2015 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT has 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: the engine seized while in motion after leaving the service department of hyundai. the service department advised me to drive the vehicle as part of a consumption test. i was advised to come in each time the vehicle was 1 quart of oil low and after 4 times hyundai would provide a new engine. after . ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 3 crash reports

100

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

41 complaints

41%

• THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS PART OF A CONSUMPTION TEST. I WAS ADVISED TO COME IN EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS 1 QUART OF OIL LOW AND AFTER 4 TIMES HYUNDAI WOULD PROVIDE A NEW ENGINE. AFTER
• 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T 4CYL WJTH THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED (2011-2014) ENGINE. THETA || GDI 2.0 WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY NORMAL ONE DAY NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED BESIDES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT . I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON FLAT PAVED ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED M
• 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 PA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS PART OF A CONSUMPTION TEST. I WAS ADVISED TO COME IN EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS 1 QUART OF OIL LOW AND AFTER 4 TIMES HYUNDAI WOULD PROVIDE A NEW ENGINE. AFTER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

21 complaints

21%

• PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING
• 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 PA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V520000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• WHEN I MAKE A TURN I CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND.
• WHILE DRIVING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, AND THE GAS RANGE CONTINUOUSLY FLUCTUATED AS IF I WAS PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR, BUT IT WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO STOPPED WORKING.THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE SEPTEMBER.
• THE FRONT PORTION OF THE SUNROOF HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN AND SHATTERED AROUND THE PERIMETER AND THE CENTER. I NOTICED IT SEVERAL DAYS AGO, MAY 16, 2019, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER MY CAR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN I MAKE A TURN I CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

• 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T 4CYL WJTH THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED (2011-2014) ENGINE. THETA || GDI 2.0 WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY NORMAL ONE DAY NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED BESIDES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT . I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON FLAT PAVED ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED M
• 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
• WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND CAR JUST STOCK. I READ THAT OLD MODELS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I INSPECTED THE CAR AND FIGURE THAT AXLE SHAFT TURNS INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION AND BROKE IT FROM INSIDE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T 4CYL WJTH THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED (2011-2014) ENGINE. THETA || GDI 2.0 WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY NORMAL ONE DAY NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED BESIDES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT . I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON FLAT PAVED ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING
• 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
• WE WERE ON A TRIP FROM NEBRASKA TO MICHIGAN AND RETURN. WHEN TRAVELING ALONG THE TOLL ROAD EXPRESS SOUTH OF CHICAGO AT ABOUT 65MPH 02/1WE BOTH SMELLED "SOMETHING BURNING". DETERMINING THAT IT WAS NOT ANYTHING ON THE INTERIOR, WE CLOSED THE OUTSIDE AIR VENT CONTROL AND FELT THAT IT WAS KIND OF A HO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 100 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS PART OF A CONSUMPTION TEST. I WAS ADVISED TO COME IN EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS 1 QUART OF OIL LOW AND AFTER 4 TIMES HYUNDAI WOULD PROVIDE A NEW ENGINE. AFTER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: PUSH TO START DOES NOT WORK. BRAKE IS NOT REGISTERING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHEN I MAKE A TURN I CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T 4CYL WJTH THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED (2011-2014) ENGINE. THETA || GDI 2.0 WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY NORMAL ONE DAY NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED BESIDES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT . I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON FLAT PAVED ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)