2017 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 80 complaints (56.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 16.3% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 13.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 45 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Engine: 45; Electrical System: 16; Unknown Or Other: 11; Power Train: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Steering: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2017: 2; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 6; 2022: 16; 2023: 13; 2024: 15; 2025: 10; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11124591 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
ON THIS PAST LABOR DAY, WHICH WAS 9/3/2018, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL MY CAR. SHUT OFF CAR AND HAD KEY FOB WITH ME. PUMPED THE FUEL AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR. NOTHING. CAR WAS INOPERABLE. PRESSED THE START BUTTON, PRESSED THE BRAKES, SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK, PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE START BUTTON AGAIN AND NOTHING. DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH THE KEY FOB LIGHT ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ETC. CALLED BLUELINK. THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO A "PHONE PROMPT" SWITCHBOARD. PROBLEM IS THE PHONE SCREEN WOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441966 · 2021-11-29 (November 29, 2021)
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, the dealer informed the contact that they would be able to perform the recall repair in approximately five months. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact that they could assist with scheduling an earlier appointment with another dealer who was 40 miles away from the contact's residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a rea…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299316 · 2020-01-14 (January 14, 2020)
ON 7/17/19 MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. UNABLE TO STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES SHOWN AND THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRIC OIL PUMP. ON 8/12/19, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY. COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. UNABLE TO STEER OR CONTROL CAR. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. AGAIN, NO ERROR CODES FOUND. THEY LATER CLAIMED THAT A RELAY HAD MELTED AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ON 12/28/19, AGAIN DRIVING 70MPH ON BUSY EXPRESSWAY, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND I W…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456179 · 2022-03-10 (March 10, 2022)
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while her husband was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and lost motive power. The contact stated that her husband pulled off the highway safely. The driver then attempted to re-enter the highway, there was a loud bang from the engine that shook the vehicle. The vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed. The dealer service manager informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaig…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11456179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993312 · 2017-06-05 (June 5, 2017)
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APX. 65MPH, THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER AND DISPLAYED A"STOP VEHICLE AND CHECK BRAKES" MESSAGE. I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS, SO COULD NOT SAFELY MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS STUCK IN THE ACTIVE FREEWAY LANE WITH CARS ZIPPING BY. AFTER THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP, I TURNED IF OFF AND BACK ON. POWER RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE ESC, ABS, AND AUTO HOLD LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT WENT OFF AFTER APX. 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM NOR WERE ANY ERROR CODES RECORDED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11067273 · 2018-02-06 (February 6, 2018)
1: AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 210, WHEN THE MOTORWAY EXITS FROM EAST TO WEST, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK (PICTURED) AND THE CAR DECELERATES DIRECTLY FROM 70 MILES TO 30 MILES. THE BRAKES CAN NOT WORK FULLY. STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL MUST STEP ON MULTIPLE STEPS TO RELAX THE THROTTLE, DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, FROM THE SECOND MOVE TO MOST OF THE MOST OUTSIDE HIGH-SPEED, DO NOT KNOW DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CRASH ABOVE THE SPEED. SUCH A HIGH SPEED, I GO HOME, STOP THE FLAME, AND THEN OPEN EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. LATER, DEALER REPAIR CAN NOT FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11233915 · 2019-07-22 (July 22, 2019)
MY VEHICLE HAS 65000 MILES AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET AND ALMOST HAD A COLLISSION. FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAD 55000 MILEA AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED A PART AT THAT TIME AND NOW JUST 2 MONTHS LATER I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT STARTED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11481967 · 2022-08-30 (August 30, 2022)
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle shifted into Limp Mode with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and several DTC codes were cleared and the accelerator pedal assembly was replaced. Shortly after receiving the repair, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was towed to the dealer another time. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that max cylinder #7 had failed to cause a knocking in the en…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,679 miles reported. Look up ODI 11481967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11611961 · 2024-08-31 (August 31, 2024)
This is the seventh occurrence of complete loss of power while driving on the interstate. The hybrid system warning activated, followed by the engine shutting down, and all dashboard lights illuminated with alerts indicating "Shut Off Engine/HEV." An 18 wheeler was pulling out from the shoulder as I was losing power and barely missed getting crushed. The former problems have all been at interstate speeds with similar accident avoided. The service history clearly demonstrates that Hyundai has repeatedly attempted to address this issue by replac…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11611961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11631932 · 2024-12-21 (December 21, 2024)
Literally for years I have been taking my car in to Rick Case Hyundai with the complaint of smelling gas even when the car was parked for long periods. Each time they said they fixed with different items. Gas cap, a part on the catalytic converter, etc. The problem never resolved but I noticed it only happened when the tank was more than half full. I got a video of gas dripping out underneath and took the car to Rick Case and gave them the video. My car has been there ten days because they first tried to say it was a seal on the fuel pump. This…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11631932 at NHTSA ↗