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.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 29, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE DROVE ONTO A NEARBY LAWN AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND WRIST AREA, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Exterior lighting, Aug 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO VIEW FAR DISTANCES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 844-462-5557 AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 105-09466. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
Engine, Jul 17, 2017
VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT STOP LIGHT. ENGINE, BATTERY, AND SECURITY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. RADIO AND AC CONTINUED TO WORK. VEHICLE STARTED WHEN START BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND LIGHTS WENT OFF.
Service brakes, Jul 13, 2017, crash
THE SENSORS FOR BRAKING DID NOT WORK. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A TRUCK. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, ONLY SLID INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. I WAS ON A BUSY STREET WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TURNED ON SIRENS AT THE LAST SECOND. THE TRUCK STOPPED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I BRAKED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING UNTIL IT COLLIDED INTO THE TRUCK. I HAVE READ REPORTS ON THE 2017 SONATA WHICH STATES THE CAR WILL STOP WHEN IT SENSES IMMINENT DANGER. THIS ONE DIDN'T. MY CONCERN IS- IS THERE MORE CARS LIKE THIS ONE OUT THERE THAT DON'T WORK AS IT SHOULD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR 02/2017. HAD ONLY 23 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL AND STILL HAVEN'T. SUPOSSEDLY THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF. THE INVOICE SHOWS THE RECALL WAS FOR ALTN SCREW. IT SHOWS IT WAS FOR SANTA FE SPT/SONATA.
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.
Engine, Jun 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.
Engine, Jun 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.
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.
Service brakes, Mar 27, 2017, crash
WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE. TAKES FAILED TO OPERATE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 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 08/22/2017*JS
Exterior lighting, Jan 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
Engine and engine cooling, Traction control system, Dec 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 IN THE PARKING POSITION AND EVEN AFTER USING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON I WAS STILL UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY AGAIN I HAD JUST ENTERED A TOWN BUT A FEW MILES BEFORE THAT I WAS ON COUNTRY ROADS WHERE THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SIGNAL AT ALL. I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF LUCK AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER WITH ME. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF OF WAITING THE TOW VEHICLE CAME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME AND THEN ONCE AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAD BOUGHT IT FROM. IT HAS NOW BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 5 DAYS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY NOW THAT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS WRONG AND HAVE HAD TO GET A SPECIALIST TO COME IN TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THIS IS A CAR THAT I HAVE ONLY OWNED FOR 3 WEEKS AND BOUGHT OUTRIGHT WITH ONLY 44 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS MAYBE 350. *TR
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.