On or about October 16th 2021. After leaving a resturant I was unable to restart my car. It just would not turn over. I called a tow truck thinking It was possibly the starter. The vehicle was towed to Kia, where it was purchased. Upon inspection they(mechanics) also thought it was the starter. Being that the car is under an extended warranty, they contacted the appropriate company for the…
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems
severe 128 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
128
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
6fires
When does it fail?
Of the 128 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 51% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 128 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
While I was driving, the car began to jerk and stall and the check engine light came on. I was able to drive about 3 more blocks then the car cut completely off. The car cut off in the middle of the street with myself and my children inside. We had to walk home and send for a tow truck. My car only had 78,000 miles. This same thing happened with my 2013 Sonata a few years ago. There seems to be…
Tl* the contact owned a 2015 Hyundai santa fe. While driving 5-10 MPH, smoke and flames appeared from the front of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and contacted the fire department. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a police tow yard. The contact was unaware if the vehicle was inspected. Don moore…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Hyundai santa fe. While driving 25 MPH, the engine failed on more than one occasion. The warning light for the engine remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 12,000. Updated 02/10/16*lj *tr
Driving on a busy, 4-lane street, approaching intersection with larger road (ref: speed limits 40 & 50, respectively). Vehicle suddenly, without warning (normal temp gauge, oil pressure, etc.; check engine light off) lost all ability to accelerate. Narrowly avoided being rear-ended as a car attempted to accelerate while changing lanes. Moving with urgency (2 babies in car-seats at rear, wife at…
Shortly after getting on the freeway the car suddenly decelerated and came to a complete stop. I was able to pull onto the shoulder just in time. The engine died and would not restart. My daughter and I were in a very dangerous situation that could have been tragic. The car was towed to a mechanic that confirmed the engine had seized and a whole new motor is needed.
Oil consumption within 200 miles blind spot detection doesn't work
On two separate occasions while driving on the highway, call lost power and would not operate in a normal fashion. RPM gauge was highly erratic and pushing the accelerator to the floor did not result in increased speed. The first time I took it in, they said nothing was wrong with it. The 2nd time I had to have it towed, as it would no longer start. That time they told me it was a catastrophic…
On September 4, 2021 at approximately 11:30pm, my vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure while driving on a busy freeway in Southern California. There was no warning, only an immediate power lost and inability to accelerate, followed by a flashing check engine light and a chiming alert bell. My husband was driving and he was able to make it across 3 busy traffic lanes to the emergency…
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe?
It's a meaningful issue. 128 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 58,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 99,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Hyundai/Santa Fe.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.