YearToAvoid

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#6 most-complained of 6 Santa Fe Sport years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ranks 6th of 6 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 0 and a "Best" verdict. NHTSA lists 82 complaints, 3 recalls, and 6 fire reports, with the top issue area being the engine at 56% of complaints.

Complaints
82
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 6
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy

Top 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine46 (56%)
  2. Brakes23 (28%)
  3. Electrical System11 (13%)
  4. Other7 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain7 (9%)
  6. Steering4 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body4 (5%)
  8. Airbags3 (4%)
  9. Fuel System3 (4%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Engine knocks then stalls or seizes suddenly while driving, sometimes with smoke from the engine compartment.
  • Some engines fail after the vehicle has already had one engine replaced under a prior repair.
  • A canister vent valve tied to the fuel tank has detached and reportedly triggered a fire.
  • Power steering fluid has leaked onto a hot engine while parked, leading to smoke and fire.
  • Brakes have reportedly failed after smoke was noticed while driving on the freeway, in a case tied to fire.
  • A recall notice for the secondary hood latch cable led to difficulty scheduling a repair appointment.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport complaints: complaints filed per quarter112017 Q22018 Q22019 Q22021 Q22022 Q22023 Q32025 Q12026 Q1
110 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (11).

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V303000Apr 28, 2021Brakes151,205 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

    Risk: An electrical short in the ABS module can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, and inspect and replace the ABS module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 25, 2021. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-520. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 205.

  2. NHTSA 20V520000Aug 27, 2020Brakes151,205 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

    Risk: If the ABS module short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began December 22, 2020. Note: This recall has been superseded by NHTSA Recall 21V-303 and all affected vehicles will now be repaired under 21V-303. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 194.

  3. NHTSA 17V358000Jun 5, 2017Structure & Body437,400 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    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: 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 while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    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.

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Santa Fe Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution60198622.5
2014Good40161521.5
2015Best082322
2016Best2069122
2017Avoid80350322.5

All Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport reliable?
Among the 6 model years with data, 2015 ranks 6th-worst (meaning best) with a complaint index of 0 and a "Best" verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem area for the 2015 Santa Fe Sport?
Engine complaints make up 56% of all reported issues (46 of 82 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 90,838 miles.
Does the 2015 Santa Fe Sport have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls: two for brake fluid leaking into the ABS module (campaigns 21V303000 and 20V520000) and one for a secondary hood latch cable that may corrode (17V358000).
How does the 2015 Santa Fe Sport compare to other years like 2017 or 2018?
The 2015 model has a complaint index of 0 versus 80 for 2017 and 100 for 2018, both of which carry an "Avoid" verdict, making 2015 comparatively better within this model line.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.