarts of oil in myself every week Need towing as I’m unable to drive because I don’t want to take a risk of engine blowing up

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2023
Feb 2023

In three separate occasions this month, my car has cut off on me on a major highway. Also one of those times when this happened I almost got into a car accident.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2023
Aug 2022

2016 Santa Fe - While driving on interstate all warning lights came on - antilock brake, check engine, electronic power steering, vehicle grade, outside temp blinking blank. Took to reliable shop and they said it was right front speed sensor, had that replaced still all warning lights on. Engine code that caused the lights was P2159 (Vehicle Speed Sensor B range performance) I took the car to Jim Click dealership in Green Valley they had the car for 7 days said they finally figured out that it had wires that were shorted that fed back to modules and they would have to do an overlay of these wires, so they would run new wires in the area that was bad, we got the car back after repairs and it is all working now, the car only has 86 k miles and has never been in an accident all wiring in the vehicle look still brand new. I read online of this same year of car has problems due to engine fires and suggest to park car away from anything in case it does catch fire, the article also talks about it starts with the antilock brake control module that can cause an electrical short. I am wandering if this is going to happen again because they repaired shorted wiring but did nothing to replace any bad control modules that may be causing fires in these vehicles. These repairs cost me over 700 dollars in which I think should be under warranty, But the real scary thing is I don't want to be driving down the road and have this car go up in flames. The article on the internet I read was written by Tom Krisher AP Auto Writer he also states that Kia is also also included with this problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2022
Nov 2021

I was driving and all of a sudden heard a rough rattling sound coming from the engine. Hyundai didn’t have time for me, so I had it towed to a local mechanic. Diagnostic: timing chain done but also knocking of the engine. Oil consumption causing this and new engine required. Had it towed to Hyundai a couple weeks later. Same diagnoses- new engine required for engine knocking and failure of internal timing components. Hyundai confirmed the engine oil consumption is bad.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2021
Aug 2021

Recently I Viewed a low oil light on the dash board, turned motor off waited 30 min checked oil the level it was correct, called the local Hyundai dealer (Miami lakes Hyundai) they told me since I was the 2nd owner my vehicle has 60 months factory warranty and my car has 70 months since purchased, I asked if there was an engine recall they said no for that model year, SORRY. I took my vehicle to an independent auto shop they concluded that at 180 degrees Fahrenheit engine running temperature I had between 8 to 9 Lbs. of oil pressure at idle and that it should be a least 25 Lbs. The Auto shop informed me that the cause was excessive bearing wear that was causing my low oil pressure light. I found that to be very implausible because of the low mileage 42000 miles with oil services done every (3000) miles not 4000 or 5000 miles as recommended by the factory specs, The shop also told me that 2.4 Ltr. had that defect so did a little searching and found Hyundai 2.4 ltr. Theta engine with a massive recall except my model year. hoping someone in NHTSA can point me in the right direction.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2021
Nov 2020

WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE RPMS JUMP TO 4,000 AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED ON 8/23/20 AND OTHER TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE AND DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2020
Nov 2019

ENGINE GONE BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER, LATER TO FIND FROM DEALERSHIP THAT ENGINE WAS NO LONGER GOOD. THIS THOUGH VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD. WAS LATER TOLD THAT ENGINE HAD RECALL WHICH I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2019
Sep 2018

THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSOR ON MY HYUNDAI 2016 SANTA FE WAS DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS THAT APPARENTLY CAME THROUGH THE FRONT GRILL OF MY CAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOW CAN ROAD DEBRIS DAMAGED MY AIR CONDENSOR? SHOULDN'T ALL INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS OF A CAR BE PROTECTED FROM THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE? THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE WHAT OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE GRILL NOT PROPERLY COVERING THE OTHER VITAL ENGINE PARTS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH MY VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2018
Apr 2018

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM ABOVE. MY KIDS WERE BUCKLED IN THE BACK SEATS AND MY SON ASKED ME "WHAT WAS THAT DADDY"? HE THEN LOOKED UP AND NOTICED PIERCINGS IN THE UNDERNEATH SHEATH THAT LEADS TO THE SUNROOF VIEW. IT COULD NOT ROLL BACK FULLY. THERE WAS ALSO MOISTURE APPEARING THRU THE SHEATH OF THE ROOF. WHEN I GOT HOME AND GOT MY WIFE AND KIDS OUT. I LOOKED AND NOTICED A GAPING HOLE IN THE ROOF. I THEN REALIZED THE BACK PANEL WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITH GLASS WEDGED ON THE SHEATH. WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THE GLASS COULD HAVE DROPPED ON MY KIDS. MY WIFE AND I HAD TO COVER IT UP WITH CARDBOARD AND BLACK BAGS WHILE IN THE RAIN. I AM GOING BACK TO STAR HYUNDAI DEALERS TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AS IT'S SUNDAY 2/4 AND THEY ARE CLOSED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2018
Dec 2017

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 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SUNROOF IS A PANORAMIC SO IT WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF GLASS. HYUNDAI WAS NOTIFIED NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE, INSISTED SOMETHING HIT IT. HYUNDAI ALSO WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2017
Oct 2017

I HAVE A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS I'VE HAD 2 OCCASIONS (BOTH ON HIGHWAYS) WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE LATEST OCCURRED THIS MORNING (9/26/2017) DURING RUSH HOUR. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO NAVIGATE THE DEAD CAR ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE. ON BOTH OCCASION, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE START POSITION, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND START IT UP, LIKE NOTHING HAD OCCURRED. SINCE THE LAST OCCURANCE I HAVE SUBMITTED A CASE WITH HYUNDAI AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. THAT WAS ON 9/28. OUTSIDE OF AN EMAIL STATING THEY WOULD BE REACHING BACK OJT TO ME, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 32K MILES, SO THIS IS AN ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2017
May 2016

THE FRONT SUNROOF ON MY 2016 SANTA FE I BOUGHT IN JAN 2016 THAT HAS APPROX. 8000 MILES, EXPLODED ON THE WAY TO WORK WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT IN MY RIGHT EAR, THEN GLASS BEGAN TO FALL ON MY HEAD AND THROUGHOUT THE CAR - I'M SURE THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS SUCKED OUT AND ONTO THE INTERSTATE. (I HAD THE SUN SHADE INSIDE OPENED SO MY CHILD COULD WATCH THE RAIN ON THE RIDE TO THE BABYSITTERS.)I FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I GOOGLED IT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND ISSUE WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I WAS TOLD, I WAS GIVEN A LOANER WHILE IT WAS FIXED. NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND ME WITHIN 4 CAR LENGTHS AT LEAST. I DID NOT PASS UNDER AN OVERPASS. IT WAS RAINING THAT DAY (OF COURSE - THAT'S MY LUCK) WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CLOSED THE SUN SHADE ON THE INSIDE AS BEST AS I COULD WITH ALL THE GLASS THAT WAS IN THE TRACK, AND TAPED GARBAGE BAGS OVER IT TO PRESERVE THE INSIDE. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP LATER TO TAKE ADDITIONAL PICTURES AND YOU CAN TELL THE GLASS WAS BLOW OUTWARDS. THERE WAS EVEN CHIPS IN THE PAINT THROUGH THE CLEAR COAT FROM WHEN GLASS FLEW. I'M THANKFUL I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, BUT MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT IS FULL OF GLASS REMAINS. I WASN'T HURT - ONLY A FEW CUTS FROM GLASS THAT WAS IN MY JACKET POCKET AND IN MY CLOTHES. I AM STILL AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED, HOW AND WHY - UNKNOWN. AND SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT COMMUNICATED ANYTHING TO ME, BUT I HOPE THEY MAKE IT RIGHT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2016
Nov 2015

THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70MPH - THE SOUND WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT INSIDE THE CAR - THIS IS A SANTA FE SPORT 2016 MODEL THAT I BOUGHT ON JULY 5 2015

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has 16 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.