2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Common Problems
Ranked from 113 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Failure Due to Seizure and Loss of Power
64complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine seized and lost power, resulting in the vehicle stalling and failing to restart.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Stall Without Warning
28complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine stalls unexpectedly without any warning lights or signs, leading to potential loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine Failure Due to Unexplained Shutdown During Operation
13complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine unexpectedly shut down during operation, often without warning lights or check engine lights.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Panoramic sunroof spontaneous shattering
11complaintsHigh severityOtherThe panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving at high speeds, causing glass particles to fly inside the vehicle.
- 6
Suspension and steering issues
8complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension and steering issues were reported, including vibrations, hesitations, and difficulty maintaining straight-line driving, especially at higher speeds.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine stalling and surging issues
7complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experienced stalling and surging issues, especially when coming to a stop or under acceleration, leading to poor performance.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Excessive Engine Oil Consumption
7complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine consumes oil at an alarming rate, necessitating frequent refills and potentially leading to engine failure.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine Knocking and Misfire
6complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine produced a knocking sound and misfired, often without warning lights.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Engine Overheating
6complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine overheated, often without warning, leading to potential engine damage and requiring immediate repair.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Engine Failure Due to Rod Bearing Issues
4complaintsHigh severityEngineRod bearings failed, leading to engine seizure and catastrophic failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Engine knocking and misfiring
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine produces a knocking sound and misfires, indicating potential internal damage.
- 13
Engine Failure Due to Oil Consumption and Burning
3complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine burned excessive oil, leading to rapid oil consumption and potential engine seizure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Engine failure due to recalls not addressed
3complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails due to unresolved recalls, leading to significant repair costs.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Seat belt malfunction during recall
3complaintsMedium severityOtherDuring a TAKATA recall, the seat belt became stuck and did not release properly, potentially trapping passengers.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.