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.
Engine, Aug 21, 2020
JUST BEFORE 50,000 MILES CAR STARTED USING 1/2 A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2500-3000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 116K MILES AND IS UP TO 2+ QUARTS EVERY 2 WEEKS. HAVE BROUGHT IT UP AND QUESTIONED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT RELIABLE HYUNDAI IN SPRINGFIELD MO, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL TO USE UP TO A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE LOW TENSION RINGS THEY USE TO GET FUEL MILEAGE! I HAVE EMAILED THEM TODAY, AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 10, 2020
MY CAR WON'T TURN ON WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY. IT STAYS SILENT NO CLICK OR ANYTHING INDICATING ITS TRYING TO TURN ON. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY DOES THIS AND RARELY IT TURNS ON WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION.
Steering, Aug 9, 2020
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ON MOHEGAN SUN BLVD IN UNCASVILLE, CT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE SYMBOL OF A STEERING WHEEL AND AN EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED PLUS THE SKID SYMBOL ON MY DASHBOARD. I WAS IN A DANGEROUS SPOT AND THE SECURITY PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP. WE TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN AROUND AND AROUND BUT I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR. I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KEY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN MILFORD CT 66 MILES AWAY FROM THE SCENE. I HAD TO CALL MY SON IN FAIRFIELD TO COME TO GET ME AS THE COVID-19 VIRUS SITUATION DIDN'T ALLOW FOR ME TO RIDE WITH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. I WILL BE FOREVER NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR NOW. I SEE IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I WAS TURNING INTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE GAS STATION WHEN THE WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I AM LUCKY NO ONE WAS DRIVING BY AT THE TIME. MY CAR IS PRESENTLY AT KEY HYUNDAI WAITING TO BE SERVICED. SO FAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONDITION ITS IN.
Steering, Aug 3, 2020
MY STEERING LOCKED UP AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND IT WOULD BARELY TURN. AS I STRAIGHTENED THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS STILL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I MANAGED TO GET IT PULLED IN TO THE GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF THE MOTOR TO PUMP MY GAS. IT DID FINE AFTER I CRANKED IT BACK UP.
Steering, Jul 31, 2020
I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK STEERING THEY SAID COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING I DROVE TO FL AND WHILE THERE I WAS MAKING A TURN STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT'S COVERED TO REPLACE AT 60,000 MILES BUT NOT AT 76000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AT 40,000 MILES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID SORRY NOTHING WE CAN DO AND HANDED ME 2500 ESTIMATE. WE EILL BE GETTING RID OF THE CAR AND I WILL NEVER OWN A HYUNDAI AGAIN
Steering, Jul 25, 2020
2017 HYUNDAI SONATA ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN ON 7/25. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKS. I NOTICE THAT THERE IS A POP LIKE A POTENTIAL GEAR OR INTERNAL PART IS BROKEN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND VISE VERSA. IT HAS SENSE HAPPENED EVERYDAY FOLLOWING THE FIRST EVENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMPLAINT MADE BY SEVERAL PEOPLE AND I SEE NO RECALL AS OF YET. HYUNDAI HAS ADDRESSED OLDER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ISSUED A RECALL BUT NOTHING AS OF YET FOR 2017 OR NEWER. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE OR MAKING A SHARP TURN ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, AS I TYPICALLY DO, IT COULD HAVE FORCED ME INTO THE NEXT CAR, WALL, OR EVEN OFF OF A MOUNTAIN SIDE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2020
THE CAR WAS STATIONED IN MY GARAGE, CAME HOME FROM SHOPPING, HIT THE TRUNK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB, JUST STARTING HEARING SOME CLICKING NOISES, TRIED TO PRESS THE THE TRUCK RELEASE FROM INSIDE, CONTINUE TO HEAR CLICKING NOISES. I HAD A MECHANICAL TO LOOK AT IT, THEY HAD TO PULL MY SEATS IN THE BACK DOWN TO LOOK INSIDE THE TRUNK AND THEY SAID IT LOOK LIKE A MALFUNCTION ON THE TRUNK BOX INSIDE.
Steering, Jul 17, 2020
WITHIN MY 2 MONTHS OF OWNING OWNING THIS 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA, MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP AT LEAST 7 TIMES. A FEW OF THOSE TIMES I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE WITH LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND I COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. I WAS TERRIFIED EVERY SINGLE TIME. THIS LAST TIME I NEARLY LOST MY LIFE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL ONCE AGAIN LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLES AROUND ME HAD TO JAM ON BRAKES CAUSING A SCARY BACK UP ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M SEEING FAR TOO MANY OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL FOR THERE TO STILL NOT BE A RECALL. SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE AND I'M SURE HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THIS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX MY CAR SO IT'S DRIVABLE AGAIN BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 3, 2020
CAR GIVES WARNING MESSAGE TO "IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE CAR TO PREVENT DAMAGE ".... THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HYUNDAI DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A FIX, AND DOESN'T THINK ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO PLACE TO MOVE OVER TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR
Steering, Jun 22, 2020
4 TIMES OVER PAST 10 MONTHS (3 IN PAST 2 WEEKS) THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THE SUN LONGER THAN AN HOUR. THE 1ST 3 TIMES THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS RE-SET THEMSELVES AND THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AFTER BEING FORCED TO DRIVE HOME THE CAR W/O POWER STEERING. THE LAST TIME THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE POWER STEERING REMAINED INOPERABLE. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 10 MONTHS, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER - THIS TIME THEY ARE REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD SIMPLY BOUGHT A "LEMON" - I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT AFTER LOOKING UP MY MAKE AND MODEL ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM I REALIZED THAT MANY OTHER SONATAS BESIDES MINE HAVE LOST POWER STEERING, MANY OF THEM WHILE DRIVING (SOME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS). BESIDES BRAKES, STEERING IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST SAFETY ISSUE ON ANY CAR. HYUNDAI HAS A REALLY GOOD WARRANTY AND I BOUGHT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY SO MY REPAIRS SHOULD NOT COST ME ANYTHING BUT THE FACT REMAINS, THIS MODEL SONATA HAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY POWER STEERING NEVER WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LIKE MANY OTHERS DID. *TR
Steering, Jun 16, 2020
AFTER START CAR, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ON. DID NOT REALIZED UNTIL BACKING UP FROM PARKING LOT. STEERING LOST POWER AND VERY HARD TO MANAGE. AFTER 1-2 MIN OF TRY TO PARK AGAIN MANUALLY, STEERING BACK TO NORMAL. IT HAPPENS 2 TIMES WITHIN 3 WEEKS. *TR
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2020
PAINT CHIPPED ON IT'S OWN. IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF HAVING MY VEHICLE I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THE CONTINUING ISSUE. THE PAINT MUST HAVE BEEN A BAD BATCH FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND NOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CANNOT FIX NOT EVEN THROUGH MY INSURANCE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Wheels, Jun 2, 2020
IN PARKING LOT MY 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 SOME TIME I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR PARK LONG TO FIX IT AUTOMATICALLY. *TR
Steering, May 24, 2020
STEERING BECOMES FREE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 23, 2020
WHEN STARTING CAR, IT STARTS SHAKING REAL HARD THEN CUTS OFF. IT DOESN'T AT TIMES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 12, 2020
ISSUE: CRUISE CONTROL SPEEDS UP TOO MUCH GOING UPHILL, AND SLOWS DOWN TOO MUCH GOING DOWNHILL. DESCRIPTION: I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 75MPH, THE CAR WILL GO OVER 77MPH WHEN GOING UPHILL, AND SLOWS DOWN BELOW 73MPH WHEN GOING DOWNHILL WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THIS DOESN'T OCCUR ON OTHER GASOLINE ONLY HYUNDAI I DROVE SUCH AS SANTA FE. IT ONLY HAPPENS ON MY SONATA HYBRID. I GUESS HYUNDAI MAY NEED TO LOOK INTO HOW THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WORKS WITH CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
Structure, May 12, 2020
AFTER 1.5 YEARS AND 15,000 MILES, THE LATCH OF THE TRUNK DOOR WENT BROKEN AND THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED IN ANY WAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LAST. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THE FACT THAT HYUNDAI USES PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL LATCH. *TR
Steering, Apr 23, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND TUG THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE, THE WHEEL WILL SHOVE AGGRESSIVELY BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING WHEN I FIRST TURN MY VEHICLE ON THE WHEEL LOCKS AND WARNING LIGHTS FOR MY STEERING WILL COME ON. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO NOT KNOWING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT HAS HAPPENED AROUND 5-6 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK.
Engine, Apr 3, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
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.
Steering, Feb 20, 2020
MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING TWICE IN 2 MONTHS.
Service brakes, Engine, Feb 18, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE RPM REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER FUCCILLO HYUNDAI LOCATED AT (1910 ALVIN RD, GRAND ISLAND NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 16, 2020, crash
WHILE DRIVING THE 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA AT SPEEDS OF 60 PLUS MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. THIS INCIDENT HAS EVEN CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF MY HYUNDAI DUE TO LOSING STEERING CAUSING ME TO VEER IN TO THE GUARD RAILS.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 10, 2020
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING IN OPTIMAL CONDITIONS. CAR ONLY HAS 30K MILES ON IT AND MOST RESEARCH POINTS TO CHEAP PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE CAUSING TC SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION.
Engine, Feb 7, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON TX 1604 HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH MY SONATA JOLTED AND LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BY PUTTING MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDDLE, BUT MY CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES THAT MAINTAINED SPEED. THIS SAME SCENARIO HAS OCCURRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP(S) HAVE GIVEN MULTIPLE DIAGNOSIS AND CURRENTLY DOING OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS. TWO OF THREE OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS CONFIRM THAT AT 1,000 MILES MY VEHICLE USES 2 QUARTS OF OIL. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY SAFELY AND NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE IS AT DEALER AGAIN AND WAITING TO HEAR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHAT STEPS THE DEALER WILL TAKE TO FIX ISSUE AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAVE ALL DEALERSHIP DOCUMENTS AS EVIDENCE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE SEPT 2019 AND IT IS NOW FEB 2020. I ALSO HAVE WRITTEN HYUNDAI CORPORATE AND RECEIVED A CLAIM #, BUT THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT HELP ME SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NOT WITH THEM TO CHECK AND THEY TRUST THEIR HIGHLY TRAINED MECHANICS TO RESOLVE MY ISSUES.