10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,978 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #131

May 102024

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle began making a knocking sound upon starting. I contacted the local dealership for a service appointment and learned that they were out a couple of months on their appointment schedule. A day or two later, my vehicle shut off while driving, I was fortunate to have enough momentum to pull of the road safely. Upon having it towed to a local mechanic, I learned that the engine seized and needed to be replaced. I contacted Hyundai and they have scheduled me for an appointment next week. Keeping my fingers crossed they will do right by me since I have always had the vehicle serviced at their Hyundai dealership. The car has approximately 118,300 miles on it.

- Redmond, WA, USA

problem #130

May 222024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car started making noise after the check engine light came on. Check engine light was on for just a few days then by the third/fourth day the car starting making noise, turned off on me a few times then just died. We replaced a few sensors and the battery and starter. Two mechanics have told me the engine is locked and needs to be replaced.

- Pasadena , TX, USA

problem #129

May 032024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Was driving on the highway going about 65mph when the engine just lost power. Pressing the accelerator and there was nothing happening. Had the car towed home. And then to a mechanic who told me the rod was bent. I-??ve always kept up on oil changes and maintenance. I just had an oil change less than a month prior. There were no warning signs leading up to this incident.

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #128

May 262024

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On May 23, 2023 Was inspected for an oil leak and was informed the oil was leaking from the drain bolt (oil pan was cracked), valve cover was leaking. Was replaced with a Pan assembly-engine oil, gasket-rocker cover (with GDI High Pressure Pump gasket), and gasket- fuel pump.. However on oil leak continued and cause massive engine failure. Turned it in 5/26/2024 Had to replace engine.

- Lutz, FL, USA

problem #127

May 152024

Santa Fe

  • miles
On 5/15, I was entering the highway when the vehicle refused to accelerate. I pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor, and the vehicle did not respond. I checked to see if it had stalled, but the engine was still running. I watched the rpm meter as I pushed the accelerator, and noticed that the rpm-??s stayed at 1.5 the entire time. I pulled over to the shoulder and turned off the vehicle as I was afraid of causing an accident as I was not at highway speed at the time. I turned the vehicle back on and when it was safe, attempted to reenter the highway. The vehicle responded appropriately. The check engine light had come on 2 days prior to this (5/13) and I was in the process of trying to make an appointment to get it fixed. My husband ran the engine code (P0014 and P0024). The check engine light had turned off upon restarting the vehicle but turned back on about 3 minutes after resuming driving. I took the vehicle to a mechanic to have it looked at, and they noticed that the engine had lost 4 quarts of oil. There had been no oil leakage noted at any time. They added 3 quarts of oil to the engine and noticed that the knocking sounds remained. Their determination was that the car was pretty much totaled. There were no indicator lights on the dashboard to notify me that there was low oil at any time. The only indicator that showed was the check engine light 2 days before.

- Avon, CT, USA

problem #126

May 012024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Around three weeks ago, we start listening to a knocking noise in the engine. As soon as we heard this noise, we took it to a mechanic near our home and the mechanic told us that there was an internal problem with the engine and we needed to take it to an official Hyundai dealership to solve this problem. Moreover, they told me this is a common problem in Hyundai's cars and the dealership would do it for free. When I took it to the dealership, they told me that I had to replace the chain timing, tensioners, CVV, and many other stuff needed (I'm sending the receipt attached, see "car report 2024.pdf"). It was going to take 10 hours of work. Importantly, this was not covered by the Hyundai warranty or recalls. I bought the car 3 years ago, and both the previous owner and I did the year service to the car. I'm sending all the receipts and CARFAX of the services. Best regards, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #125

Apr 262024

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

6 months ago my rod bearing broke in my engine, and I needed a new engine. From the engine recall. With a broken rod bearing you get an oil consumption problem. Oil consumption ruing your cat converter. But they aren-??t telling anyone that. 6,000 miles after my new engine, my catalac converter broke. These cars are dangerous. They-??re not telling anyone that this is the next problem. They just put you back on the road. Not to mention bad for the environment!

- East Wareham, MA, USA

problem #124

Feb 042024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine light came on while driving and vehicle began to malfunction with bogging and little power to move the vehicle properly. Vehicle was towed to Hyundai dealership for diagnostics. Determining that there is rod bearing failure in the motor. Contacted Hyundai corporate who denied warranty claim citing I did not properly maintain the vehicle per owners manual although they were provided with records of proper maintenance, however it was disregarded by Hyundai warranty people as proper maintenance. I have contacted BBB and PA Attorney General for assistance but to no avail. There are countless others with the same exact issues where Hyundai Motor America is denying warranty claims for identical mechanical motor issues.

- Bensalem, PA, USA

problem #123

Mar 012024

Santa Fe

  • miles
-Premature complete engine failure, at approximately 72,000 miles. -Luckily, was able to get vehicle to manufacturer dealership prior to complete immobilization of vehicle while on the road. -Engine -??bearing-?? failure per dealership. Requires complete engine assembly for repair. Complete engine assembly no longer available, only manufactured for 6 years, and requires 150+ parts to be assembled at dealership for -??short block-??. -Dealer serviced maintenance documented at correct intervals. -Incident occurred without any warning lights, first and only symptom was a loud knock from the engine that increased in volume and and speed with increasing RPMs. -Vehicle remains at dealership, pending resolution. -Dealership states no active manufacturer recall on issue with this particular engine, but is aware of many other similar complaints and engine failure with this model of engine, 3.3L Lamba II GDI engine. Desire to add my complaint to any others as this poses a safety risk to other owners. Online research reveals an active investigation by the NHSTA and a class-action suit regarding this issue. Please help, and contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #122

Mar 142024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine knocking/failure at 75000 miles. No warning/check engine lights prior to failure. Dealership quoting $17k to rebuild engine.

- Ofallon, MO, USA

problem #121

Mar 082024

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine failed me driving 75 MPH down I-10. Completely stalled. No warning indication lights. Car did not over heat. Just shut down and never started again. I had to coast over 4 lanes of traffic, pulled off the road using my emergency flashers for a short period until those went out as well. Car did have oil and all fluids. I had to have car towed home 3 hours from home. I have had vehicle looked at and have been told engine seized up on me. I have had this vehicle not even a year and I am a single disabled woman. I have found several others have had this issue as well and have a really hard fight to get these thinks fixed. I have put a brand new motor and had the alternator checked it passed the test. Battery did not, was drained. I bought a new battery and all electronics are working and car goes into ON position with the push start but no engine life at all. No clicks, No life at all. I can hear fuel pump doing its normal things and I can do any electrical thing on inside. I have had no ride, no sleep at night, anxiety attacks over my car just stalling out now being told engine seized up 2016 Santa Fe Sport 2.0 T

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #120

Feb 042024

Santa Fe

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the engine began to knock and then the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: DP22003 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

- Annadale, VA, USA

problem #119

Dec 192023

Santa Fe

  • miles
See attached document for complaint

- Springville, TN, USA

problem #118

Jan 172024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Sudden catastrophic engine failure with no explanation from the service department at the dealership. Service was well maintained, no oil leak, all service done via the dealership but at 102K miles, engine failed suddenly. This is the V6 3.3L engine. Hyundai has agreed to replace it but it is on back order with no ETA.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #117

Feb 262024

Santa Fe

  • miles
I traded in my 2020 toyota corola for this car at the used Toyota dealership. Our family is comfortable with the brand Toyota and Hyundai, as we-??ve owned many and considered them to be great liable cars. So we thought the Santa Fe-??s would accommodate for a growing family. Not only have we encountered an engine problem with this model, which came out of nowhere, unannounced within less than a year of owning the car, but we had 2 more issues with the other Hyundai Santa Fe-??s that we purchased last year. All major engine problems. All within the years 2014-2017. The engine just blows out, or burns the oil too fast, and to be honest with you, I am not just disappointed that this has happened, but the lack of ownership for this issue that I, along with thousands of other Sante Fe owners have encountered. No recall has been made on this issue. Hyundai, you have not only disappointed us, but you-??ve abandoned us on this issue. In my situation it hasn-??t been one car-??.. it-??s been 3 in a year. The financial burden this has placed on my family has left us with minimal options of advancing. I plead with you to please investigate why this is happening, so that other families don-??t have to go through the hardship and turmoil this has placed on us.

- Cross Plains , WI, USA

problem #116

Oct 102023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine threw a rod

- Watertown, TN, USA

problem #115

Jan 112024

Santa Fe

  • miles
I have always taken good care of my car, regular oil changes, kept coolant levels up etc. I was driving home from work when my car began to overheat, so I immediately pulled over and turned it off. Made an appointment with a mechanic, had it towed there due to overheating, and found out my engine was blown completely. No prior issues.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #114

Feb 032024

Santa Fe

  • miles
No warnings or any visible alerts. Took it to mechanic and engine is going to need to be replaced. only 87,000 miles.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #113

Jan 292024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failure out of nowhere 110,000 well maintained. Driving on [XXX] early afternoon Monday [XXX]. All of a sudden check engine battery and oil indicator lights all came on and vehicle died. Had towed to shop and told engine failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Maineville , OH, USA

problem #112

Jan 142024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine seized at 116000 miles on one of the busiest roads in town in below zero weather. I was nearly hit by an suv and also an Oversized Load Semi. I'm so thankful the towing guys showed up within the hour. There was no warning when this happend, no check engine light or oil light on. Two days before, on the last time it had beenbdriven I walked out to find it had started on it's own. It was Friday night, so I wasn't sure what to do yet. The vehicle was making a cl8cking sound durimg accelation on the Sunday morning the seize occurred, so I made plans to call the mechanic first thing Monday morning. It seized before I had the chance. I just lost all power to accelerate and had to pull over. The car took several minutes and many attempts to even turn off. Then never restarted again. I had thought a belt had broken, but our mechanic informed us the engine seized. Please investigate these 3.3 litre engines, they need to be recalled. We refuse to make this some other families problem, or to pay Hyundai one dime more of our money, or waste our time, energy or emotions on diagnostics and fighting them. We could not trade it in, so we lost the trade in value and had to finance our next vehicle. We are arranging this Hyundai to just be sold to a salvage yard for parts. It is otherwise useless.

- Findlay, OH, USA

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