2017 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
762 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 233 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 383 of 762 complaints (50.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 183 | 24.0% |
| Engine operation | 82 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 51 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 40 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 1.0% |
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 | 383 |
| Steering | 172 |
| Unknown Or Other | 101 |
| Electrical System | 64 |
| Power Train | 54 |
| Structure:Body | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
Engine: 383; Steering: 172; Unknown Or Other: 101; Electrical System: 64; Power Train: 54; Structure:Body: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33; Air Bags: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 66 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 56 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 30 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 66; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 56; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 529 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 | 2 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2020 | 65 |
| 2021 | 88 |
| 2022 | 131 |
| 2023 | 122 |
| 2024 | 113 |
| 2025 | 92 |
| 2026 | 45 |
2016: 2; 2017: 22; 2018: 23; 2019: 59; 2020: 65; 2021: 88; 2022: 131; 2023: 122; 2024: 113; 2025: 92; 2026: 45
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 183 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 82 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 51 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 10916009 · 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)
I PURCHASED BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2017 SE. IT TOOK ME SEVERALS DAYS TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS WANDERING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S NOT ME. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT. IT'S MORE APPARENT AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. AT 70MPH YOU MUST PAY 100% ATTENTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTINUE TO WORK IT LIKE A MAD MAN; OTHERWISE YOU'LL END UP IN THE DITCH IN SECONDS. IT'S A HIGH SEVERITY SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE, NATIONWIDE RECALL. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING SONATA 2017', LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND BUY SOMETHING ELSE. DO NOT R…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000072 · 2017-06-19 (June 19, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE RACIAE HYUNDAI DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024819 · 2017-09-21 (September 21, 2017)
ON SATURDAY 9/16/17 I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT SITTING STILL WHEN MY CAR STALLED AND WENT DEAD. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE BRAKE WAS FROZEN AND BEFORE I COULD RESTART THE CAR IT ROLLED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE NO DAMAGE TO HER JEEP. HOWEVER MY CAR HIT THE SPARE TIRE AND RACK ON THE BACK OF HER TRUNK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF MY CAR, THE GRILL AND LOWER BUMPER. WE DID NOT EXCHANGE INFORMATION, AS SHE DID NOT HAVE DAMAGE TO HER CAR, SO SHE LEFT THE SCENE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME (2 MILES FROM MY HOUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084244 · 2018-04-09 (April 9, 2018)
I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AND WAS SITTING THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I HIT THE GAS TO GO AND IT WOULDN'T. UPON LOOKING DOWN AT THE DASH, THE ENGINE LIGHT (AND ANOTHER RED ONE) WAS ON, THE ENGINE HAD STALLED! I HIT MY PUSH TO START BUTTON AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11005068 · 2017-07-13 (July 13, 2017)
THE SENSORS FOR BRAKING DID NOT WORK. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A TRUCK. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, ONLY SLID INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. I WAS ON A BUSY STREET WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TURNED ON SIRENS AT THE LAST SECOND. THE TRUCK STOPPED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I BRAKED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING UNTIL IT COLLIDED INTO THE TRUCK. I HAVE READ REPORTS ON THE 2017 SONATA WHICH STATES THE CAR WILL STOP WHEN IT SENSES IMMINENT DANGER. THIS ONE DIDN'T. MY CONCERN IS- IS THERE MORE CARS LIKE THIS ONE OUT THERE THAT DON'T WOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979780 · 2017-04-21 (April 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT ENGAGED THE WARNING ALERT SYSTEM WHEN A VEHICLE WAS BEING FOLLOWED CLOSELY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER TECHNICAL SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED THE TECHNICAL TEAM ADVISED THE DEALER THAT IF ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTION WAS OPERATING, THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM SHOULD ALSO BE OPERA…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006012 · 2017-07-17 (July 17, 2017)
VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT STOP LIGHT. ENGINE, BATTERY, AND SECURITY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. RADIO AND AC CONTINUED TO WORK. VEHICLE STARTED WHEN START BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND LIGHTS WENT OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11063543 · 2018-01-18 (January 18, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE REAR CAMERA FAILED TO DISPLAY AN IMAGE ON THE MONITOR. ALSO, THE LIGHTS AROUND THE MONITOR AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. UPON ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT BACK INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED CORRECTLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE FRONT OF THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142470 · 2018-10-24 (October 24, 2018)
MINOR VIBRATION ON FRONT END AXLE DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION STARTED EARLY DURING OWNERSHIP, BUT INCREASED OVER TIME WITH MILEAGE AND USAGE. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT COULD NOT ISOLATE CAUSE. PROBLEM WORSENED OVER NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO TOOK IT BACK IN TO SAME DEALERSHIP. FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A MISSING CIRCLIP ("C" CLIP) THAT HOLDS THE CV AXLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. WITHOUT IT, THE AXLE ITSELF WAS WORKING ITS WAY OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE, AND VIBRATING BECAUSE OF ITS LOOSENESS. RESEARCHED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,631 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10959967 · 2017-03-10 (March 10, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROMISED TO HAVE AN AGENT CALL THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. UPDATED 08/22/20…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959967 at NHTSA ↗