YearToAvoid

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years

The 2015 Santa Fe has a complaint index of 33, ranking 11th worst out of 16 model years, and NHTSA labels it 'Good' relative to other Santa Fe years. Engine complaints dominate at 64% of the 254 filed, with median mileage at failure of 66,805.5 miles.

Complaints
254
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
9 / 13
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

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

  1. Engine163 (64%)
  2. Brakes29 (11%)
  3. Electrical System27 (11%)
  4. Other22 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain22 (9%)
  6. Fuel System13 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body11 (4%)
  8. Airbags9 (4%)
  9. Steering6 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal and side-impact crashes at highway-adjacent speeds, sometimes totaling the vehicle.
  • Engine compartment fires occurred while driving at low speeds, in some cases producing visible smoke and flames from the front of the vehicle.
  • Brake system components, including the ABS module, were linked to smoke, unusual noises, and warning lights, with one report describing smoke entering the cabin through the AC vents before a fire.
  • Owners reported engine oil burning issues that led to smoke from the exhaust and required an oil change as an attempted fix.
  • Structural door components reportedly did not hold up in side-impact collisions, contributing to occupant injuries.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter302015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q4
323 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q3 (30).

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V651000Sep 22, 2023Brakes1,649,478 vehiclesPark Outside

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

    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: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    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.

  2. 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 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid87605320.5
2014Caution67493320
2015Good33254220
2016Best7236320
2017Avoid100966620

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Relative to other Santa Fe model years, the 2015 has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst out of 16 years tracked, earning a 'Good' verdict compared to other years of the same model.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Santa Fe?
Engine complaints account for 64% of the 254 total complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Santa Fe, with a median mileage at failure of 91,500 miles for that category.
Does the 2015 Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2015 Santa Fe: one for brakes (park outside advisory, campaign 23V651000) and one for a secondary hood latch cable that may corrode and bind (campaign 17V358000).
How does the 2015 Santa Fe compare to other years?
The 2015 Santa Fe's complaint index of 33 is much lower than the 2017 (100) and 2013 (87) Avoid years, but higher than the 2018 (0) and 2016 (7) Best years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Santa Fe?
The EPA rates the 2015 Santa Fe at 20 mpg combined (17.5 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

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.