Recall 16V145 affects 34,200 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles for damaged seat belt buckle harness wires. Repair is free at any franchised Hyundai dealer.
Hyundai is recalling 34,200 2016-2017 Santa Fe SUVs because the front seat belt buckle harness wiring can be damaged by the seat height adjuster. That failure can silence the audible seat belt reminder for front occupants, increasing injury risk in a crash; Hyundai dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt buckle harness in the 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is the wiring connected to the front buckle. It tells the vehicle whether the seat belt is latched. When a front occupant leaves the belt unfastened, that signal lets the vehicle sound the seat belt warning chime.
On affected Santa Fe vehicles, the harness was routed incorrectly during assembly. The seat height adjuster can pinch the wiring as the seat moves. Damaged wires can interrupt the buckle signal, so the vehicle fails to provide the audible warning when a front occupant does not fasten the seat belt.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is in the wiring under or near the front seat, and the first visible clue is the missing seat belt warning sound when the belt is not buckled.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2016 and 2017 Santa Fe model years with the same front seat belt warning-light component.
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe | seat belt |
| Units affected | 34,200 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A missing seat belt reminder means front seat occupants do not get the warning that their belts are unbuckled. That raises the chance someone rides unbelted and faces higher injury risk in a crash. Buckle every time and schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Hyundai dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Hyundai dealer to schedule the free seat-belt-buckle harness inspection and rerouting that restores the front seat belt warning.
- Bring the recall notice if Hyundai mailed one, or reference recall number 16V145 when you call.
- Buckle front seat belts before every trip until the repair is complete; this recall concerns a warning chime that fails to remind front occupants when a belt is unfastened.
- Call Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Hyundai technician inspects the front seat belt buckle harnesses and routes the wires back to their proper locations. If a harness is damaged, the dealer replaces the damaged harness as part of the recall repair. Parts and labor are free. Hyundai also provides reimbursement for eligible out-of-pocket repairs under the reimbursement plan it submitted for this campaign. If you've already paid for a related seat belt buckle harness repair, contact Hyundai customer service and ask what documentation they need for the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 10, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 27, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 6, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| May 6, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 6, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V145?
Recall 16V145 covers 34,200 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles with front seat belt buckle harness wires that can be damaged by the seat height adjuster. The defect can stop the audible unbuckled seat belt warning from working, increasing injury risk in a crash.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Santa Fe is included in recall 16V145. If it is, contact a franchised Hyundai dealer to schedule the seat belt buckle harness inspection and wire rerouting. Reference recall number 141 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform recall repairs at no cost. Hyundai dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckle harness wiring and reroute the wires to the proper locations, as needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a missing audible reminder when a front seat occupant has not buckled the seat belt. Without that warning, the driver or passenger can forget to buckle up, increasing injury risk in a crash under recall 16V145.
What if I bought my Hyundai Santa Fe used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Santa Fe is included, then call a franchised Hyundai dealer and ask for recall 141.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V145000 |
|---|---|
| Hyundai customer service | 1-800-633-5151 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V145 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V145000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →