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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 179.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

27 reports with mileage · 41 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports10 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

68 reports
32,000 miles · May 14, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER KEFFER HYUNDAI ( 9010 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD, MATHEWS, NC) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN ENGINE HARNESS WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER KEFFER HYUNDAI ( 9010 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD, MATHEWS, NC) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN ENGINE HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOX SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #11207459

83,800 miles · Apr 14, 2019
Air Bags

FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS STAYED ON WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENT AT THE TIME. IT WILL GO OFF OCCASIONALLY BUT ONCE I HIT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT TURNS BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI #11196160

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SURGING ISSUE. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND IT CONTINUES TO PERFORM THE SAME. NOT PLEASED .

NHTSA ODI #11183745

33,000 miles · Nov 2, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COASTAL HYUNDAI (915 W NEW HAVEN AVE, MELBOURNE, FL 32901) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS NOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COASTAL HYUNDAI (915 W NEW HAVEN AVE, MELBOURNE, FL 32901) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #11144982

42,000 miles · Aug 11, 2018
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF THE CAR. IF THE SUNSCREEN HAD BEEN OPEN, MY WIFE AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT TO PIECES BY THE FLYING GLASS.

NHTSA ODI #11119372

52,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED WORLD HYUNDAI MATTESON AT 866-486-2915 (5337 MILLER CIR DRIVE, MATTESON, IL 60443) AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED WORLD HYUNDAI MATTESON AT 866-486-2915 (5337 MILLER CIR DRIVE, MATTESON, IL 60443) AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. INSTEAD, THE CONTACT CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S PHONE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #11090050

7,500 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO KILL A BUG ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HAND AND THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEMIS HYUNDAI IN SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO KILL A BUG ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HAND AND THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEMIS HYUNDAI IN SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.

NHTSA ODI #11021608

38,000 miles · Aug 6, 2017
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

THE SUSPENSION IN MY CAR IS SO ROUGH RIDING THAT NO ONE WANTS TO RIDE IN THE CAR ANY MORE. WHEN I BRAKE, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS SUDDENLY, EVERYONE SLAMS OR JERKS FORWARD; WHEN I GO OVER SPEED BUMPS, EVEN GENTLY, EVERYONE JERKS AROUND. IT'S AWFUL.

NHTSA ODI #11013096

Official recalls

1

17V358000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Jun 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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.