HYUNDAI EQUUS · model year

2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS

12 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2015HYUNDAIEQUUS carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 EQUUS is steering with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2015 EQUUS, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEATS2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recalls (1)

23V65100022/09/2023

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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. The Anti-Lock B

Recent Complaints

20241125SEATS

On August, 2nd around noon, I was driving alone, west on a rural road called 1869 in Liberty Hill, TX. I believe the speed limit on this winding rural road is 55mph, and I was about 1 mile west of 183. While my car was in motion, my active headrest activated (exploded) into the back of my head, throwing me forward into the steering wheel. This happened randomly and unprompted. There were no other cars on the road with me, I didn’t collide with anything, and the road was smooth. I quickly regained control of the car and continued to my destination. The Hyundai dealership confirms the misfired active headrest, and Hyundai does not want to repair it, as the vehicle is out of warranty. There were no warnings prior to the event. I was resting my head on the headrest when it happened.

Mileage: 133,000

20240921EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Within last two years I've been dealing with random and intermittent headlight flickering/turning off when the light stalk switch is in AUTO mode. Also, the cabin lights flicker and turn off at the same time when headlights do. It is very dangerous when it happens during night driving. Luckily problem can be overridden by switching the stalk to ON modes and the interior cluster lights and headlights come back on again. Problem seems to be happening only when in AUTO mode. I talked to dealer, they tried to replicate the problem without success. Problem happens to me at least once a month. I spent lot of time reading about this problem in forums, and found one same comment on the Equus vehicle and many on Genesis which was sold in much higher volumes. It seems to be the same problem, and Hyundai has issued the extended warranty program (but for Genesis 15-16 cars) 20-BE-009H. I firmly believe it's the same problem, its just not many Equus vehicles was sold as Genesis. Please help - we ar

20240401SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was an unknown liquid leaking from under the hood. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Services Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,925. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Mileage: 68,925

20230605SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while driving into the driveway, the front air suspension suddenly failed causing the front-end of the vehicle to collapse onto the front tires, making the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two previous occasions with the driver’s and passenger’s side rear air suspensions, and the front passenger’s side air suspension. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

20221004AIR BAGS

Active headrest on front passenger side inadvertently deployed while driving on a smooth toll road at normal speed. Any passenger could have been severely injured and there could be risk of driver side deployment that could not only cause severe injury but also collision. There were no warning indicators and the entire unit must be replaced because the plastic retention clips broke. The car is currently in the shop.

Mileage: 43,000

20210219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHENEVER IT GETS HOT IN THIS AREA, MY VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. FIRST THE DASH BUBBLED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUBBLES UP AND HAS BEEN REPLACED.. IT IS BUBBLING AGAIN ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH HEADRESTS HAVE POPPED OPEN. ONE HAPPEN WHILE AT THE CAR WASH AND THE OTHER HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS AT REST AND WINDOWS UP.. IT COSTS $1600 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. HAD IT CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 10 TIMES. MAINTENANCE AGENT WITNESSED IT BUT BY APPOINTMENT TIME WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THE WARRANTY REPAIR NEVER OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY,, THE RADIO GOES OUT AND FRIES LIKE A CB. COMPLAINED TWO YEARS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT AGAIN, THE MECHANIC COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THIS ISSUE WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED FOR AN APPOINTMENT. ALL EXCEPT FOR 3 TIMES THE MECHANIC WITNESSED THE PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME HOW TO RESET THE RADIO. THIS ISSU

Mileage: 65,000

20210219SEATS

WHENEVER IT GETS HOT IN THIS AREA, MY VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. FIRST THE DASH BUBBLED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUBBLES UP AND HAS BEEN REPLACED.. IT IS BUBBLING AGAIN ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH HEADRESTS HAVE POPPED OPEN. ONE HAPPEN WHILE AT THE CAR WASH AND THE OTHER HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS AT REST AND WINDOWS UP.. IT COSTS $1600 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. HAD IT CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 10 TIMES. MAINTENANCE AGENT WITNESSED IT BUT BY APPOINTMENT TIME WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THE WARRANTY REPAIR NEVER OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY,, THE RADIO GOES OUT AND FRIES LIKE A CB. COMPLAINED TWO YEARS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT AGAIN, THE MECHANIC COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THIS ISSUE WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED FOR AN APPOINTMENT. ALL EXCEPT FOR 3 TIMES THE MECHANIC WITNESSED THE PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME HOW TO RESET THE RADIO. THIS ISSU

Mileage: 65,000

20190508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MAY 4TH 2019 VEHICLE FOUND DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. NO SIGNS OF ANY BATTERY ISSUES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT EMPIRE HYUNDAI LOCATED IN FALL RIVER, MA. VEHICLE CONFIRMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER, HOWEVER NO LIGHTS OR CLOCK AND NO POWER. THEN ALL WENT DEAD FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. THE SOLUTION THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS TO INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, THE 'ISSUE' SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, AND THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT REPLACING BATTERY IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EMPIRE'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS DOCUMENTED THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN NUMEROUS TIMES USUALLY 'SHUTTING OFF 'AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. (5 TIMES). WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A G

Mileage: 65,259

20190508FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MAY 4TH 2019 VEHICLE FOUND DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. NO SIGNS OF ANY BATTERY ISSUES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT EMPIRE HYUNDAI LOCATED IN FALL RIVER, MA. VEHICLE CONFIRMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER, HOWEVER NO LIGHTS OR CLOCK AND NO POWER. THEN ALL WENT DEAD FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. THE SOLUTION THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS TO INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, THE 'ISSUE' SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, AND THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT REPLACING BATTERY IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EMPIRE'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS DOCUMENTED THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN NUMEROUS TIMES USUALLY 'SHUTTING OFF 'AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. (5 TIMES). WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A G

Mileage: 65,259

20190508STEERING

MAY 4TH 2019 VEHICLE FOUND DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. NO SIGNS OF ANY BATTERY ISSUES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT EMPIRE HYUNDAI LOCATED IN FALL RIVER, MA. VEHICLE CONFIRMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER, HOWEVER NO LIGHTS OR CLOCK AND NO POWER. THEN ALL WENT DEAD FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. THE SOLUTION THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS TO INSTALL A NEW REPLACEMENT BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, THE 'ISSUE' SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, AND THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT REPLACING BATTERY IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EMPIRE'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS DOCUMENTED THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN NUMEROUS TIMES USUALLY 'SHUTTING OFF 'AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. (5 TIMES). WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A G

Mileage: 65,259

20181216STEERING

STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE MAKING A COMPLETE TURN

Mileage: 5

20170918VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, AS I APPROACH A VEHICLE FROM THE REAR THAT IS GOING SLOWER, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES AND DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SIMILAR TO THIS! " SHUT DOWN ENGINE IMMEDIATELY, SERVICE REQUIRED." THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I DID SO, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'VE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT REGULARLY SERVICES THE CAR, AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE CONDITION. IT APPEARS TO BE A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS RECENTLY WHEN THIS CONDITION APPEARS, THE ABILITY TO RESUME ACCELERATION IS LOST MOMENTARILY, AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN DRASTICALLY. IT SUDDENLY RELENTS, AND RESUMES TRAVELLING AT THE PRESET SPEED. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS WHERE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY THE WARNING MAY LEAD TO A CATASROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE

Mileage: 22,650

Compare 2015HYUNDAIEQUUS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS have?
The 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS?
The 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS?
Yes, the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS?
The most-complained component for the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SEATS.
Is the 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2015 HYUNDAI EQUUS has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.