2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: Up down shifting with cruise engaged
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Santa Fe report: up down shifting with cruise engaged. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 1,800 miles.
NHTSA has 21 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 #11622185 (filed 10/27/2024): “Hard shift occurs between gear 1 and gear 2. the hard shift lurches the entire car. it occurs on both upshift and downshift. the hard shift occurs on cold starts. the problem goes away when you turn the vehicle off and then back on. there are no check engine l…”
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: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Up down shifting with cruise engaged (2016 Santa Fe)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2016 Santa Fe
Page last updated .