2015 Hyundai Equus Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Equus, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical216.7%
- Steering216.7%
- Interior & seats216.7%
- Fuel system18.3%
- Exterior lighting18.3%
- Airbags18.3%
- Suspension18.3%
- Brakes18.3%
- Driver assistance18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ISSUED OCCURRED WHEN CAR WAS IN MOTION AND ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE PHONE WAS CONNECTED AND IN USE. I HAVE TO PUSH A HOLE WITH A PEN TIP TO RESET IT ONCE A MONTH. EVENTUALLY,, I COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY HAD RADIO REPLACED BUT DEALERSHIP PUT IN A DIFFERENT MODEL OTHER THAN THE ONE FOR THE CAR. NOW PHONE SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR USE WHENEVER I ENTER THE CAR AS WELL AS THE RADIO SYSTEM RANDOMLY CHANGES THE STATION WHEN TRAVELING. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE. LASTLY THE WINDOWS GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. HAD THEM CHECKED BY MAINTENANCE MANAGER, BUT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING THE APPOINTMENT . PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
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 GROUND ISSUE AND A 'NEW GROUND BOLT WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO 'SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 'AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING OCCURS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS OR OBJECTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS\GROUND BOLT AND THE FAILURE MODE IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED DURING OPERATION . COMMUNICATED WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE CONTINUING TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE UNRESOLVED. CASE # 15744270 W/ HYUNDAI COMPLAINT DEPT. ATTN: THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS IN NHTSB DATABASE FROM OTHER EQUUS USERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE VEHICLE IS UNDER OPERATION. THE RISK WITH THIS FAILURE MODE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND SHOULD BE ASSIGNED YOUR HIGHEST SEVERITY RISK RATING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 GROUND ISSUE AND A 'NEW GROUND BOLT WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO 'SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 'AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING OCCURS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS OR OBJECTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS\GROUND BOLT AND THE FAILURE MODE IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED DURING OPERATION . COMMUNICATED WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE CONTINUING TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE UNRESOLVED. CASE # 15744270 W/ HYUNDAI COMPLAINT DEPT. ATTN: THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS IN NHTSB DATABASE FROM OTHER EQUUS USERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE VEHICLE IS UNDER OPERATION. THE RISK WITH THIS FAILURE MODE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND SHOULD BE ASSIGNED YOUR HIGHEST SEVERITY RISK RATING.
STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE MAKING A COMPLETE TURN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 ISSUED OCCURRED WHEN CAR WAS IN MOTION AND ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE PHONE WAS CONNECTED AND IN USE. I HAVE TO PUSH A HOLE WITH A PEN TIP TO RESET IT ONCE A MONTH. EVENTUALLY,, I COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY HAD RADIO REPLACED BUT DEALERSHIP PUT IN A DIFFERENT MODEL OTHER THAN THE ONE FOR THE CAR. NOW PHONE SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR USE WHENEVER I ENTER THE CAR AS WELL AS THE RADIO SYSTEM RANDOMLY CHANGES THE STATION WHEN TRAVELING. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE. LASTLY THE WINDOWS GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. HAD THEM CHECKED BY MAINTENANCE MANAGER, BUT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING THE APPOINTMENT . PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 GROUND ISSUE AND A 'NEW GROUND BOLT WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO 'SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 'AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING OCCURS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS OR OBJECTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS\GROUND BOLT AND THE FAILURE MODE IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED DURING OPERATION . COMMUNICATED WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE CONTINUING TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE UNRESOLVED. CASE # 15744270 W/ HYUNDAI COMPLAINT DEPT. ATTN: THERE ARE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS IN NHTSB DATABASE FROM OTHER EQUUS USERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE VEHICLE IS UNDER OPERATION. THE RISK WITH THIS FAILURE MODE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND SHOULD BE ASSIGNED YOUR HIGHEST SEVERITY RISK RATING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 are hardly driving the car at night anymore and we really like it. And dealer didn't want to replace the stalk without being able to properly diagnose/replicate the problem.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .