Recalled components: brakes and latches, locks and linkages. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (97 complaints, 29%). Most-reported area: engine (201 complaints, 60%; median mileage when it happened: 86,500).
Fewer complaints than a typical Santa Fe year
The 2015 drew 35 owner complaints in its first three years, against 93 for a typical Santa Fe year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2017 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: SANTA FE. Hyundai campaign 251.
Brakes
Apr 28, 2021
antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · control unit/module
Brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short in the ABS module can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, and inspect and replace the ABS module, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 25, 2021. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-520. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 205.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SANTA FE SPORT. Hyundai campaign 205.
Brakes
Aug 27, 2020
antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · control unit/module
Brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the ABS module short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began December 22, 2020. Note: This recall has been superseded by NHTSA Recall 21V-303 and all affected vehicles will now be repaired under 21V-303. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 194.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SANTA FE SPORT. Hyundai campaign 194.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
NHTSA listings: SANTA FE, SANTA FE SPORT. Hyundai campaign 163.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
What owners report
Owners have filed 336 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Santa Fe. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement97 · 29%
Median 91,900 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off60 · 18%
Median 92,500 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
Check engine light50 · 15%
Median 95,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Median 86,500 miles at failure, from 64 reports with mileage
Brakes52 · 15%
Median 59,300 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Electrical system29 · 9%
Powertrain29 · 9%
Fuel and propulsion system16 · 5%
Air bags12 · 4%
Body structure11 · 3%
Most named: body (9)
Unknown or other28 · 8%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Santa Fe recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2015 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 Santa Fe drew the most (260) and the 2015 drew 35.
Owner complaints
2015: 336 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Santa Fe
Model year
Complaints
2010
259
2011
181
2012
353
2013
804
2014
656
2015
336
2016
305
2017
1,319
2018
430
2019
225
2020
213
2021
186
2022
263
2023
287
2024
185
2025
226
2026
49
Safety recalls
2015: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Santa Fe
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
2
2012
1
2013
7
2014
7
2015
4
2016
3
2017
7
2018
5
2019
3
2020
2
2021
8
2022
8
2023
2
2024
7
2025
5
2026
4
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 336 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (97), stalling or shutting off (60), and the check engine light coming on (50). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
How do I check if my Santa Fe has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SANTA FE, SANTA FE SPORT.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.