Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced shaking and vibrating while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
UNKNOWN It started with the engine suddenly reducing my speed down to 10 mph while I was driving on the freeway, the check engine light turned on. We then took it to the Hyundai dealership who turned us a way and told us they couldn't see us for several months. So we were forced to take it to a repair shop who ran a compression test and told us it failed. We were able to speak to the dealership a few days later who asked us to take it in they re ran the test and told us it passed but they needed to do some updates to the knock sensor due to multiple recalls they had failed to inform us on (even though they had conducted an update back in 2019) after this they conducted several oil consumption tests which have averaged a liter or more consumed per 500 miles. …
Brought my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport into the dealer on July 25, 2026 for the ECU and Theta II software update (Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2). Before the recall service my car drove perfectly with no issues. After the recall service my car is extremely jerky when shifting at low speeds and has long delays when trying to accelerate. This problem is particularly apparent on cold start, and less so once the vehicle has been driving. The issue is not as noticeable if the vehicle has been driven, is turned off, and then turned on again before fully cooled down. The jerky shifting has been getting worse over the past month. Vehicle was taken back to the dealer that conducted the software update on August 26, 2026 and they charged me for throttle body cleaning and EFI service which they performed for carbon build up as they cited this as the cause for the issues. …
Abs, traction control lights, emergency braking lights on .. tire sensors are bad. Causing intermittent issue with the lights. For 3 years I've been trying to get my ABS/traction control fixed at Hyundai, that dealership refused to acknowledge there was an issue. I had a code from a car place since I live over an hour away and they said they couldn't use it since it wasn't from them. I have an extended warranty there. Went to another dealership and was immediately told it was the tire sensors. That he used to work at the other dealership and they saw it all the time. I now see Palisades have a tire sensor issue. Heck I've been dealing with this for years, and apparently so are many other Hyundai owners, according to this Hyundai employee. Now they're trying to overcharge me and saying my warranty will only cover a quarter of what they want. …
am writing you today in frustration with my treatment at both your dealership Hyundai Streetsboro and Hyundai of Bedford. When I first purchased my vehicle I expressed concern regarding the hesitation while accelerating and the emense amount of oil this vehicle burns. When I scheduled all my services I expressed the same concern only to be told that it's normal rate or oil consumption. I am extremely nervous when merging into traffic because I never know when the car may decide to not accelerate. I have tired on numerous occasions to get this issue checked by two separate dealership but both dismissed my concerns. I have emails and expressed concerns when using the dealership online service request forms. In summary the vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate, especially merging into traffic. The vehicle also burns oil at an unreasonable rate as a result of a faulty engine.
I was driving on the highway in a mountainous area going downhill. The cruise control was on with the speed set at about 80 miles/hour. Then the car was losing speed, the RPM needle started swinging from left and right. I stepped on the accelerator but the car continue losing speed to 40 miles/hour and continue losing speed. I turned on the emergency light to warn the other drivers and was able to move the car to the shoulder and stopped it without an accident. But the cars behind me could have smashed into my car that day and that would be the last day for my mother (in the car at that time) and me. The car had 41000 miles on it and we had the maintenance done just recently. I did not notice anything else abnormal before the incident. We reported the problem to the dealer and have to pay for the dealer to inspect the car. The inspection has been scheduled but not done yet.
I have need to get 3 oil changes within the past month and a half. Twice I was told I was driving with no oil in my car and the engine was getting ready to go. I notice when I start my car in the morning it is making a rattling noise, this also happens when I try to accelerate and the car will get stuck in gear and hesitate before speeding up. It's been dangerous trying to drive on this highway. I also notice a thick white smoke coming from my muffler. I'm constantly paying for unnecessary oil changes and diagnostic from independent service centers and was told my motor is bad and causing all this oil consumption. I was told to contact Hyundai but no luck.
After the recent "important service campaign" involving the THETA II Emissions Logic Improvement my vehicle no longer safety shifts into the lower gears. It will not shift into gear. I am unable to safely get up to a normal speed and the engine and vehicle start shaking. This is isolated to the initial start of the vehicle and any low speed driving after. The issue is resolved after restarting the car, suggesting it is a software issue. This issue immediately began after the ECU update for the THETA II emissions logic improvement on 5/12/2026.
NO power till car warms up for 5 minutes. It will be jerky on highway. The gas mileage is going down drastically, I was doing 32 miles to gallon and now it's 22mpg. All this is after the recall we just had performed. I have no power trying to avoid accidents, taking off from stopping. Car smells weird now.
Campaign /Service Update 9C2 / TSB-25-01-087H broke my Hyundai. The car hesitates idling and on acceleration. Hyundai have no solution to this failed software update or acknowledging other issues it may be causing.
Acceleration complaints in other Santa Fe Sport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 8% of the model year's 356 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 77% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.