2016 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems
200 of the 305 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 67 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 200 reports a crash · 12 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 24 · 2022: 25 · 2023: 52 · 2024: 42 · 2025: 23 · 2026: 19
Half of the 47 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 76,000 and 120,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
305 complaints in all about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, 19 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact's mother owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the RPM’s decreased and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated there was a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light illuminated.
Engine caught fire while driving. Vehicle is a total loss as fire department did not arrive for 20 min. Currently at a Copart yard in Gainesville, ga. Lucky I was on a rural road and my dog and I were able to get out of car. Only injury is cough that has not gone away after 4 weeks.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, the engine seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000
The contact's granddaughter owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while the owner was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to make an abnormal noise, and then the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sante Fe. The contact stated that after she purchased the vehicle while driving, she rear-ended another vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the engine was replaced however, the contact stated that two to three hours later while driving, the RPM’s failed to increase over number two and the…
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- 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 i…
67 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26-EM-002H TSB Warranty extensionFeb 11, 2026
- 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
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1326 C1212 P0014 P0021 P0024 P0453
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 200 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (66% of everything owners filed about it), and 67 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 89,000 miles; half of them between 76,000 and 120,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.