repaired · 2026 Q2
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2015 Hyundai Santa FEProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 255 owner complaints about the 2015 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-651 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2015 Hyundai Santa FE has problems
255 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
161Engine8 crash/fire/injury
22Power train
21Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
20Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
13Fuel/propulsion system
9Structure
9Air bags
9Exterior lighting
8Service brakes, hydraulic
3815 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 161 | 8 |
| Power train | 22 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 2 |
| Air bags | 9 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 8 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 38 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2015 Hyundai Santa FE recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Hood: latch
Risk. If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
87kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 40 engine complaints. 57% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 34% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
5under 30k miles23under 100k miles17100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
14 owners mentioned a cost$3,172median
Middle half: $918 – $8,575
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2015 vs. every other Santa FE year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Santa FE median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2015 Hyundai Santa FE safety ratings
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2015 Hyundai Santa FE, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Santa FE owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving home at approximately 60 mph in our 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. We were able to carefully maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road, but the vehicle would not turn over or restart. We were traveling with our young children at the time, and…
Driving on highway no warning lights appeared the car made a loud pop noise and heavy smoke appeared from under the hood. Immediately pulled over and noticed all of the oil poured out and was nasty looking. The car was up to date on oil change. My car was towed home and bone dry no oil and no…
I was driving down the road ( a busy Farm to market road) and my car lost power and died. Luckily i got off of the road. I tried to start the car again, but it kept dying. I had my son in law come help me move the car to a friends house so that I could get it to the dealership. It was after hours.…
Own a 2015 Santa FE?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.