RoadVitals

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Mar 24, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 235 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the brake pedal was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle vibrated while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA ID
11650164
Incident
Mar 24, 2025
Mileage
119,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Oct 1, 2024
Fire reported

Driving on a slight upgrade, lost power and smoke started to come out of the vents and from under the hood. Had no brakes and by the time we were able to drift to a stop, the engine compartment was on fire. There was no warning lights. Witnesses saw fire under the car while we were coming to a stop. The car and all contents were totally consumed. Following some research on NHTSA vin decoder we found that this car has the same engine (GDI THETA II) that has been involved in many fires and is involved in class action suits. Even though this car has the same engine, it was never recalled. That may indicate that there are other cars out there that may have the same problem but have not been informed.

NHTSA ID
11617604
Incident
Sep 27, 2024
Brakes
Filed Sep 14, 2024

None

NHTSA ID
11614636
Incident
Sep 14, 2024
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 2, 2024

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 ID
11606096
Incident
Feb 6, 2024
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 19, 2024

My car started accelerating on its own, out of nowhere. There were no prior indications. No prior damage. It began accelerating on its own. After shutting the vehicle off and turning it back on, the issue has persisted. Anytime it is in drive or reverse, it accelerates at an extreme rate. It also disabled the brake, when the acceleration began.

NHTSA ID
11578371
Incident
Mar 9, 2024
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2023

I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe to my morning job, & noticed a slight trembling of the vehicle initially. Upon approaching a stop sign at a 2 way stop, I noticed that my brakes were not fully engaging so I pumped them a couple times. Immediately my car started accelerating on its own faster and faster until my brakes were not stopping the car at all even with my foot pushing the brake pedal down as far as possible. My foot wasn’t on the accelerator at all. I noticed a pickup truck about to cross the intersection for which I needed to stop. Because I had no control over the car to get it to stop, I slammed the car into park, & it finally stopped just before my car crossed through the intersection. If I had not done that I would’ve been hit directly on my drivers side door by a truck going at least 55 mph. The car revved really high for several seconds after putting the car in park. I drove 10 mph to my work destination, & experienced exactly the same symptoms when I was pulling into my parking spot. As soon as I started braking to come to a stop to park, the car immediately started to accelerate again beyond my control & the ability to engage my brakes, even with my brakes pushed down as far as they would go. Again I slammed the car into park, otherwise my car would’ve run through the side of a barn & a horse stall with a horse and the barn owner inside. I checked to make sure nothing was impeding the movement of my accelerator and braking pedals, and nothing was. No warning lights came on at any time. I am very concerned as I am reading multiple reports of almost identical incidents for other Hyundai Santa Fe owners of a variety of years, & because this issue can’t be reproduced, there is no recall, and no code comes up, owners are not being given a solution or any type of support by Hyundai dealers or the manufacturer itself. I absolutely do not feel safe driving my car for my own safety & the safety of those on the road with me. I was almost killed today.

NHTSA ID
11522385
Incident
May 16, 2023
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 16, 2023

While driving the car experienced a catastrophic engine failure as well as loss of steering and brakes. Was able to get to the side of the road without injury. This could have resulted in injury or loss of life if the drivetrain would have locked up. The vehicle is at the dealer now, after a 250-mile tow. The dealer said that they have eight cars at their dealership with the same blown engine issue. No warning lights came on prior to the incident.

NHTSA ID
11512144
Incident
Mar 12, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11503154
Incident
Nov 16, 2022
Brakes
Filed Nov 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11495257
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Brakes
Filed Nov 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the brakes made an abnormal squealing sound upon depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle would jerk forward while accelerating. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified about the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11494859
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11492737
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy while depressed. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11491773
Incident
Sep 30, 2022
Mileage
27,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11491161
Incident
Sep 30, 2022
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2022

I wish to file a complaint against Hyundai for the untimely manner in which they’ve handled recall 218. This recall has been in place for several months with many notifications that the recall exists. Yet, the company has failed to provide a solution to this highly sensitive and dangerous problem. At a moment’s notice, these cars can short circuit and burst into flames, this can be fatal and the company is not doing everything they should be to ensure their consumers are safe!

NHTSA ID
11490654
Incident
May 1, 2022
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11490628
Incident
Oct 24, 2022
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11490295
Incident
Apr 21, 2022
Brakes
Filed May 26, 2021

The ABS, traction control, and another light are illuminated. Upon investigating online this is a known issue with these cars. No recall has been issued. My car is available for inspection.

NHTSA ID
11418573
Incident
May 19, 2021

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .