Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 30 | 44% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Air bags | 3 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1% |
| Power train | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it wa
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Was traveling along a city street with parked cars on the passenger side of my vehicle. Axle or wheel broke and veered into parked vehicle severing the engine wiring harness not allowing the airbag to deploy.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH and attempting to overtake another vehicle, the vehicle lost automotive power and decelerated with the check engi
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
my BSD sensor would go on and off for the last several months when no one was around me. I work early and even when I was alone on the road the BSD would flash for 2-3 mins and go off.. then my fan for my air conditioner
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The engine (2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0L/2.4L Theta II GDI engine) suffered a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, specifically related to the known connecting rod bearing defect. The vehicle is currently un-driveable
NHTSA complaint: Engine
After driving the vehicle around all day, I parked it and turned it off and then it set on fire.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The vehicle is a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. It had previously been included in an engine-fire-related recall/service campaign, and Hyundai replaced the engine between approximately October 2024 and January 2025 at abou
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The vehicle stooped running while driving and will not start, available for inspection upon request. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehic
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. H
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 30 of them (44%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.