2016 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

150Engine complaints

63.8%Of all 235 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE150 · 63.8%

Unspecified / other25 · 10.6%

POWER TRAIN20 · 8.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 4.7%

AIR BAGS9 · 3.8%

Share of the 235 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“Engine oil consumption is outrageous. I am having to add oil every 200-300 miles. Just had an oil change in march and have had to…”NHTSA complaint 11527254 — filed 06/15/2023

“I left my house and vehicle was perfectly fine. NEVER any warning lights since I owned the vehicle. It was not due for an oil…”NHTSA complaint 11526707 — filed 06/12/2023

“Car lost power/pressure will not accelerate and has an engine knock”NHTSA complaint 11523513 — filed 05/23/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Hyundai Santa FE: 150 of 235 complaints on file (63.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

235 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.