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
764 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 28, 2020
THE OIL PLUG FELL OUT AND SEIZED THE ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE IT LIGHTLY FOR 2 DAYS THROUGH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEMS LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE OIL LIGHT, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (WITHIN THE SPAN OF AROUND 45 SECONDS). AFTER THE LIGHTS THE CAR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND SLOWED TO A HALT. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT TE OIL PLUG IS MISSING AND IT CAUSED THE WHOLE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND NEED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING I'VE FOUND MANY OWNERS OF 2017 HYUNDAI SONOTA HYBRIDS TO HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE PLUG FALLING OUT. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO GETTING RECALLED.
Engine, Oct 19, 2020
SINCE APP. 50000 MILE MARK ENGINE HAS CONSUMED OIL AND ITS INCREASING AS MILEAGE GOES UP ITS GETTING WORSE, HAVING TO CHECK OIL PRIOR TO GOING ANYWHERE NOW, ONE TIME OIL LIGHT CAME ON HAD TO PUT 2 QUARTS IN AT AN AUTO ZONE STORE. HAVE CHECKED FOUND NO LEAKS AND HAVE HAD CAR ON HOIST ENGINE RUNNING WITH NO LEAKS SHOWING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR 2 RECALLS ON THE ENGINE STALLING AND RPM SLOWING MAKING CAR PRACTICALLY UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL USING SIDE ROADS AS RPM WOULD ONLY GO TO 2000. I THINK THAT ACTION MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM I AM NOW HAVING.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 13, 2020
CARS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND CAR DIES OUT ON TURNS ON ANY ROAD, HIGHWAY OR SPEED . LAST ISSUE WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY. CAR MUST SIT THEN RESTARTED TO ALLOW IT TO BE USABLE. NO WARNING GIVEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. NO HELP WAS GIVEN.HAS BEEN AN ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE. AT LEASE 15 TIMES IN ONE YEAR.
Air bags, Oct 12, 2020
THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS MARKS SEVERAL TIMES I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Steering, Oct 11, 2020
I WAS LEAVING WORK, PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, THAN DRIVE AND THE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. THE EPS LIGHT WAS LIT ALONG WITH ANOTHER WARNING SYMBOL. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS ONLY IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE ROAD. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THEY ACTED LIKE THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. UPON RESEARCHING THIS SITE I SEE OTHERWISE . THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE EPS SYSTEM . THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE.
Engine, Oct 10, 2020
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 7, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME HARDER TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, EXTENDING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALL STAR HYUNDAI (10313 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70816, (225) 274-0071) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND BECAME AWARE OF A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER DIAPHRAGM WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500.
Steering, Engine, Oct 4, 2020
I EXITED THE FREEWAY ON BUCHANAN IN ALBANY, CA AND WAIT AT THE RED LIGHT. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TRIED PRESSING ON THE PEDDLE. I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. QUICKLY I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN MY KEY TO THE OFF POSITION I DIDN'T FEEL MY CAR LOSE ANY POWER AT ALL IT WAS LIKE IT WAS ALREADY OFF RADIO WASN'T WORKING ANYMORE EITHER. I TURNED THE KEY TO CRANK MY CAR BACK ON AND IT STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY. I'VE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME 3 TIMES NOW TWICE IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON SHORTLY AFTER THAN IT DISAPPEARED. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE FIRST CAR I OWNED SO I'M 1000% PERCENT SURE THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. I HAD TO GET THE TRANNY ON MY FIRST CAR REPLACED TWICE I'M VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT STUFF. MY QUESTION IS WHAT CAN THIS BE? I'VE HEARD ABOUT HYUNDAI ENGINES CATCHING ON FIRE. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR TWO OF THOSE TIMES SO THAT'S PRETTY SCARY TO ME.
Structure, Sep 30, 2020
THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN!!!
Structure, Sep 24, 2020
THE TRUCK RELEASE ON MY 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA WOULD NOT OPERATE. IN CHECKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM, I DISCOVERED A PLASTIC PART IN THE TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM HAD BROKEN. THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS BROKEN PART DOES NOT ALLOW THE TRUNK TO OPEN MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. IF A CHILD OF ADULT PERSON WAS ACCIDENTALLY OR PURPOSELY PUT IN THE TRUNK, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. ATTACHED ARE A COUPLE PHOTOS SHOWING THE TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM WITH THE YELLOW MANUAL SAFETY RELEASE AND A PHOTO SHOWING THE BROKEN PLASTIC PART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED BY THE CAR MANUFACTURER.
Steering, Sep 24, 2020
MY CAR STEERING GOT LOCKED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MAKE THE TURN. THE STEERING WARNING SIGN AND THE TRACTION LIGHT POP UP IN THE DASH BOARD. THE CAR STEERING WHEEL USE TO GET OFF SYNC.
Steering, Sep 22, 2020
THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WILL GO OUT IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. I HAVE NOW HAD 5 INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2017 SONATA AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!
Engine, Sep 18, 2020
MY 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH THE 2.4L GDI ENGINE ONLY HAS 14,689 MILES AS OF TODAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2020. IT IS CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL AND COOLANT. MY ENGINE OIL IS ABOUT 1 1/2 QUARTS LOW, WITH NO OIL LEAKS. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT 12,600 MILES. ALSO, COOLANT IS AT LOW LEVEL AND I HAVEN'T DRIVEN CAR MUCH SINCE APRIL 2020 DUE TO COVID-19 SHUT DOWN. NO COOLANT LEAKS ANYWHERE AROUND THE ENGINE, HOUSING OR INSIDE. I CANNOT FIGURE WHY THE OIL AND COOLANT ARE LOW. MY LAST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE INCLUDED OIL AND FILTER CHANGE AS WELL AS TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS.
Structure, Sep 18, 2020
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2017 HYUNDAI SONATA) ON 9/2/20 USED. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THE ANTENNA FIN (COVER ON TOP OF THE CAR) WAS MISSING ON BOTH VEHICLES, SO IT'S NOT JUST MINE. THERE IS A FACTORY WARRANTY STILL ON THE CAR, SO I WENT AHEAD AND PURCHASED IT, WITH THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT REPLACING THE FIN WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. AFTER PURCHASE, HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS PART UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH HYUNDAI TSB 16-01-051 ADDRESSES THE EXACT ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THESE FINS ARE COMING OFF WITH THE SLIGHTEST FORCE, THEY COULD EASILY FALL OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR BAD WEATHER, CAUSING DANGER TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO MIGHT BE IN THE PATH OF THE DISLODGED ANTENNA FIN. BASED ON ONLINE FORUMS, THERE IS A NEWER DESIGNED FIN THAT COULD EASILY BE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLES IF IT WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL. PHOTO AND TSB ARE ATTACHED.
Engine, Sep 16, 2020
CAR IS CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL I HAVE TO PUT ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN CAR IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES SOMETIMES IT ACTS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER DON'T WANNA GO BUT THEN IT JUST TAKES OFF MY MUFFLERS IS BLACK FROM THE OIL PUFFS OF SMOKE COME FROM MY MUFFLER SOMETIMES THERE IS NEVER ANY OIL ON GROUND NOT SURE WHERE IT'S GOING BUT IT'S GOIN SOMEWHERE IT'S CAUSING PROBLEMS I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE SAY THAT THEIR SONATA IS DOIN THE SAME THING
Air bags, Sep 15, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL-U TURN AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE REAR DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED PARTIALLY BUT NO OTHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND HER HUSBAND SUSTAINED WHIPLASH BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT MENTIONED ENCOUNTERING WITH AIR BAG DEBRIS. THE CONTACT HAD UNDERLYING RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS AND DUE TO THE DEBRIS INTENDS TO VISIT A DOCTOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO A LOT WHERE GEICO INSPECTED THE FAILURE BUT FURTHER INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Steering, Sep 12, 2020
THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE. ON SEPTEMBER 12 , 2020 WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET MY STEERING LIGHT POPPED ON ALONG WITH MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. MY STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATE LOCKED UP AND I HAD NO CONTROL . I STRUGGLED TO VEER THE VEHICLE INTO A GAS STATION. UPON PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE STEERING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS OFF SO I PRECEDED TO DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2020
AFTER SPENDING OVER $1000 TO HAVE MY SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED, TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE FLUIDS FLUSHED; I'VE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY TRUNK ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WILL NOT OPEN. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING IT WILL COST OVER $700 TO FIX, WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THIS SHOWS TO BE MANUFACTURER ISSUES. IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE, I WILL PURCHASE A BRAND NEW CAR, BEFORE I PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO A TICKING TIME BOMB AS THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY HAVE 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2020
TRUNK WON'T OPEN USING KEY FOB OR DASH. CAN'T CLOSE IT MANUALLY WITH KEY. THE TRUNK LATCH MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2020
WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE, ABS, TPMS, TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAG, ELECTRONIC STEERING & EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. & AT THAT SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER & TACHOMETER BOTH DROPPED TO 0, THE DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE ENGINE TEMP GUAGE, GEAR SETTING & OTHER ONBOARD DISPLAYS WENT DOWN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT ONCE THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK THE SHIFTER LOCKED & I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO CHANGE GEAR SETTINGS.
Engine, Sep 4, 2020
MY 2017 SONATA HAS BEEN STALLING FOR NO REASON. SONE TIME WHILE MOVING AND SOMETIME WHILE STOPPED LIKE AT A LIGHT. I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY MATTER! I HAVE NOT CALLED A DEALER I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT I JUST LOST MY JOB DUE TO THIS COVID19 CRAP. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I JUST KNOW THAT IT IS NOT SAFE AND IT FRIGHTENS ME.
Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2020
TRUNK LATCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY...ONLY 3 YEAR OLD CAR...I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR...THEY HAVE NOT OR WILL NOT CALL BACK. LATCH WORKS SOMETIMES...BUT OTHER TIMES WILL NOT OPEN OR OTHER TIMES WILL NOT STAY SHUT.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 26, 2020
STEERING- WILL LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING AS THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BECOME TO HARD TO TURN. THIS HAPPEB WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. I HAD TO KILL MY CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL-WILL TAKE OFF OR SLOW DOWN AS IT WANTS. CAR CHANGES BETWEEN ECO MODE OR SPORT MODE AND I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN IT WILL DO IT OR WHEN IT HAS. CAR WILL JUMP WHEN IN PARK AND FOOT ON BRAKES.
Steering, Aug 25, 2020
DRIVING FROM WORK MY CAR STEERING SEIZED UP. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN I SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THEN POWER STEERING WAS BACK AND INDICATOR LIGHT WERE GONE. IT HAPPEN MULTIPLE OF TIMES
Electrical system, Aug 24, 2020
I OWN A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA AND THIS WEEK THE TRUNK RELEASE WOULD NOT OPERATE. IN CHECKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM I DISCOVERED A PLASTIC PART IN THE TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM HAD BROKEN. THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT BROKEN PART DOES NOT ALLOW THE TRUNK TO OPEN MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. IF A CHILD OF ADULT PERSON WAS ACCIDENTALLY OR PURPOSELY PUT IN THE TRUNK THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. ATTACHED ARE A COUPLE PHOTOS SHOWING THE TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM WITH THE YELLOW MANUAL SAFETY RELEASE AND A PHOTO SHOWING THE BROKEN PLASTIC PART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED BY TEH MANUFACTURER.