2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Santa Fe report: engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 5 owner complaints, average mileage 62,500 miles.
NHTSA has 153 owner complaints for the 2016 Santa Fe in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11762257 (filed 09/04/2026): “1. component/system failure & availability: the failed component is the engine's internal camshaft variable valve timing (cvvt) phaser backing bolt within the 3.3l v6 engine assembly. an internal factory bolt unthreaded, backed out, and physically pierced dire…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11743619 (filed 06/11/2026): “What failed: the engine — the 3.3l lambda ii gdi v6 (engine family ghyxv03.31xe per the federal emissions label) — failed catastrophically: a connecting rod penetrated the engine block. the failed engine is available for inspection on request. it has been pres…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: engine replacement (1 reports) replaced long block (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $6,800 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .