Model year 2016 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe at 19–23 mpg combined across 9 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 306 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
3
EPA combined mpg
19–23
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as SANTA FE SPORT.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, newest first.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module
NHTSA 22V056000Reported Feb 3, 2022Park outside
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 218)
Units affected
357,348 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 163)
Units affected
437,400 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 141)
Units affected
34,200 (estimate)
Problem
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."
Risk
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
14.3%
No
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.1%
No
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe owner complaints
Owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, most recently on Oct 11, 2026. 10 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 9 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Engine
194
Unknown or other
39
Power train
24
Electrical system
16
Air bags
13
Fuel/propulsion system
12
Service brakes, hydraulic
12
Service brakes
11
Seat belts
7
Engine and engine cooling
6
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
