The third generation of Hyundai’s midsize SUV, the Santa Fe, could be given credit for single-handedly making their SUV line-up mainstream in the US market. The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe problems are mostly concerned with mechanical, electrical, structural, and safety areas. The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe has been recalled twice, and 210 complaints are registered under its name. With a reliability score of 85/100 in the J.D. Power Consumer Rating, the 2015 Santa Fe reliability is very good.
Hyundai was never known to be a super reliable brand, nor has it a credible history, but they are about to change that by offering a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty on their vehicle, which is just insane and class-leading by any metrics. This $31,900 SUV competes against SUVs like the Chevrolet Equinox, the Kia Sorento, and the Nissan Murano.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems and User Complaints
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine problems: The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe engine is known for occasional loss of power, turbo fails (on 2.0T), and random engine stalls. High-mileage examples are known for timing chain tensioner failure and premature crank bearing wear. If these issues are not addressed at the right time, a complete engine failure could happen. Multiple instances of engine replacements have been reported by NHTSA, with an average failure mileage of 100,000 miles.
- Transmission problem: While not as common as engine issues, the transmission on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe occasionally jerks, shudders, and miss-shifts. The vehicle is also said to over-rev, as if the transmission was slotted into neutral. Most issues are traced to TCM errors, but some owners did require solenoid and even complete transmission unit replacements on high-mileage vehicles.
- Service Brake recall: Some owners have reported receiving a recall (20V52000) for a faulty ABS module with a high risk of fire, even though the official recall only lists the ‘Santa Fe Sport’ model. Replacement parts were said to be unavailable at the dealer's end. This issue has been tagged as a high-risk factor by the NHTSA. At least four instances of fire have been recorded against this issue by the NHTSA.
Electric System Complaints
- Radio/infotainment issues: boot loop, occasional freezes, and blank screens are some common problems seen on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe’s media system. Although most issues were fixed with subsequent software updates from the dealer, some owners did find the need to replace the head unit in suspicion of internal hardware issues.
Structural Complaints
- Lift gate issues: The power liftgate (on trim equipped with this feature) on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe can open or close erratically and, in some cases, even cause the 12V battery to drain overnight. The issue was found to be with a software error in the liftgate control module or a faulty drive unit, the latter of which requires a replacement if any fault has been detected.
Safety Complaints
- Blind Spot Detection System Error: Software glitches with the blind spot monitoring system on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe are pretty common. The mirror-mounted warning lamp is said to illuminate without the presence of any oncoming traffic. Though dirt and debris were told to be affecting the radar, the owner still complains about the issue reappearing intermittently.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | September 22, 2023 | 23V651000 | ABS unit may cause engine compartment fire | 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. | 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. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 1, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available beginning April 2024. |
|
2 |
5th June 2017 |
17V358000 |
The secondary hood latch may bind and not latch. |
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 causing it to unexpectedly open and increase the risk of a crash. |
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. |
Should you buy a used 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The Hyundai Santa Fe 2015 problems cannot be neglected, to be honest. Also, just like some other Hyundai and Kia cars, the 2015 Santa Fe has one open investigation for the fire hazard from the ABS module. So as much as we love Hyundai’s value-for-money SUV here, as of now, it would be hard for us to recommend buying a used 2015 Santa Fe, whatever the mileage on it. Wait, if you can, for the automaker to start rolling out proper fixes rather than trying out your luck here.
