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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

Hyundai · Compact SUV

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 3

Complaints10 crash · 13 fire · 9 injured reported 306

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Sport FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 306 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Hyundai Santa Fe — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Hyundai Santa Fe · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Santa Fe Sport FWD	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	20	27	23	$2,900
Santa Fe Sport FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	19	26	22	$3,050
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	19	26	22	$3,050
Santa Fe FWD	Gas	FWD	3.3L 6-cyl	18	25	21	$3,200
Santa Fe Sport AWD	Gas	AWD	2.4L 4-cyl	19	25	21	$3,200
Santa Fe AWD	Gas	AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	18	24	20	$3,350
Santa Fe Sport AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	18	24	20	$3,350
Santa Fe Ultimate FWD	Gas	FWD	3.3L 6-cyl	17	23	20	$3,350
Santa Fe Ultimate AWD	Gas	AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	17	22	19	$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36208, 36209, 36210, 36326, 36212, 36334, 36213, 36325, 36333.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Santa Fe AWD, Santa Fe FWD, Santa Fe Sport AWD, Santa Fe Sport FWD, Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD, Santa Fe Ultimate AWD, Santa Fe Ultimate FWD	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	2.4 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

290 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

4x2

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Base, GI, Popular/Turbo Base/Turbo Leather, Turbo Tech). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	184.6–192.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.0–74.4 in
Height	66.5–66.9 in
Wheelbase	106.3–110.2 in
Track, front	64.2 in
Track, rear	64.6 in
Curb weight	3,459–4,339 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: Sport AWD 4-door SUV, Sport FWD 4-door SUV, XL AWD 4-door SUV, XL FWD 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

218

Park outside 357,348 vehicles 78% reported repaired

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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V056000 reported Feb 3, 2022 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

163

437,400 vehicles 81% reported repaired built Jul 17, 2012 – Jul 2, 2016

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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V358000 reported Jun 5, 2017 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Seat Belts

141

34,200 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Sep 1, 2015 – Feb 12, 2016

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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V145000 reported Mar 10, 2016 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

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

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

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

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003 · the investigation’s page →

Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle — Throttle control system vulnerabilities closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675. On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defe

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023 · action DP21003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Santa Fe

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Hyundai’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

306complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 13 a fire · 9 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 3 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 30 · 2022: 39 · 2023: 63 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 32 · 2026: 27

Most-cited components

Engine → 201

Unspecified 39

Service Brakes 23

Power Train 21

Electrical System 19

Fuel/Propulsion System 14

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Dear NHTSA, My 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (VIN: , 2.0L Theta II, 64,000 miles) suffered engine failure with knocking and power loss, matching NHTSA Recall #20V-746 (Hyundai #198). This defect risks stalling or fire, threatening my safety and others’.

Engine Apr 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11656213

This Hyundai had the motor replaced with a Hyundai recall... they did not replace the one-time use fuel line that HAS to be replaced when removed. Started leaking fuel out of that line. while I was driving the fuel from the line caught the exhaust on fire and within seconds had flames engulf the car

Fuel/Propulsion System Mar 21, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11512981

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

Air Bags at 83,800 miles Apr 14, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11196160

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.

Visibility/Wiper at 7,500 miles Sep 5, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11021608

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that he had noticed a slight burning odor while driving the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.

Service Brakes at 93,500 miles Feb 1, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11505003

The contact's son owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was jump-started and taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery; however, the failure recurred several times.

Electrical System at 57,698 miles Jan 26, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11448949

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Hyundai itself: 14 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 21 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Santa Fe model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 64k

miles, typically

Half the 95 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 32,000 and 94,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 12

10k–20k 6

20k–30k 2

30k–40k 8

40k–50k 4

50k–60k 6

60k–70k 13

70k–80k 8

80k–90k 9

90k–100k 4

100k–150k 18

150k + 5

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	47	89,000	1.44×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

18 years, unlimited miles · Hyundai warranty extension Z01Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be stored.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Hyundai warranty extension TXX8Certain 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Hyundai warranty extension HSE25-12-P270The warranty coverage of certain engines for repairs and replacement has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles (15years or 240,000km) from the date of original retail delivery or date of first…
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Hyundai warranty extension WARRANTY EXTENSION TXX8The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Hyundai warranty extension (62) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 245

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 213 service bulletins, 14 warranty extensions, 12 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Power Train, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

26-EM-016H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-08 · Engine
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when dee
26-EM-017H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-08 · Engine
Certain Palisade (LX2) and Santa Fe (NC) vehicles equipped with Lambda II 6-cylinder engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this proced
26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Engine
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
Z01 Letter Warranty extension
2026-05-23 · Electrical System
Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 – 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commit
11032523 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and
11032522 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may
26-EM-002H TSB Warranty extension
2026-02-11 · Engine
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure the proper procedure and repair is performed. The warranty coverage for engine repair or replac
P33 OL Other
2025-12-19 · Electrical System
In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, we’ve developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade that can be installed at the ignition cylinder location

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1326 P1326 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	20 bulletins · 6 owner reports
B1764 B1764 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins · 1 owner report
B1763	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0705 P0705 on Hyundai →	A fault in the transmission range sensor — the module cannot tell which gear position is selected.	Equipment	4 bulletins
P0706 P0706 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	4 bulletins
P0707 P0707 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	4 bulletins
P0708	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	4 bulletins
C120B	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	2 bulletins
C160A	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	2 bulletins
P0880 P0880 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.7%

failed emissions

1,871 initial inspections of 1,820 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Santa Fe	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.7%	4.2%	1,868
Failed the safety inspection	1.8%	2.2%	1,871
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.32%	0.27%	1,871
Miles driven a year	10,415	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	106,827	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Santa Fe by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 36 mpg 2026 C 4 58 36 mpg 2025 C 5 239 36 mpg 2024 D 7 191 36 mpg 2023 C 2 290 Park outside 2022 F 8 265 Park outside 2021 F 8 187 Park outside 2020 C 2 217 Park outside 2019 D 3 229 Park outside 2018 F 5 432 Park outside 2017 D 7 1,326 Park outside 2016 this page C 3 306 Park outside

Common questions about the 2016 Santa Fe

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V056000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Across the 9 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Transport Canada measured it at 184.6–192.9 in long, 74.0–74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.5–66.9 in tall, on a 106.3–110.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,459–4,339 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, most often about engine, unspecified, service brakes. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 13 a fire, 9 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The manufacturer has filed 245 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe failed the emissions check on 2.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	9 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	9 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	306	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	245	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	3	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	9 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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