YearToAvoid

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 163 of 254 total complaints (64%) on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, with a median failure mileage of 91,500. Seven of those complaints involved fires, though NHTSA lists no related recall tied to this data.

Engine complaints
163
64% of 254
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
91,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power and stalling while driving at highway or city speeds, sometimes with an erratic RPM gauge or no response from the accelerator.
  • Some vehicles caught fire, with smoke or flames coming from the engine bay while driving at low or highway speeds, in some cases totaling the car.
  • Several owners describe engine seizure or failure despite regular maintenance and recent oil changes, with the engine stalling and refusing to restart.
  • Oil consumption problems were reported leading to engine burning oil, rough running, loud ticking or clicking noises, and eventual stalling.
  • One owner reported the check engine light staying on after repeated power loss at low speeds, with the dealer unable to find a fix.

When 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 1, 2015, latest Jul 21, 2026.

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter192015 Q42018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q3
163 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q3 (19).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Santa Fe model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200559 (27%)
  2. 200626 (25%)
  3. 2007122 (18%)
  4. 2008115 (21%)
  5. 2009116 (32%)
  6. 201063 (24%)
  7. 201187 (48%)
  8. 2012264 (75%)
  9. 2013293 (48%)
  10. 2014289 (59%)
  11. 2015163 (64%)
  12. 2016157 (67%)
  13. 2017701 (73%)
  14. 201859 (54%)
  15. 201980 (40%)
  16. 202088 (41%)
  17. 202142 (25%)
  18. 202264 (32%)
  19. 202348 (23%)
  20. 202420 (13%)
  21. 202520 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 163 engine-related complaints for the 2015 Santa Fe, which is 64% of the 254 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe engine?
The data provided shows no related recalls listed for the engine problem area on the 2015 Santa Fe.
Did the engine problems cause fires?
Yes. NHTSA complaint data shows 7 fire incidents and 1 crash tied to engine complaints on the 2015 Santa Fe, with no injuries reported.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2015 Santa Fe is 91,500 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
Is the 2015 Santa Fe worse than other years for engine complaints?
The 2015 Santa Fe's engine complaints make up 64% of its total complaints, lower than the 2017 model year's 73% share but higher than years like 2021 (25%) and 2024 (13%).

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.