Home · 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev · Complaints

What 235 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (235)Crash / fire / injury (10)Engine (150)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Brakes (17)Electrical system (11)Airbags (9)Fuel system (9)Seat belts (8)Body & structure (6)Speed control (5)Engine & cooling (4)

6 of 235 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Aug 1, 2021Body & structure

Rear driver-side passenger door will not open from inside or outside of vehicle. Automatic locks on door clicks from lock/unlock but it will not open. I have two small children in car seats in the back and is a major safety risk since the door will not open. The vehicle was not inspected by anyone since I just discovered this issue trying to get my daughter out of the car. There were no issues, warnings, or messages prior to failure. Issue became aware to me when trying to get my daughter out of the vehicle on Sunday 8/1/21. I googled my issue and discovered others (Hyundai owners) with same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11427330

Nov 20, 2018Body & structure

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN SOME AREAS AND THE CAR IS GETTING RUST SPOTS.

NHTSA ODI 11152826

Oct 4, 2018Body & structure

AS I COME OUT OF SLOW TURNS OR SLOW DOWN THEN ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE DOES A 1 TO 2 SECOND HESITATION. DURING THIS HESITATION, THE ENGINE IS REVVING BUT THE THE VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE. WHEN I COME OFF THE GAS THEN REPRESS IT COMES BACK TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI 11133382

Aug 11, 2018Seat beltsBody & structure

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN PUERTO RICO. AFTER HURRICANE MARIA I MOVED TO FLORIDA. I TRIED TO GET MY CAR SERVICE FOR TWO RECALLS HERE IN FLORIDA. THEY TRIED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH PUERTO RICO IN ORDER TO GET PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. I ALSO CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO WRITE THEM A LETTER ASKING TO REGISTER THE CAR HERE. THEY HAVE NOT ANSWER ANY OF MY FOUR REQUEST. WHAT CAN WE DO?

NHTSA ODI 11119365

Dec 5, 2016Body & structure

THE ENTIRE PANARAMA SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2016 SANTA FE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 81 @ 70 MPH IN PENNSYLVANIA YESTERDAY COVERING MY WIFE AND I WITH SHARDES OF GLASS. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE POSTED ON GOOGLE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND GOT THE TYPICAL RUN AROUND. I DID NOT PASS UNDER ANY OVER PASSES AND TRAFFIC WAS NON EXISTENT.

NHTSA ODI 10929964

Jan 15, 2016Body & structureVisibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, IN COLD TEMPERATURES, ICE ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD. ON HOT AND HUMID DAYS, CONDENSATION WAS VISIBLE INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.....UPDATED 02/10/16 *BF ...VIDEO AVAILABLE *CN

NHTSA ODI 10820369

Working with the data? Download all 235 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev verdict →