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2017 Hyundai SonataProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 769 owner complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-749 the manufacturer reports only 53% of affected cars repaired.

2017 Hyundai Sonata
25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid2.9× the Sonata median · #7 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 53%Owner complaints76948 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage74kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Ki hoon, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 Hyundai Sonata has problems

769 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine38614
Steering1736
Electrical system654
Power train562
Structure373
Fuel/propulsion system331
Air bags229
Engine and engine cooling200
Vehicle speed control207
15 other systems928

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2017 Hyundai Sonata recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

53%repaired · 2023 Q3

Electrical system: software

Recall 21V-749 · Sep 24, 2021 · 469,377 vehicles · 249,761 repaired

Risk. A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

56%repaired · 2023 Q3

Trunk lid: latch

Recall 21V-619 · Aug 6, 2021 · 348,158 vehicles · 194,724 repaired

Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

75%repaired · 2018 Q2

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 16V-956 · Dec 30, 2016 · 110 vehicles · 83 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

74kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 87 engine complaints. 70% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 31% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
17under 30k miles61under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine

17 owners mentioned a cost

$3,880median

Middle half: $700 – $7,848

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other Sonata year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonata median. How we score

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2017 Hyundai Sonata safety ratings

2017 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2017 Hyundai Sonata frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2017 Hyundai Sonata side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2017 Hyundai Sonata side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (10.5% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  2. Electrical overstressEA19001 · closed Sep 19, 2024
    Led to recall 20V-024
  3. DTN Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA25005 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Sonata owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

On the morning of XXX, when starting my vehicle, I noticed that the oil warning light was flashing. The outside temperature was in the low 40s, which immediately raised concerns about the vehicle's engine and oil pressure. I promptly shut off the engine and checked the oil level. The oil level was…
Complaint 11774920 · Nov 1, 2026
I had recently taken my 2017 Hyundai Sonata in for an Engine Diagnostic check at the Bel Air Hyundai dealership, (10/15/26) worth $199.99 for an hour of maintenance, after experiencing sudden jolts when powering on and driving, needing additional time warming up. My initial thought was that the…
Complaint 11771429 · Oct 15, 2026
I am reporting an unaddressed, critical safety defect involving the Theta II engine in my 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The engine has developed a severe internal metallic knocking noise consistent with connecting rod bearing failure—the exact manufacturing defect associated with Hyundai's major engine…
Complaint 11766104 · Sep 22, 2026

Own a 2017 Sonata?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.