2017 Hyundai SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,735 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 32 complaints (53.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 40.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.1% |
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 | 17 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Engine: 17; Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10966358 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
ON 3/15/2017 AROUND 8AM, I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE CAR SHOWED A WARNING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND THE CORRESPONDING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE GASOLINE ENGINE ALSO STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND STAYED ON, EVEN THOUGH THE EV BATTERY WAS FULL. THE ENGINE REMAINED ON THROUGHOUT MY COMMUTE TO WORK AND BACK TO HOME IN THE EVENING. I PLUGGED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE FOR CHARGING OVERNIGHT WITH THE TIMER SET TO START THE CHARGING AT 10PM. AROUND 10:45PM, MY WIFE AND I OPENED THE INTERNAL GARAGE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE AND IMMEDIATELY SMELLED …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102589 · 2018-06-19 (June 19, 2018)
THIS IS THE PLUGIN HYBRID MODEL. THE LITHIUM ION BATTERY CANNOT BE CHARGED SOMETIMES DUE TO OVERHEATING CONDITION. IF THIS IS NOT FIXED, IT MIGHT CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. SOMETIMES, IT WILL NOT LET YOU CHARGE. IT WILL NOT EVEN LET YOU TURN OFF THE CHARGE SCHEDULE TO CHARGE. SOMETIMES, IT STOPS CHARGING DUE TO THERMAL PROBLEM. HYUNDAI IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS. ATTACHED PHOTO DOCUMENTED THAT IT DID NOT ALLOW ME TO SWITCH OFF THE CHARGE SCHEDULER TO START CHARGING. I HOPE HYUNDAI WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079939 · 2018-03-17 (March 17, 2018)
14 MARCH 2018 10:30 AM, 70 MPH ON US 101 TO SAN FRANCISCO, HEV MODE, RAINY WEATHER, 4 PASSENGERS FOR A BUSINESS MEETING. CAR STEERING SHUDDERED AS IF THE TIRES SLIPPED AND SPUN ON THE WET PAVEMENT. ESC, BRAKE, AND AUTO HOLD LIGHTS TURNED YELLOW. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY TO REACH DESTINATION, PARKED, ATTENDED MEETING, AND STARTED DRIVING BACK HOME WITH MY PASSENGERS AT 3PM. ESC, BRAKE, AND AUTO HOLD LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. HEV MODE. 30 MINUTES LATER, I-280 AT 65+ MPH, ENGINE POWER DRASTICALLY REDUCED ABRUPTLY, CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN A…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,470 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11081789 · 2018-03-28 (March 28, 2018)
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR IN MY MID 40'S. I PURCHASED THE CAR (PLUG IN HYBRID) WITH ONLY 25 MILES ON MARCH 15, 2018 AND AFTER 7 DAYS AND 353 MILES LATER, UPON DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, PA, THE CAR STALLED AND LOST POWER. WARNING MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM." I HAD TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WAITED A SECOND OR TWO IN ORDER FOR IT TO MOVE AT A TURTLE'S PACE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SAFE SPOT TO PARK THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP NEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 353 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11516024 · 2023-04-07 (April 7, 2023)
Problem began Dec. 2021. Has occurred on 16 occasions since then. Warning light "Check Hybrid System; Turn off Engine" comes on while driving. The car then shuts off the engine and there is a 100% loss of motive power. Sometimes is associated with very rough braking with the car "knocking'." On 3 occasions there has been partial/near complete loss of braking power. All incidents have occurred while under power, so far all while under 45 mph. No accidents yet. Two near collisions from the rear. Hyundai was notified of the problem Dec. 2021/…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11516024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520782 · 2023-05-06 (May 6, 2023)
Occurrence: This has been a recurring issue for over a year (over a year, might be closer to two years now) for our PHEV Sonata. It has happened approximately 10 times. Problem: Total engine shutdown when driving the car. "Shut down engine" type error message pops up and cannot accelerate. Steering still works, but it can be hard to pull over due to lack of engine power. The car can be restarted after shutting down, but must first come to a complete stop and into Park. Safety Issue: The car stops working. Obviously, this would be quite dang…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11506083 · 2023-02-07 (February 7, 2023)
The vehicle has stalled in traffic numerous times since I bought it in 2016 creating a traffic safety issue. Without warning the lights on the dash will flash and the car dies. I have worried each time that traffic behind me would collide with my car. #1 1 1/2 years into ownership this occurred. They replaced part of the EV charging system that was overheating on the cars. (RECALL) # 2 1 /2 years into ownership the air-conditioner failed and the car stalled in traffic due the air-conditioner failing. (REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) # 3 Last …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11563470 · 2024-01-04 (January 4, 2024)
About 3 weeks ago I had just left my house, battery fully charged and gas tank full. I was coming down a hill to a stop sign and started braking. Suddenly the car seemed to lose power and essentially stopped moving. There was an error on the dash saying "hybrid system failure". There was barely able enough power to slowly pull the car over to the side of the road. I turned off the car and checked the battery in the trunk - I didn't see any obvious concerns. My husband got there 10 minutes later and we tried turning the car on again. It came on …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11563470 at NHTSA ↗