2017 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10937901 · 2016-12-28 (December 28, 2016)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN HAD NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS I HAD JUST ENTERED A TOWN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER. THE SHIFTER BECAME LOCKED…
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945874 · 2017-01-17 (January 17, 2017)
I RENTED A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM ENTERPRISE IN KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA (I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN). DRIVING FROM REVELSTOKE TO KELOWNA IN THE DARK ON THE NIGHT OF 16 JANUARY REVEALED THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE COMPLETELY INADEQUATE. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO SEE THE ROAD EVEN DRIVING AS SLOW AS 35 MILES PER HOUR. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL SONATAS, AND PERHAPS OTHER HYUNDAIS AS WELL. IN OVER HALF A CENTURY OF DRIVING, THESE WERE THE WORST HEADLIGHTS I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945874 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 ↗
Owner report 10968576 · 2017-03-27 (March 27, 2017)
WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE. TAKES FAILED TO OPERATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968576 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 10993528 · 2017-06-06 (June 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CAPITAL HYUNDAI OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE FULLY REPAIRED UNTIL ONE OR TWO MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10993528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10995435 · 2017-06-15 (June 15, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA WITH 980 MILES SHUT DOWN AND TURNED ITSELF OFF WHEN I MADE A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T MOVING FAST ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR TO SHUT DOWN LIKE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995435 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V956000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-12-30 (December 30, 2016)
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016. In these vehicles, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 156.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V619000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch
Reported: 2021-08-06 (August 6, 2021)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
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 ↗