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U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

82 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

71,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 82 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2328.0%
Engine operation1214.6%
Electrical and battery issues67.3%
Transmission and shifting33.7%
Steering behavior33.7%
Fuel system concerns22.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15
Electrical System
9
Service Brakes
7
Unknown Or Other
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Power Train
5
Steering
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic15
Electrical System9
Service Brakes7
Unknown Or Other6
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Power Train5
Steering4

Engine: 41; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Electrical System: 9; Service Brakes: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Power Train: 5; Steering: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2017
5
2018
10
2019
9
2020
7
2021
8
2022
10
2023
3
2024
4
2025
13
2026
13
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20175
201810
20199
20207
20218
202210
20233
20244
202513
202613

2017: 5; 2018: 10; 2019: 9; 2020: 7; 2021: 8; 2022: 10; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2025: 13; 2026: 13

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11075363 · 2018-02-28 (February 28, 2018)

PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING

Owner-reported narrative. 38,667 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11081581 · 2018-03-27 (March 27, 2018)

PURCHASED A CPO CAR FROM DEALERSHIP. 32K MILES. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES WHEN DRIVING UP A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, ENGINE STARTING SEVERE KNOCKING, IN LESS THEN 1/2 MILE, ENGINE FAILED. ELECTRICAL WORKED, PUT ON HAZARD LIGHTS. BRAKES WERE UNUSABLE. COASTED TO EMERGENCY LANE AND PUSHED INTO PARK. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR ENGINE THREW A ROD. ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR WAS "CERTIFIED". CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE A FULL REFUND WAS OBTAINED. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE ENGINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081581 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11173872 · 2019-02-04 (February 4, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO LAND HYUNDAI (20 E FAYETTE ST, UNIONTOWN, PA 15401, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173872 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11397725 · 2021-02-24 (February 24, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WIN HYUNDAI CARSON (2205 E. 223RD ST, CARSON, CA 90810, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,496.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,496 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11192728 · 2019-03-31 (March 31, 2019)

VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OCCURRED 2018 VEHICLE HAS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DOESN'T TURN ON EVEN AFTER CAR WAS JUMPED WITH CABLE 3/31

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192728 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11104734 · 2018-06-29 (June 29, 2018)

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT RED-LINE SPEEDS. ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO REV UP WHILE VEHICLE FORWARD TRAJECTORY IS CUT OFF. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - CREATES SAFETY ISSUE WHEN PASSING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT RED-LINE INSTEAD OF SHIFTING UP TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN GOING FROM ZERO TO SIXTY (FROM A STOP) THE TACHOMETER/TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE AFTER FIRST GEAR HITS REDLINE. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN AUTOMATIC MODE. ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV HIGHER RPM'S, BUT VEHICLE LOSES FORWARD TRAJECTORY. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104734 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11142496 · 2018-10-24 (October 24, 2018)

MY VEHICLE HAS THE 2.0 TURBO ENGINE, PURCHASED NEW, AND SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLUGGISH IN ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. SOMETIMES THERE SEEMS TO BE A DELAY IN ACCELERATING EVEN AFTER THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THEN THE ACCELERATION IS NOT SMOOTH. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE ON AN ON RAMP TO HIGHWAY OR STOP LIGHT AND UP TO THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142496 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11387030 · 2021-01-07 (January 7, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED HEADQUARTER HYUNDAI (985 RINEHART RD, SANFORD, FL 32771) OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387030 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11672687 · 2025-07-11 (July 11, 2025)

While PARKED IN FRONT OF 7-11 WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING, THE POWER STEERING ATTACHMENT IN THE WHEEL WELL BROKE AND RELEASED FLUID ON THE HOT ENGINE. PATRONS IN SORE ALERTED ME THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING OUT THE HOOD. I RACED BACK TO MY SANTA FE AND NOTICED FIRE. THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HAD TURNED RADICALLY AFTER I PARKED IT. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE BROUGHT FROM THE STORE. I RETRIEVED AS MUCH AS I COULD. MY SANTA FE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. OBVIOUSLY, MY VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. 7-11 HAS T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11672687 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11667956 · 2025-06-19 (June 19, 2025)

Per Franklin County Fire Department report, they determined a malfunction in the canister vent valve associated with the gas tank initiated a fire. According to the department findings, the canister vent valve detached from the vehicle and was discovered approximately 200 yards behind the final position of the vehicle, still burning. This malfunction is believed to have compromised the fuel system, leading to an ignition and subsequent vehicle fire. The vehicle sustained extensive damage and was deemed a total loss.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11667956 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11706574 · 2025-12-22 (December 22, 2025)

Dealer failure to to remedy engine replacement under settlement. I am entitled under the March 1, 2022, Settlement Agreement (the “E2 Settlement”) due to recurring Theta II engine failures caused by the oil-starvation/connecting-rod bearing defect. Vehicle stalling on highways and heavy traffic, Repeated codes and failures of MAP sensors, VVT solenoids, camshaft position sensors, starters (×3), batteries (×2), turbo wastegate, fuel pump, EVAP canister, thermostats/housings, etc. , all downstream symptoms of oil starvation and bearing failure Hy…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11706574 at NHTSA ↗