2017 Hyundai SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10938754 · 2016-12-30 (December 30, 2016)
FIRST EXTENDED DRIVE OF NEW CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, WAS TOLD I HAD "BAD FUEL" THAT THEY TESTED A SAMPLE AND FOUND E85 (ETHANOL) IN IT, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY HYUNDAI NEW CAR WARRANTY FOR PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES. I PAID $828 TO HAVE FUEL DRAINED AND REPLACED, FUEL INJECTION CLEANING, AND DECARBONIZING AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY, BUT TURNED BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. AGAIN TOOK IT TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET IT TO TURN ON AFTER I LEFT IT, SO RETURNED THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,858 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938754 at NHTSA ↗
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 11039815 · 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ABOVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039815 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 11089955 · 2018-04-24 (April 24, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT SIDE COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVENS CREEK HYUNDAI (4425 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091575 · 2018-05-03 (May 3, 2018)
2017 HYUNDAI SONATA PLUG IN FEATURE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ON FRONT STICKER SHOULD HAVE ALSO SAID IT ONLY WORKS ABOVE 25MPH AND IT DOES NOT ACTIVATE WARNING SOON ENOUGH SO I THINK ITS CRASH ZONE AND SHOUDL BE ADJUSTABLE AND TESTABLE IT IS NOT NTSB I HOPE CAN HELP MANUFACTURE A STANDARD TERMINOLOGY WHEN IT COME TO SALES AND RELEASE OF HYUNDAI LIABLE IN CASE FAILURE , YES I KNOW THEY WILL NOT COVER FAILURE UNDER MANY CONDITIONS, BUT THE SYSTEM I BROUGHT TO HYUNDAI 2X ONE IN JULY 2017 AND ONE IN MAR 2018 I WAS TOLD FRONTSIDE COLLISION W…
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091575 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V166000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Reported: 2018-03-12 (March 12, 2018)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Consequence: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install a new Battery Management System (BMS) that contains an Overvoltage Protection Device (OPD). The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 175.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V749000 · Electrical System:Software | Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2021-09-24 (September 24, 2021)
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 what the driver intended.
Consequence: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗