Third generation, long, wheelbase (NC / Santa Fe XL)
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe
The most reported problem on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe is engine failure, with 100 complaints, usually around 101,000 miles.
- 254owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 9involved a crash
- 76,000median miles at failure
Newest report Jul 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

What is your Santa Fe doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2015 model year.
Is the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe has 254 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 314 for 2015 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Santa Fe model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to other model years
- Complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads, so the 2015 count runs short and isn't compared with the model years next to it.
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: engine failure, named in 100 of the 254 complaints (39%). It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 48 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were past about 101,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 22 of the 254 complaints (9%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little above the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 9 reports mention a crash, 13 mention a fire and 10 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 6 of 9, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 52 and have dropped every year since, to 3 in 2025. So far in 2026, 7 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 100 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
254 complaints is about the median for a 2015 model on this site and 1.2 times fewer than the median 2015 SUV. Among the 13 Santa Fe model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai filed 110 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe. 8 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 3 bulletins · 42 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.
1 more on this problem
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE UPDATE TO PREVENT AN INCREASE IN THE CATALYST TEMPERATURE WHICH MAY RESULT IN ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WITH THE FOLLOWING DTC(S): H P0171 - SYSTEM ...
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 29 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 1 bulletin · 8 complaints
This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection conditions. 3.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 3 bulletins · 5 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 4.
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
1 more on this problem
If you are servicing a vehicle with a harsh and/or delayed shift, use the GDS as shown in the Service Procedure to measure shift engagement time.
Complaints filed by year
52 complaints came in 2023. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
NHTSA summary
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Throttle control system vulnerabilities. Closed jun 20, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
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 latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Risk and remedy
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 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
All 2 recalls on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine failure, with 100 of the 254 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 101,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Of the 134 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 36,000 miles and half by about 76,000.
How many 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
22 of them (9%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No recall on file for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.