HyundaiSanta Fe Sport2016Overview/hyundai/santa-fe-sport/2016/base/

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Santa Fe Sport.

Body SUV

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is an SUV whose owner-reported problem areas centered most heavily on the engine. It generated only 64 total owner complaints and a single recall. Those figures represent the lightest feedback load across the 20132018 model range, where complaint volume peaked at 412 for the 2018 model. That placement at the lowest point on the curve makes the 2016 model the most stable year in that generation’s documented reliability history.

Model year201820172016201520142013

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 2630035505. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnINDOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter2630035505

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.6 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3616 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Santa Fe Sport of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–9.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2015 2.0T Ultimate
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20152.0T Ultimate 2.0L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.00 sec264 hpAWD
20152.0T Ultimate 2.0L Turbo I-49.30 sec17.00 sec264 hpAWD
20172.0T Ultimate 2.0L Turbo I-47.60 sec15.90 sec240 hpAWD
2018SUV 2.4L I-48.30 sec16.40 sec185 hpFWD
20182.0T Ultimate 2.0L Turbo I-48.40 sec16.50 sec240 hpAWD
20132.4 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec190 hpFWD
20132.0T 2.0L Turbo I-49.10 sec16.80 sec264 hpAWD
20132.4 2.4L I-49.10 sec16.90 sec190 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.031 - .035 in
Spark Plug Torque11 - 18 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance10 degrees

Service checks

Engine Compression171 - 192 psi / Maximum Variation 15 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0067-0.0009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0105-0.0130 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 88.0-92.013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport stands out as the cleanest model year in this generation's federal record, posting the lowest complaint count (64), the fewest recalls (1), and tying the lowest investigation count (2) of any year shown. This is particularly meaningful when read against the surrounding arc: complaints declined steadily from 190 in 2013 to 156 in 2014, 80 in 2015, and bottomed out in 2016, suggesting early-generation teething issues had largely been addressed. That said, the post-2016 trajectory is a significant warning sign—complaints jump to 338 in 2017 and 412 in 2018, a more than sixfold increase, and TSBs also climb sharply from 130 to 194 and 201, indicating that the 2016 may represent the last "good" year before a meaningful reliability deterioration. Within 2016 itself, engine-related complaints dominate the profile at 29 filings, and the 9 fire-related complaints, while a small absolute number, are the highest in the table and warrant a pre-purchase inspection focused on engine and underhood components. Crash complaints are modest at 3. Net-net, 2016 is the strongest year in this generation to target on a used lot, but buyers should have any example mechanically inspected for engine and fire-related symptoms and ideally avoid the 2017-2018 model years where complaint volume escalated sharply.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
130
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
64
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 9 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 64 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine29
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Unknown Or Other,Engine2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine2
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V358000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 05/06/2017

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 130 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Z01 Letter2026-05-22Electrical SystemCertain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model…
26-BE-011H DN2026-04-25Electrical SystemSome vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s)…
26-BE-011H TSB2026-04-25Electrical SystemSome vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s)…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Santa Fe Sport. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Santa Fe Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.