Display omitted •HAP composite coatings with 0–5% of f-MWCNTs on 316 L SS were prepared by ELD method•Contact angle studies showed better hydrophobicity for the 5% HAP/f-MWCNTs coating•Tafel and EIS plots of composite coatings exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance•HAP/f-MWCNTs composite coated 316 L SS showed improved Vickers hardness (Hv) Coatings using functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs)/hydroxyapatite (HAP) on 316 L Stainless Steel by electrodeposition at the parameter of “-1.5 V” for 30 min. with three electrode set-up configuration and optimization of various concentrations of f-MWCNTs from 1 to 5% were done to improve the coating characteristics for future biomedical applications. The obtained coatings were characterized by Fourier Transformed-Infra Red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) to reveal the phase formation in the composites. With various additions of f-MWCNTs, the HAP phase was found to be retained. The growth of HAP on f-MWCNTs was analyzed by High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM) and the morphology of composite was found to be of the needle and flower-like particles. To understand the corrosion resistance effect of the developed HAP/f-MWCNTs composite in SBF, electrochemical investigations were carried out using Impedance and Tafel polarization analysis. From the results, it was observed that the coatings have enhanced corrosion resistance behavior and bioactivity. In addition, the Vickers Hardness study proved that the prepared HAP/fMWCNTs composite coating was found to have improved hardness value of (Hv) 390.2 ± 8.0. Thus, the electrodeposited composite coating on 316 L SS substrate can be effectively deployed for biomedical applications.