10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,978 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Sep 072020

Santa Fe

  • 48,000 miles
Vehicle caught fire spontaneously at a parking lot. Car was just serviced and inspected a month prior at the Hyundai dealer where I purchased it and had no problems reported. Car was parked at the time of the incident. From the initial report from the fire department the cause of the fire was a mechanical issue. The vehicle was a total loss.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #10

Jul 192020

Santa Fe

  • 80,000 miles
SUV stopped completely in the middle of free way. All the lights in the board turn on and had to get it towed. Was told it was the engine which I think it's I'mposible being a four year old car.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

problem #9

Sep 132020

Santa Fe

  • 82,000 miles
While driving about 65 mph on the highway all of the warning lights (engine, oil, etc...) came on at the same time and the car just shut down and lost power steering. Luckily I was able to pull over without any problems. The vehicle wouldnt start. It just mad a click when turning the key. All of the lights work in the vehicle. The vehicle has about 82,000 miles

- Mckees Rocks, PA, USA

problem #8

Aug 202020

Santa Fe

  • miles
Driving on interstate 80 applied break as traffic in front of my was slowing down. Car continued to slow down failed to accelerate. Pulled off interstate called road side assistance. Car was towed 160 to the nearest dealership. Had to rent a car to follow my car to dealership advises by rsa that I could not ride with tow driver. Advised by by service manger the next day that car is not driveable, engine needs to be replaced. Advised that additional diagnostic is needed to submit for approval to determine if engine will be covered under warranty. Stuck in cheyenne, wy over 1K miles away from. Dealer can't offer me a loaner too far home and can't offer a rental that can be driven out of state. Forced to find other means to get home. Receive email and have a letter in the mail today vehicle identified as being included in class action settlement for engine failure. So now here I sit and wait not sure if repair will be covered and without a vehicle.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #7

Aug 042020

Santa Fe

  • 65,000 miles
I took my car to the local Hyundai service center 8/4/2020 due to the check engine light being on. No other symptoms. I was told the light came on due to complete engine failure. No other information provided. I'm currently waiting to hear if the repair will be covered by my extended warranty of if I will be faced with the $17K repair. Vehicle is only 4 years old and has required servicing every year since I purchased it (cpo).

- Lincoln University, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 122020

Santa Fe

  • 6,600 miles
When I stop at traffic light the car has vibration I can fell it while I step on the break I took it 2 Hyundai they advise me is normal.

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #5

Jun 102020

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
While driving. Dash board lights flickered, car shut off, (luckily not while on the highway) when trying to start the car, engine would not turn over. Hazard lights did work.towed to dealership. Hyundai assessed and claimed an engine recall. It's been a month. But Hyundai did replace the engine alone with additional part.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #4

Feb 062020

Santa Fe

  • 63,000 miles
My 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe shut down while driving on a highway and would not restart. It is in a garage now and they are trying to diagnose the problem.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #3

Jan 182020

Santa Fe

  • 77,460 miles
I had my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe serviced by Hyundai for a tire change and oil change along with the recall update on Jan 17, prior to going from St louis mo to wichita ks. I am a traveling nurse, my contract was starting Monday the 20th. I was advised the recall was a system update for improperly working sensors. My motor blew 2 hours into my trip on Jan 18th while driving on the highway. I heard a loud popping noise and felt it as well. My vehicle immediately started to smoke. I pulled over to the side of the road, oil was pouring out the vehicle. It was 30 degrees and im stuck on a 2 lane highway. I was towed to the closest dealer, where I was informed they would not be able to get a rental vehicle since the rental location was closed for the day. I could not get a loaner vehicle due to the amount of miles I had to drive. My only option would be to purchase a new vehicle. I was stressed and very overwhelmed, thinking about my need to get to wichita ks and upset that my vehicle that was just serviced by hyndai had blown up on the highway. Within an hour of leaving the dealership, finally having a moment alone, without a salesman in my face, I realized this was a mistake. I called back to return the vehicle but my salesman was gone for the day and the dealership was closing. I text my salesman on Sunday advising that I want to return the new vehicle and just get the rental car and my vehicle fixed, as Hyundai roadside had promised. On Monday Jan 20th I was advised they would not reverse this sale and I could not get my vehicle back. Now I'm stuck in a vehicle I do not trust with a higher payment, higher insurance premium, feeling completely taken advantage of. I do not trust the Hyundai brand. Several injuries have occurred to others due to their lack of honesty. There are many posts online about Hyundai's poor business practices. The recall is called a campaign.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #2

Apr 022019

Santa Fe

  • 63,000 miles
Engine failed at 63,000 miles while driving on interstate. Hyundai blames it on sludge in oil pan. With out service receipts will not warranty engine. Serviced engine myself and didn't save cash receipts.

- Geneseo, IL, USA

problem #1

Mar 132019

Santa Fe

  • 55,000 miles
This vehicle has a surging issue. When I come to a traffic light stop it acts like it's going to die I can fell my foot on the pedal also the RPM is drop. Took it to dealer and advise me they can't test it with out no check engine light on and it continues to perform the same also I replace the spark plug and coil was burn bad and rust sill have same issue look like issue with fuel or idle.

- Tucker, GA, USA