Most common 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems
Share of the 766 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Sonata complaints by model year
Best Sonata years: 2025, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2011, 2013, 2012, 2015, 2017. Compare all years →
2017 Hyundai Sonata recalls (3)
Electrical system › Software
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of…
Remedy: Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.
Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Latch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2017 Hyundai Sonata:
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
What 2017 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Engine & cooling all 400 →
The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while on travel, the contact stopped at a local gas station. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the contact was informed by the store attendant that the vehicle was on fire. The contact noticed the fire came from under the hood compartment and the vehicle was engulfed with flames. The contact stated an off-duty police officer and the store owner attempted to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers, however, they were unsuccessful. The fire department was called, arrived on the scene, and extinguished the fire but the vehicle was already consumed by the fire. The vehicle and all properties in the vehicle were destroyed in the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned to total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. …
The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 30-30 MPH, he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon opening the hood, he saw fire. The contact stated that the fire burned the front end and interior of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. There were no injuries sustained. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot yard where it was totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Steering all 173 →
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The EPS and ESC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who observed a failure code on the OBD scanner but was unable to duplicate the failure during a test drive. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V190000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer reset the steering sensor however, the steering wheel felt loose. Additionally, the steering wheel inadvertently moved to the right and was stiff while making left turns. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but denied the claim since the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Electrical system all 65 →
Power relay has been replaced several times, air bags did not deploy with either wreck and loss control of steering causing a crash which bent the frame. Hyundai never once contacted me regarding this defective car they replaced motor in because of knock sensor and im lucky to be alive. On one of the accidents in February there was an error message that popped up right before I had the wreck and it was an error message wrong with the cars transmission system or something like that I had the dealership who said there was no codes on that car and I had my own personal mechanic who had codes pop up on that car that the dealership hid
I was involved in a severe motor vehicle collision in a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The airbags failed to deploy during the crash. I sustained serious injuries and was transported from the scene by EMS. This vehicle has known safety recalls, and I believe the airbag non-deployment may indicate a safety defect.
2017 Hyundai Sonata engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 39 / 45 / 42 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 38 / 40 / 39 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 28 / 36 / 31 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 36 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Hyundai Sonata a good car?
Based on 766 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Sonata rates avoid: 2.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sonata at the same age. It is one of the Sonata years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Hyundai Sonata?
The engine & cooling — 400 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the steering (173) and electrical system (65).
How many recalls does the 2017 Hyundai Sonata have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, the most recent from September 24, 2021 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Sonata?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2013, 2012, 2015 and 2017. See the full Hyundai Sonata years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.