2015 Hyundai Santa FE

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 254 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 254

Of the 2015 reports, 9 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.

Primary concernEngine160 reports · 63% of complaints
Owner complaints254Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine160
  2. Service brakes30
  3. Power train22
  4. Other or unspecified22
  5. Electrical system20
  6. Fuel/propulsion system13
  7. Air bags9
  8. Exterior lighting9

Recalls and investigations

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023

    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.

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

    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.

    Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJun 5, 2017

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 17V358000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: air bags

9 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Feb 16, 2026

    Passenger airbag dash is cracked risking unpredictable deployment of air bag

  2. Air bags, Sep 13, 2021

    Passenger airbag light flashes in the instrument panel, while passenger airbag indicator shows Off in amber color when a person is seated in the passenger seat.

  3. Air bags, Apr 20, 2021, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IMPACTED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST AND RIGHT SHOULDER SPRAIN AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE MOMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,400. *DT

  4. Air bags, Dec 5, 2019, crash

    WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT A RATE OF 20MPH ON A DECLINE, WE BEGAN TO SLIDE IN THE SNOW, AS WE SLID I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES TO SLOW US DOWN BUT THE HILL MADE US GAIN SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE WHEELS WERE NOT SPINNING. AFTER SLIDING DOWN HILL FOR CLOSE TO 100 YARDS, WE MADE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE MADE DIRECT IMPACT WITH THE SIDE OF THE MINIVAN. IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH FOR THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY VEHICLE TO BE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF, MY RADIATOR CRACKED, THE MINIVAN IS TOTALED AND ALL THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN THE MINIVAN, BUT MY AIRBAGS NEVER DID RESULTING IN MY CHIPPING MY TEETH ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AGGRAVATING A FRACTURED WRIST, HURTING MY RIBS, AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER HITTING THEIR HEAD HARD ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM A PHYSICIAN DIAGNOSED CONCUSSION PUTTING THEM OUT OF WORK FOR 2 DAYS AND GIVING HER WHIPLASH. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY STANDARDS AND REPUTATION OF HYUNDAI WITH THE PLAN TO BE HAVING CHILDREN, WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD CHILDREN YET.

  5. Air bags, Apr 25, 2019, crash

    BOUGHT BRAD NEW 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN 2015. DEALER SOLD ME ON SAFETY. I THINK IT WAS 8 TO 10 AIRBAGS. GOT IN ACCIDENT AND NOT ONE DEPLOYED. HIT SOLID POLE GOING ABOUT 35 TO 40. CAR TOTALLED NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MADE COMPLAINT TO HYUNDAI AND NO RESPONSE.

  6. Air bags, Nov 27, 2018

    AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH STAYS LIT. CAR SCANNED AT DEALER. SHOWS AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. TOLD AIR BAGS NON FUNCTIONING. CAR IS AT DEALER NOW. OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AT SAME TIME (TRACTION CONTROL AND DOWN HILL BRAKE). CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN ERROR LIGHTS ACTIVATED.WAITING ON CALL BACK FROM HYUNDAI.

  7. Air bags, Structure, May 10, 2016, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED EYE INJURIES DUE TO DOOR FRAGMENTS AND GASHES ON THE ARM. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COMPONENTS WERE NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND BACK PAINS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. ONLY THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSE THE AIR BAG FAILURE, BUT THE REQUEST WAS NOT HEEDED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF *CN

  8. Air bags, Feb 1, 2016, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE OTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT AND REAR DOORS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TURNED AND CAME TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

  9. Air bags, Jul 10, 2015, crash

    AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. UPDATED 08/13/15*JB