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)

11 of 235 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Aug 2, 2024Electrical systemWheelsBrakes

Abs system is randomly locking up calipers causing a dangerous speed wobble. Dealership can't re create so won't diagnose. Have had to replace all brake calipers and components were near new but ruined because of abs applying brakes when unnecessary. Vehicle is very unsafe to drive, pulled hard to left at one point veering me into oncoming traffic. Independent mechanic has made caliper release by manually releasing abs system. Same results were not found by releasing pressure at master cylinder making abs the obvious culprit. No warning lights but I just replaced two cracked rotors on rear at 130k miles. That should not happen. Has caused hub readings of 270 on three different tires at 3 different times. Santa fe has recall on this system for every year but mine, very curious as to why not. If this was not a dealership only part , it might not be such a big issue, but being it is main source of stopping a 4000 lb vehicle, I have concerns. Hyundai dealership was very condescending and of little to no help. I have an Independent are certified mechanic who is happy to talk with you if needed. Please help, as of right now am.making payments on an unsafe vehicle with not much hope of it being fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11606096

Jan 17, 2024Electrical system

The company has stopped supporting their Bluelink function that is causing the screen to do a continuous search for a connection and remaining blank so the controls and cameras are not visible. The company has sent out patches for some models as the old service was on 2g and 3g which are discontinued but they are not sending an update for my vehicle. I have engaged the dealer and they say they've had numerous complaints on this matter with no fix available. This is an absolute safety hazard and needs to be addressed. Please help me; I am an [XXX] Veteran and should not have to buy a new car to be safe! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Please help me; I am an 83 year old Veteran and should not have to buy a new car to be safe!

NHTSA ODI 11566014

Nov 10, 2023Electrical systemEngine

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSOMPTION AND THE BRAKE LIGHTBULL KEEP BURNING FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11554543

Oct 3, 2023Electrical system

Ever since I bought This 2016 hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0 Turbo from Advantage Hyundai, in Hicksville New York in December 2017, I have been having Battery problems, especially when the temperature falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The alarm goes off by itself, it does not matter what time of day, draining the battery in the process. I took it back to the dealership they held the car, while giving me a loaner. I have taken the car to them no less than 6 times each time they assured me that the battery problem was fixed, yet the problem continued. I spoke to their Headquarters in California. They gave me the run around until the warranty expired.I recently changed the battery and alternator and the problem continues.

NHTSA ODI 11548002

Sep 23, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

The engine control module (CPU) failed and at first the car experienced random warning lights thatwhen placed on diagnostic computer, no codes were noted. the next issue was a strong gasoline smell in the cabin. the cpu read this as a faulty fuel pressure regulator. when a second code pull was done it was reported as evaporator canister failure requires changing. The problem was in fact a leaking fuel injector rail and two injectors with defective improperly seated "O" rings. Explainig the gas smell and poor milage. "Ms. G" owns the 2016 santa fe sport with 2.0 GDI motor. There are about 80K miles The intermittent warning lights became and issue during the annual inspection/tag renewal. the DMV inspector saw the traction control, ABS, incline parking brake light and the service engine soon warnings intending to fail the car after the problemwas explained he connected his code reader, and found no codes. About April of 2022, a recal notice was recieved noting especially the 2,0 GDI MOTOR. I explained everything to the Huyndai rep. who informed me that the recall was directly related to the matters we discussed. When i described the final episode where the motor simply shut off. I explained it was towed to my shop ,again placed ot the full spectrum scanner / computer. At this time a complete systems diagnostic was preformed, ignition on - motor not running, including a complete sensor check. It was during this portion of the testing that I noticed that asensor was not reporting any data, or the existance of an oil pressure sensor. Now the ignition switch was then turned on/off the designated number of times and the car was started and a definite knock was detected. Ms. G is by no means uninformed regarding automobiles her parents restored several vintage Jags, And a 1966 330GTS Ferrari.The point being had she had any warning the vehicle was low on oil she would have checked and added as needed. In the end the Hyundai rep assured us the engine replacement was free.

NHTSA ODI 11485975

Sep 20, 2021Electrical systemEngine

The problem with my purchased Hyundai is that it's not giving a warning message for the oil or over heating. The engine continues to gather a lot of gunk. Also, there is a recall on these specific models and I was notified by a class action law suit. HyundaiThetaEngineSettlement.com. The car has a chance of exploding. I did not agree with the terms of the class action suit. It was only offering compensation if I was already injured, or having to commit conspiracy with a crime of lemon law and consumer rights, and possible murder. These SUV's were built in 2016 and had enough time to be taken off the market. I purchased my vehicle last year 2020.

NHTSA ODI 11433642

Jun 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Drive The car on the Highway and seemed like I was losing power and a few minutes later I heard a knocking on the engine

NHTSA ODI 11421946

Feb 10, 2021Electrical system

NAVIGATION SYSTEM WON'T LOAD- WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM (SCREEN SAYS BLUELINK)- STARTS THE PROCESS OF LOADING- WITH A LOADING BAR BELOW THE WORDS "BLUELINK'. , AT ENGINE START- WHEN LOADING, THAT BAR MOVES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. ONCE THE SYSTEM IS LOADED, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN COMES ON. THE PROBLEM: THE LOADING PROCESS STOPPED LOADING AT APPROX. 60,000 MILES -THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS STUCK IN THE "LOADING" SCREEN. MECHANIC DID A HARD RESET, DID NOT WORK. THE SYSTEM IS STALLED, AND HAS NEVER LOADED SINCE THEN. CAN NOT SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, NOR THE RADIO PRESETS, BLUE TOOTH, STEREO SPEAKER SETTINGS, CAN'T GET TO ANY OF THESE SETTINGS OR OPTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11395552

Sep 14, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO MONTHS LATER, THAT THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL AND FAILED TO RETAIN ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HYUNDAI OF BECKLEY DEALER LOCATED AT 3921 ROBERT C BYRD DR, BECKLEY, WV 25801, (304)-254-8220, AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT AN UNKNOWN OIL LEAK RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT, NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

NHTSA ODI 11354909

Aug 8, 2018Electrical systemAirbags

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND MY SUV HAS BEEN IN 0 ACIDDENTS, THE AC AIR STATES IT'S ON BUT DOESN'T BLOW ANY AIR AT ALL! IT ONLY HAS 69640K MILES, KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I AM ON PARK OR HAVE THE BRAKE ON WHILE AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN!

NHTSA ODI 11118629

May 12, 2017Electrical system

WHEN DRIVING THE PARKING LIGHT COMES ON, DOWNHILL ASSIST COMES ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL GOES OFF, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER GOES FROM THE CURRANT SPEED TO ZERO THEN FLUTTERS BACK TO THE CORRECT SPEED, THEN REPEATS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS FROM 25 MPH TO 70 MPH. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 10985104

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 →