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: steering
173 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 2, 2020
ON NOVEMBER 23, 2019 I STARTED MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. MY POWER STEERING LOCKED, THE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I HAD TO FORCE MY STEERING WHEEL TO TURN MY CAR BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO GET IT OFF THE ROADWAY. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, AND BACK ON AND LIGHTS DISAPPEARED AND I HAD CONTROL AGAIN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY STEERING GOT TIGHT AND FOUGHT MY CAR TO GET IT HOME. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE WHOLE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL ON A CLICKING NOISE I HAD BEEN HEARING FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY REFUSED TO THINK IT WAS THERE PROBLEM. TODAY JANUARY 2, 2020 I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING. I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING MY CAR. I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THE LIGHTS SEIZED. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HYUNDAI IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN GIVING EXPENSIVE BILLS TO FIX. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD, THERE SHOULD NOT BE THIS MANY PROBLEMS ALREADY. ALSO PAINT IS RANDOMLY PEELING ON THE ROOF AND HOOD OF MY CAR.
Steering, Dec 1, 2019
AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT THE CENTER POSITION. WHEN IT UNSTICKS THE VEHICLE WANDERS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT SO YOU TEND TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH TO GO STRAIGHT.
Steering, Nov 30, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND EXPERIENCED GREAT DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN STARTED A LEFT TURN AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY!
Steering, Aug 22, 2019
STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. STEERING MAKES A CLUNKY NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. STEERING WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.
Steering, Aug 19, 2019
POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OR STOPS, WHEN CAR IS MOVING OR WHEN PARKING, I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TO RESTORE STEERING. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEARLY CAUSE 3 ACCIDENTS, THE HYUNDIA DEALER HAD THE CAR IN SHOP 2 TIMES AND SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THE CAN'T FIX. I KNOW MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ON THE HWY'S AND IN TOWN DRIVING.
Steering, Jul 15, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. PULLING ONTO HIGHWAY TURNING LEFT RED STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY STEERING LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO MAKE TURN
Steering, Jun 27, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO PENSKE HYUNDAI (8850 GROSSMONT BLVD, LA MESA, CA 91942, (619) 464-1440) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
Steering, Jun 18, 2019
VEHICLE IN MOTION AND STEERING ALL BUT LOCKS UP - VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL. ONCE TURNED OFF IT WAS OK ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. I TRAVEL MINIMUM 48 MILES ROUND TRIP PER DAY (WEEKDAYS) TO WORK
Steering, Apr 23, 2019
PROBLEM: STEERING STICKS AT CENTER POSITION. IT TAKES EXTRA FORCE TO MOVE IT EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT FROM CENTER POSITION WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. THIS OCCURRED WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 65 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 60 MILES PROBLEM ENDED. I AM CONCERNED PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR AND BE WORST.
Steering, Apr 17, 2019
PURCHASED OUR 2017 SONATA. WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON I LOSE POWER STEERING AND CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE TO PULL OVER WITH GREAT STRUGGLE AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN RESTART IT TO BE ABLE TO GET POWER STEERING BACK. THE LIGHT FOR POWER STEERING ILLUMINATES ON THE DISPLAY PANEL AND THEN DISAPPEARS AFTER I RE-START IT. ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AT TIMES, BUT OFTEN JUST THE POWER STEERING FAILS. HAPPENS USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 10-30 MILES PER HOUR.THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS IN THE PAST YEARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN OTHER MODELS AND SAME YEAR. HTTPS://WWW.CARANDDRIVER.COM/NEWS/A15348048/HYUNDAI-RECALLS-173000-SONATAS-FOR-POWER-STEERING-FAILURE/
Steering, Apr 11, 2019
3 TIMES AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN ACCELERATING (0-10 MPH). TURNED CAR OFF THEN ON, STEERING WAS FINE. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A CODE SET OR REPRODUCE PROBLEM.
Steering, Mar 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE CEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. GRAYSON HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 8729 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37923, (865) 693-4550) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *TT *TR
Steering, Feb 17, 2019
BACKED OUT OF MY CARPORT AND THE STREERING WENT OUT. I WRESTLED HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COULD FINALLY STEER THE CAR BACK INTO MY CARPORT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM, SO I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME THEY FIXED IT BY REMOVING BAD STEERING COLUMN, SHAFT, AND TOTQUE SENSOR AND INSTALLING THOSE NEW PARTS. PAPERWORK SAYS TORQUE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. IT HAD INTERNAL ELECTRICAL OPEN CIRCUIT. I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY, BACKING OUT OF CARPORT ONTO A STREET THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY THROUGH TRAFFIC AND JUST RUNS IN FRONT OF OUR VILLA'S WHERE WE PULL INTO OUR CARPORTS. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAD TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND THAT IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS, JUST BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DO IT FOR THE DEALER.
Steering, Jan 25, 2019
TAKATA RECALL " JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JUNE 19 2018 WITH ONLY 44,000 NOW ITS. JANUARY AND ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT LOCKED UP ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY & ALMOST CAUSE WRECK " STEERING BEEN LOCKING UP AND JUST COMLETELY STOP TURNING" THEY SAY IT' NEED STEERING WHEEL COLUMN PART BUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEEN DOING THAT SENSE I PURCHASED IT
Steering, Oct 3, 2018
JUST AFTER BEGINNING MY DRIVE HOME, ON A SUBURBAN STREET, WARNING LIGHT FOR POWER STEERING CAME ON AND WITHIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED UP. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE JUST ABLE TO TURN ON ONTO A SIDE STREET AS I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE CAR. CAR WAS A RENTAL CAR AND ONLY HAD 37K MILES ON IT.
Steering, Sep 25, 2018
CAR STARTED THIS AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. IT "WANDERS" ON THE ROAD, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT "STICKS" AT SPEED IN THE CENTER POSITION AND IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL FROM CENTER. THIS CAUSES OVERCORRECTION IN THE STEERING AND YOU TEND TO GO BACK AND FORTH. SINGLE-HANDED CRUISING IS DEFINITELY OUT OF THE EQUATION, AS IT REQUIRES A TWO-HANDED TIGHT GRIP FOR EVEN TINY ADJUSTMENTS. MY WIFE HATES IT AND IT IS UPSETTING TO HAPPEN IN A NEW CAR. DID NOT DO THIS WHEN NEW AND DOES IT IN ALL MODES (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT).
Steering, Jul 26, 2018
AFTER DRIVING MY NEWLY PURCHASED 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA, FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME OR MILEAGE, THE POWER STEERING WILL MAKE A CLUNK SOUND AND THEN WILL STOP WORKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND REACHING A SPEED OF AROUND 10MPH AND THEN WHEN I REGAIN SPEED I AM STILL STRUGGLING TO TURN THE WHEEL BECAUSE I'VE LOST THE POWER STEERING. I DID DISCOVER THAT ONCE THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THAT THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR ROAD, PULLING OVER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IS NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION AND WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD TO CONTROL, THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE IS LOWERED. AND WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL MAKE DRIVING WITH THIS MANUAL STEERING SITUATION THAT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND A RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED.
Steering, Apr 1, 2018
CAR STARTED THIS AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. IT "WANDERS" ON THE ROAD, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT "STICKS" AT SPEED IN THE CENTER POSITION AND IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL FROM CENTER. THIS CAUSES OVERCORRECTION IN THE STEERING AND YOU TEND TO GO BACK AND FORTH. SINGLE-HANDED CRUISING IS DEFINITELY OUT OF THE EQUATION, AS IT REQUIRES A TWO-HANDED TIGHT GRIP FOR EVEN TINY ADJUSTMENTS. MY WIFE HATES IT AND IT IS UPSETTING TO HAPPEN IN A NEW CAR. DID NOT DO THIS WHEN NEW AND DOES IT IN ALL MODES (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT).
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2017
PURCHASED OUR 2017 SONATA SPORT IN DECEMBER OF 2016. IN JULY I HAD MY FIRST POWER STEERING ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON I LOSE POWER STEERING AND CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE TO PULL OVER WITH GREAT STRUGGLE AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN RESTART IT TO BE ABLE TO GET POWER STEERING BACK. THE LIGHT FOR POWER STEERING ILLUMINATES ON THE DISPLAY PANEL AND THEN DISAPPEARS AFTER I RE-START IT. ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AT TIMES, BUT OFTEN JUST THE POWER STEERING FAILS. HAPPENS USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. ONCE GOING 40. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP STATED THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE. ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE DISPLAY PANEL REPLACED BECAUSE ONLY ONE HALF WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DISPLAY PANEL FAILED AFTER ONLY HAVING THE CAR 1 MONTH. TOOK OVER 3 MONTHS FOR THE PART TO COME IN SO THEY COULD FIX IT.
Steering, Sep 15, 2017
SECOND COMPLAINT, THIS PROBLEM, THIS VEHICLE. WHEN ENTERING BUSY ROADWAY FROM SHOPPING CENTER (9/13/2017), AT SPEED OF CA. 10 MPH, POWER STEERING CEASED WORKING. WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE VEHICLE TO ROADWAY SHOULDER. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER (DELRAY HYUNDAI, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA) AS WAS DONE FOLLOWING FIRST COMPLAINT. DEALER UNABLE TO ACCEPT VEHICLE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT WEEK DESPITE DRIVER SAFETY CONCERN PROTESTS.
Steering, Sep 1, 2017
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, EACH WHILE DRIVING A VERY LOW SPEED (AT OR ABOUT 10 MPH), THE POWER STEERING FAILED. ONE INCIDENT WAS IN SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT, THE OTHER TWO INCIDENTS ON A PUBLIC ROAD WITHIN A CORPORATE PARK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, HYUNDAI DEALER, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS KEPT BY DEALER TWO DAYS, DRIVEN BY QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BUT REPLICATION OF DRIVER COMPLAINT NOT EXPERIENCED.
Steering, Jun 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.
Steering, Oct 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 RISK YOUR LIFE AND LIFE OF YOUR FAMILY IN THIS PIECE OF KOREAN GARBAGE. YES, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ( GERALD HYUNDAI NORTH AURORA, ILLINOIS ). IN SHORT, I HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE ISSUE I'M HAVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TECHNICIAN SAW IT AND FELT THE CAR PULLING, HE SAW THE CAR WANDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND HE SAW THAT I HAD TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION CAR IS DRIVING EVERY FEW SECONDS. LATER WE SWAPPED PLACES, HE DROVE THE CAR AND GAVE ME FEEDBACK " IT'S OK, THAT'S HOW SONATAS DRIVE. YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT. TRY SPORT MODE, THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFER, I LIKE IT BETTER, THE CAR IS NOT PULLING THAT MUCH IN SPORT MODE" AFTER RETURNING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I'VE WAS ( AS EXPECTED ) TOLD THAT THE ISSUE CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND CAR IS OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. ---- BASICALLY GTFO MR. CUSTOMER! ---- IF YOU ARE SMART, JUST DISMISS THE IDEA OF BUYING HYUNDAI SONATA 2017 SE MODEL ( NOT SURE ABOUT SPORT OR LIMITED ). OTHER THAN LIFE THREATING DEFECT WITH STEERING, I LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS CAR. STILL, I'M TAKING A HUGE FINANCIAL HIT TO TRADE IT IN BEFORE I MAKE THE FIRST PAYMENT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND MY LIFE AND HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEW GRAND. I DON'T WANT TO WASTE TIME TO KEEP PLAYING GAMES WITH DEALERSHIPS AND KEEP MYSELF STRESSED.