NHTSA lists 236 complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Santa FE, 6 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 5 complaints mention an injury, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as HYUNDAI SANTA FE.
Model-generated complaint tags
These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.
Failure modes| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| mechanical failure | 126 | 53.4% | 0.86 |
|---|
| loss of control | 36 | 15.3% | 0.74 |
|---|
| electrical electronic | 22 | 9.3% | 0.81 |
|---|
| restraint or airbag | 15 | 6.4% | 0.86 |
|---|
| fluid or fuel leak | 10 | 4.2% | 0.66 |
|---|
| unclear | 9 | 3.8% | 0.86 |
|---|
| fire or overheating | 7 | 3.0% | 0.69 |
|---|
| noise or comfort | 5 | 2.1% | 0.86 |
|---|
| visibility or lighting | 4 | 1.7% | 0.96 |
|---|
| structural or corrosion | 2 | 0.8% | 0.77 |
|---|
Severities| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| moderate | 145 | 61.4% | 0.80 |
|---|
| low | 73 | 30.9% | 0.74 |
|---|
| high | 15 | 6.4% | 0.78 |
|---|
| critical | 2 | 0.8% | 0.74 |
|---|
| none | 1 | 0.4% | 1.00 |
|---|
Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 236 tagged complaints of 236 complaints (100.0%).
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
3 recalls.
Date: 2022-02-03. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: Yes.
Date: 2017-06-05. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
Defect: 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: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2016-03-10. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
Defect: 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, t (excerpt)
Consequence: 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. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
3 investigations; 1 open.
AQ23002
Opened: 2023-11-17. Closed: Not listed.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
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
Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP22003
Opened: 2022-09-12. Closed: 2023-12-12.
Loss of Motive Power
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
Systems: ENGINE.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP21003
Opened: 2021-11-12. Closed: 2023-06-20.
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
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
Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
111 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 40 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 20 |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 19 |
|---|
| ENGINE | 10 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 9 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 6 |
|---|
| STEERING | 6 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 6 |
|---|
11033679
Date: 2026-05-23. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Certain 2012 a 2017 model year Accent, 2012 a 2017 model year Azera, 2013 a 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 a 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 a 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set. At Hyun
11032525
Date: 2026-04-25. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Some 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. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage of the sensor for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) / Occupant Detection System (ODS) to 18 ye
11032526
Date: 2026-04-25. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Some 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. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage of the sensor for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) / Occupant Detection System (ODS) to 18 ye
11032522
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit drivera side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prio
11032523
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous drivera 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 ve
11028950
Date: 2026-02-11. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: 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 service procedure describes to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure
11028951
Date: 2026-02-11. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: 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 en
11029907
Date: 2026-02-11. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-EM-002H describes the procedure to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize t
11026704
Date: 2025-12-19. Type: Other. Systems: 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, wea ve developed a new zinc-reinforced
11027035
Date: 2025-12-15. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows. This repair procedure is being provided in addition to the previous Anti-Th