2015 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
254 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
66,806 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 160 of 254 complaints (63.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 15.7% |
| Engine operation | 32 | 12.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 160 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
Engine: 160; Power Train: 22; Unknown Or Other: 22; Service Brakes: 21; Electrical System: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Air Bags: 9; Exterior Lighting: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 166 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2015: 9; 2016: 9; 2017: 12; 2018: 12; 2019: 10; 2020: 25; 2021: 42; 2022: 37; 2023: 52; 2024: 36; 2025: 3; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 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 10983933 · 2017-05-07 (May 7, 2017)
THE CAR STALLS AND COMPLETELY LOSES POWER. WE JUST HIT THE 62K MILE MARK. WHEN IT LOSES POWER EVEN THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. WHEN YOU STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE CAR JERKS. THE EXHAUST IS SMOKING BADLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015370 · 2017-08-15 (August 15, 2017)
I WAS ON GROUND FLOOR OF A PARKING GARAGE AND ALREADY IN THE PARKING SPOT---I HAD MY BRAKE ON AND WAS ACTUALLY READY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO "PARK". THERE WAS A SUDDEN REVING OF THE ENGINE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THROUGH A STEEL LATTICE WORK BARRIER AND THROUGH A FLOWER BED INTO AN EXTREMELY WET SURFACE. I HIT THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKE FINALLY HELD. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BECAME MIRED DOWN IN APPROXIMATELY 12-14 INCHES OF MUD. I BELIEVE THE COMBINATION OF THE MUD AND THE BRAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 468,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11013495 · 2017-08-07 (August 7, 2017)
I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM YOU REGARDING THE SECONDARY LATCH ON THE HOOD RELEASE. I CALLED THE DEALER TO ARRANGE CORRECTION. DEALER REP SAID THAT PARTS ON BACK ORDER AND I COULD BE PUT ON WAITING LIST. I CALLED HYUNDAI FINANCE AS THE VEHICLE IS LEASED AND SAID CAN YOU DO ANYTHING? THEY SAID TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAVE LATCH INSPECTED. I CALLED DEALER BACK AND ASKED FOR AN APPOINTMENT. TODAY IS AUGUST 7, THEY SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SEPTEMBER 5. I SAID AN INSPECTION REQUIRING 5 MINUTES TAKES A MONTH? PAPERWORK, REP SAID. MY COMPLAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128507 · 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
DRIVING ON MAJOR HWY, CAR LOST POWER AND SO I LOOKED FOR A PLACE TO PULL OVER, WHEN I GOT TO SIDE OF RD THE CAR STALLED OUT AND DIED COMPLETELY. WOULDN'T RESTART AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BATTERY LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS. I TRIED TO CRANK WITH NO LUCK. CALLED FOR HELP. GOT TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP. IT WAS MOTOR THAT FAILED. NO SIGN EXCEPT LOST POWER AND DIED. SAME CONDITION AS MOTORS THAT WERE RECALLED AND MY MOTOR IS A 2014 AND I HAVE EXTRA WARRANTY AND THEY TURNED ME DOWN. I NEED HELP PLEASE.....HELPPPPPPPPP
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11254485 · 2019-09-10 (September 10, 2019)
IN JANUARY MY ALTERNATOR FAILED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BAD PART. TWO DAYS LATER THAT PART FAILED AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SWAPPED THE PART AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE. ON FRIDAY SEPT 6TH MY ALTERNATOR FAILED AGAIN AND DESTROYED THE IN-LINE FUSE AND KILLED THE BATTERY. ONCE ITS FIXED IT WILL BE MY 4TH ALTERNATOR IN LESS THAN 80K MILES. ALL OF THE TIMES THAT THIS PART FAILED IT WAS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723852 · 2015-06-07 (June 7, 2015)
VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. VEHICLE WANDERS ON THE HIGHWAY AND SEEMS TO OVER ADJUST SO THAT A SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENT TO THE RIGHT REQUIRES A SLIGHT CORRECTION TO THE LEFT AND ON AND ON. IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219908 · 2019-06-13 (June 13, 2019)
USED VEHICLE (80,000 MILES). POWER STEERING CUT OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH OUR INFANT SON IN THE BACK. MANAGED TO SAFELY STOP, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT HAD FIXED PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM, BUT THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. HAPPENED TO MY WIFE A THIRD TIME WHEN SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE. DEALER COULDN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM, SAID WE NEEDED TO REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10889195 · 2016-07-28 (July 28, 2016)
WHEN I AM ON A SUBSTANTIAL INCLINE, I PLACE THE AUTO INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HARD SHIFTING NOISE AND VIBRATION. MY GIRLFRIENDS INCLINE ON HER DRIVEWAY IS PROBABLY AROUND 6% GRADE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE CONTACT HYUNDAI @[email removed] ON 7/25/2016. I ALSO CONTACTED A DEALER (RON TONKIN) ON7/28/2016. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM EITHER ENTITIES AS OF THIS WRITING.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10889195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113618 · 2018-07-25 (July 25, 2018)
HIT ACCELERATOR AND WON'T SHIFT INTO GEAR, LOUD REVS AND THEN HEAR A BANG AND THE CAR JUMPS AS IT FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF MY CAR AT RANDOM, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, THEN LAST WEEK, I START TO LOSE POWER, AND SAME THING, IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME DRIVE. NEVER ONCE WHEN THIS HAPPENS DID I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEN IT GOT SCARY AS WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON ITS OWN WHILE IN DRIVE. STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11579512 · 2024-03-26 (March 26, 2024)
engine replacement can be avoided you should use fuel injector cleaner every 3000 miles, sediment clogs injectors, and pistons which fuel leaks into oil pan, causing oil/fuel mixture to burn, creating overheating, which leads to oil burning, and eventually engine seizing. If you use fuel injector cleaner every 3000 miles this will prevent needing to replace motor.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11579512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11606012 · 2024-08-02 (August 2, 2024)
Misfire code P0302 Injector failed open, flooded cylinder with fuel. Gas in the oil Possible cylinder failure Lack of compression
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11606012 at NHTSA ↗