2017 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 764 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 28 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, turn signalSep 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.
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V749000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 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."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 21V619000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleDec 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.
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V956000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
65 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 26, 2020
AFTER A TIRE CHANGE THE HAZARD LIGHT AND TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND SEE IF THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE RESET. I TOOK IT IN A SHOP AND THE TIRE LIGHT WENT AWAY BUT THE HAZARD LIGHT REMAINED. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT ON, I WAS DRIVING IN THE MORNING AROUND 7:30AM THE CAR STARTED TO BRAKE ITSELF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH ON AN AUSTIN TOWN STREET. I PULLED OVER DUE TO RISK OF GETTING REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE IT DID IT AGAIN AND I PARKED. THE "CHECK HYBRID ENGINE" LIGHT THEN CAME ON. I SAT FOR ABOUT 20 MIN AND TRIED TO TURN IT ON AND THE "CHECK HYBRID BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE CAR WOULDNT TURN ON. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THEM TOW IT TO HAPPY HYBRID IN AUSTIN TX AND WAS ADVISED IT MAY BE MY HYBRID BATTERY GENERATOR AS MY HYBRID BATTERY WAS AT 5%. THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BUT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN SOUTH AUSTIN TX ON SOUTH IH-35. IT HAS BEEN THERE NOW FOR 2 WEEKS AND I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS MAY BE RELATED TO 2 RECALLS I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FEBRUARY 2018 AND IT IS NOW MARCH 2020. ONLY 2 YEARS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 7, 2019
I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A SCAM DEALERSHIP. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE RECALL IN JANUARY UNTIL IT TURNED OFF AND ON JUST ONE WEEK AFTER LEAVING THE LOT. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM, OBVIOUSLY, THEY SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO COLLEGE PARK HYUNDAI TO HAVE THEM UPDATE THE KNOCK SENSOR AND DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. AFTER AN EXTENDED ROAD TEST, IT WAS DECIDED THAT MY PROBLEM WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. YET I TOOK IT TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME. MY DASH CAM HAS RECORDED THE MOMENTS WHEN THE CAR STUTTERS AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE BEFORE TURNING BACK ON A COUPLE SECONDS LATER. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CURVES AND I HAVE NEARLY DROVE OFF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS REACHING ABOUT 60MPH. I LIVE IN MD BUT WORK IN VA. I'M PAYING HIGH INTEREST FOR A CRAPPY LEMON CAR. I EVEN CONTACTED CORPORATE HYUNDAI, AND THEY JUST LAUGHED AND CALLED ME STUPID FOR BUYING A USED CAR...
Electrical system, Oct 4, 2019
THE TRUNK LATCH WOULD NOT OPEN. IT WOULD NOT RESPOND WITH KEY FOB, INTERIOR BUTTON, BUTTON UNDER THE HANDLE OR WITH THE KEY. FORCED IT OPEN ONCE AND THEN HAD TO FORCE IT CLOSED. STAYED CLOSED UNTIL REPAIR COULD BE MADE. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER COST OR REPAIR. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, SHORT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THIS PART FAILED EXCEPT FOR CHEAPLY MADE PLASTIC PART THAT WORE OUT.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Sep 30, 2019
OVER THE PAST MONTH MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES DUE TO IT MALFUNCTIONING WHILE I AM DRIVING IT - AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING WHEN I TOOK IT IN AT THE END OF AUGUST BECAUSE THE TRUNK MERCHANISM BROKE AND IT WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND WHEN I WAS ON A ROADTRIP, OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND, LIKE OTHERS ON THE NHSA WEBSITE HAVE STATED, IT WAS VERY JUMPY AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 45 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED A SAFETY RECALL IN THE WIRING SYSTEM AND IT WORKED FINE FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ESSENTIALLY BROKEN AND THERE WERE LITTLE METAL PIECES INSIDE. IT TOOK A WEEK TO REPLACE AND THEN EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL YESTERDAY. YESTERDAY THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE REPAIR SHOP LET ME KNOW THE BATTERY WAS IN GOOD HEALTH BUT LOW ON CHARGE SO THEY CHARGED IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. THEN THIS MORNING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICE LIGHTS (CHECK ENGINE, CHECK BRAKES, ETC.) CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. I BY SOME MIRACLE MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER WHERE I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I AM AWAITING TO HEAR WHAT IS WRONG. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS CAR. AFTER READING UP ON IT APPARENTLY THERE SEEMS TO BE ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT HIT ANYONE BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED ALL FOUR TIMES THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER TO HAVE BEEN DUE TO MANUFACTURAL DEFECTS - SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF MY CONTROL AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR A CAR THAT IS UNDER 26K MILES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 13, 2019
I BOUGHT MY CAR NOVEMBER 28, 2017. ON JUNE 27, 2019, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WERE INOPERATIVE. I'VE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THREE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP FOR THE PAST APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED. IF I DRIVE A VEHICLE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, I'M SUBJECT TO A $30 FINE. I'VE BEGUN TO ASSEMBLE DOCUMENTATION FOR A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. I'M INCLUDING THE REPAIR INVOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP. SO PLEASE DISREGARD THE ATTACHMENT INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FORMS.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2019
TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN, WITH DASH BUTTON, TRUNK BUTTON, OR KEY. STATIONAY WITH $173 PERISHIBLE GROCERIES INSIDE, WILL BE ODERIOUS BY THE TIME IT GETS TO A SHOP. PARKED IN GARAGE.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 20, 2019
AFTER RECEIVING RECALL MAIL, YESTERDAY I LEFT MY VEHICLE AT SERVICE. THEY GAVE ME BACK MY CAR AND TOLD ME THEY HAVE FIXED IT. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN A MILE THE ENGINE STOPED AND A YELLOW LIGHT TURNED ON. AGAIN LEFT MY VEHICLE AT THE SAME SERVICE, TODAY I CALLED THEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY FIXING IT AFTER RECEIVING THE PART NEXT WEEK. IF IT WON'T GET FIXED THEY ARE PLANNING TO CHANGE THE ENGINE. IS THIS A NORMAL PROCESS! AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE VALUE OF THE CAR IF THE ENGINE CHANGES?
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 12, 2019
WIRRING HANDSS, ENGINE RED LIGHTS ON AND CAN'T GO OVER 55 MILES, START TO SHAKE
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 21, 2019, crash
MY CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN ONE ACCIDENT AND TOO SCARED TO DRIVE IT, IT JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT TURN AT SAY A RED LIGHT THE CAR GO'S ABOUT 5 FEET AND THEN STOPS FOR 3 SECONDS, PEOPLE BEHIND HONK AT YOU AND THEN THE CAR ROCKETS FORWARD, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIT ONCE AND THE OTHER DRIVER TOOK OFF, SO I WAS LEFT WITH THE BILL. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Electrical system, Dec 15, 2018
I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO DRAG DURING TAKEOFF. ON MONDAY UPON CROSSING THE BRIDGE DOWN LURLENE B WALLACE BLVD THE CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2018
AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM (AEB) DOES NOT WORK ON STREETS OR HIGHWAY. I HAVE 10 DASH CAM VIDEO'S THAT SHOW NO ALARMS WHEN COMING UP ON STOPPED OBSTRUCTIONS. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 TIMES AND DEALER REPORTS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND REFUSES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS WORKING NORMALLY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO UPLOAD THE VIDEO'S HOWEVER THE FILE TYPE IS NOT ONE OF YOUR TYPES BELOW.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 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 VEHICLE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800.
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE, THE BLUE LINK SYSTEM TURNED THE VEHICLE ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER (MURDOCK HYUNDAI MURRAY, (801) 262-6401) WAS CALLED, BUT MADE NO MENTION OF SENDING A TECHNICIAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR IF A PROVIDER OF THE BLUE LINK SYSTEM WOULD INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 21, 2017, crash
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 HOUSE) AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. I BROUGHT IT IN THE SAME DAY. RAYMOND, THE SERVICE AGENT CAME OUTSIDE TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED. HE WENT TO TALK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND LATER CAME OUT AND SAID THEY WILL TAKE THE CAR AND PUT IT ON THE MACHINE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC READING TO SEE WHY THE CAR STALLED. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR AND I LEFT. ON MONDAY, 9/19/17, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I GOT OFF WORK AND WAS TOLD BY RAYMOND THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THUS FAR. HE SAID HE WANTED TO KEEP THE CAR ANOTHER DAY OR TWO TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND TRY TO SEE IF IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. I AGREED AND ASKED RAYMOND TO ALSO CHECK THE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL REGULATOR, AS MY FRIEND WHO IS A CAR MECHANIC SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A CAR TO STALL ALSO. HE SAID OKAY. ON TODAY, WEDNESDAY 9/21/17, RAYMOND CALLED ME AND SAID THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE AND IT DID NOT STALL, NOR COULD THEY GET A READING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE MACHINE. HE SAID HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR WOULD STALL. I ASKED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT AND HE SAID HE COULD ONLY GIVE ME A COPY OF THE SERVICE TICKET. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS CAR COULD STALL AGAIN AND WHAT IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING -- IT COULD BE MUCH WORST DAMAGE AND BODILY HARM. PLEASE HELP!
Electrical system, Apr 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 OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.