RoadVitals

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
10
Latest Jul 26, 2024
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.
4%
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.
0
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 10 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 26, 2024

Vehicle was driven on a highway approximately 45-50 mph when a loud knocking sound occured. The vehicle began to shake erratically and a bunch of lights displayed. I pulled over at a safety point and turned the vehicle off to inspect it. A large amount of smoke poured from under the hood. The vehicle sat for about 45 minutes to cool down before I attempted to start it again. The engine continued to make a loud knocking sound and kept stalling. At the given time of engine failure, I was driving on a fairly busy highway with my two toddlers where we were forced in a dangerous situation to be struck by a vehicle. Hours later, I went back to start the vehicle where I was able to get it started and drive approximately 15 mph to a safer area for the vehicle to be parked. The vehicle has been at the Hyundai Bowser Chippewa location in Beaver Falls, PA. I was denied for any assistance through Hyundai and the BBB-Hyundai due to 3 open recalls, mainly the engine knock system not being updated. All issues and diagnostics were conducted at the dealership where the vehicle is being stored. No police report has been filed, nor was an insurance claim conducted. No lights or warnings came about until the engine started to noticably fail. I didn't receive any notifications from Hyundai regarding recalls, and nothing is displayed on the NHTSA site.

NHTSA ID
11604681
Incident
Jun 30, 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
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2023

I am not sure what is wrong with my Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 because it is at the dealer at this moment waiting for a diagnostic test. I started the vehicle and heard a revving-up noise. I went to the doctor and on my way back to the house I accelerated and heard a rattling sound and the oil light, the check engine light, and the battery light all came on. The car slowed down and when I tried to accelerate again there was no acceleration power. I drove the car as far as I could go, then it stopped in the middle of a road. Thank God I was in my subdivision. I had to ask a UPS truck driver to push it to the curb. It was towed to the dealer 12/26/2023. That was the earliest appointment because it was the Christmas Holiday weekend. this is my only form of transportation. I am so glad I was not on a main street. UNKNOWN because I am waiting for the diagnostic test results. I am requesting a manufacturer's warranty because I am under 100,000 miles. I did file a claim with my insurance but haven't heard from them as yet.

NHTSA ID
11562226
Incident
Dec 15, 2023
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
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 1, 2022

2016 HYUNDAI SANTA FE . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN KNOCKING AND STALLED. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ON SEPERATE OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE VEHICLE'S FAILURES.

NHTSA ID
11459233
Incident
Apr 1, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that there was a delay response in the Back Over Prevention camera at lower temperatures during winter the months. The contact stated that the camera would operate as designed in warmer temperatures or once the vehicle was fully warmed up. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics who informed the contact that they could not replicate the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11457005
Incident
Mar 16, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 25, 2021

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I NOTICED A TAPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAP HITTING THE CAR. I NEEDED GAS, SO GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT. WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE. I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION. AS I ENTERED THE PARKING SPOT, THE CAR DIED. (IT HAD BURNED OIL IN THE PAST. I HAVE HAD AN ENGINE CAM REPLACED IN AUG/SEPT 2019). I CHECKED THE OIL. NO OIL! SO, I RAN AND BOUGHT 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND PUT THEM IN THE ENGINE. I STARTED THE CAR AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO IDLE, BUT FINALLY DID AFTER A MINUTE. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND THE CAR NOISE WAS MULTIPLE CLANGING SOUNDS. IT WAS AS LOUD AS A BAD MUFFLER. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND CALLED MY BOYFRIEND. HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE BLEW. I CALLED MCGRATHS IN HIAWATHA, IOWA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE. I AM 6000 MILES OVER MY 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I AM TOLD THAT HYUNDAI WON'T COVER THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM WITH THE HYUNDAI 4 CYLINDER ENGINE TROUBLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN 2018. HYUNDAI KNEW I WAS HAVING ENGINE ISSUES IN 2019, AND WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE CAM. I FEEL THAT MY ENGINE SHOULD BE COVERED BY HYUNDAI. CURRENTLY, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO ASK HYUNDAI FOR A "GOOD WILL" PERCENTAGE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS IS NO GUARANTEE. I AM OVER THE IOWA LEMON LAW LIMIT FOR MILEAGE AND YEARS. I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE WERE ENGINE ISSUES WITH OTHER ENGINES HYUNDAI MADE, THAT THEY KNEW I WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND WOULDN'T REPAIR IT CORRECTLY. I NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I AM PREPARED TO GET A LAWYER. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED EVER.

NHTSA ID
11404814
Incident
Mar 20, 2021
Mileage
106,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 27, 2020

THE SENSOR COMES ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY FOR MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT AS THE LIGHTS COME ON MORE OFTEN ON HUMID DAYS. I HAVE HEARD THIS COULD CAUSE SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR. I TRANSPORT 4 YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE AND WE ARE NOW AFRAID OF DYING IN A CAR FIRE. THE DEALER WANTS A FORTUNE TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR. GIVEN OTHER YEAR SANTE FE SUV HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE I WOULD LIKE THE 2016 MODELS RECALLED AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. COMES ON WHEN I START VEHICLE ON HUMID DAYS. GOES OFF ON DRY DAYS.THE DEALER SAID HE WILL REPORT THAT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AND IF I DO GET A FIRE FROM IT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT COVER IT AS I WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE BLACKMAIL TO ME.

NHTSA ID
11361384
Incident
Sep 26, 2020
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS (ENGINE, OIL, ETC...) CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULDNT START. IT JUST MAD A CLICK WHEN TURNING THE KEY. ALL OF THE LIGHTS WORK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 82,000 MILES

NHTSA ID
11354811
Incident
Sep 13, 2020
Mileage
82,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 9, 2017

WIFE STOPPED AT STOP SIGN , CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL , 1 BLOCK FROM HOME WAS ABLE TO IDLE CAR INTO DRIVE WAY. I GOT INTO CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON FOUND SAME PROBLEM. I SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND ACCELERATOR STARTED WORKING , PULLED INTO GARAGE AND CALLED HYUNDAI TO GET TOWED TO DEALER CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
10943804
Incident
Jan 7, 2017
Mileage
16,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .