2017 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,000 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 76,000 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2017 Hyundai Sonata has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

1,000Complaints
20/100Trouble index
3Recalls
55,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2017 sits among all Sonata years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 400 complaints (40%) · typically ~76,000 miles
“Excessive amount of oil burning. Was told that this vehicle had a engine recall, and I am trying to see what I can do about it before it blows up.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata
Steering 173 complaints (17%) · typically ~54,000 miles
“Steering wheel warning light comes on traction control light comes on. Steering becomes difficult”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata
Other 109 complaints (11%) · typically ~54,490 miles
“HEV light comes on and the car starts slowing down & beeping. Unsure what the issue is but this started once the car had more than 100k miles on it”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata
Electrical 86 complaints (9%) · typically ~24,799 miles
“Back brake light bulb has been changed 10 times they go out repeatedly from side to side”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata
Transmission & drivetrain 55 complaints (6%) · typically ~43,000 miles
“At 75000 miles car started to be out of oil 2000 miles after the oil change. At 83000 miles motor went. Check engine lite went on and day later started blinking and car died on the highway. Just went dead. Mechanic tells me motor is shot please help”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata
Body & structure 37 complaints (4%) · typically ~51,700 miles
“My paint is peeling and bubbling all over the car. The paint is chipping in multiple places.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sonata

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 282 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 22,250 and 83,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (3)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 21V749000 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,…

Fix: 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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 21V619000 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…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 16V956000 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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA25005 opened 2025 · still open
Loss of Motive Power DP22003 opened 2022, closed 2023
Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2016peak 165 in 20222026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2017 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

The 2017 Hyundai Sonata drew 1,000 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems?

The top reported problems for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata are engine (400 complaints), steering (173), and other (109).

At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems show up?

Owners most often report 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems around 55,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 22,250 and 83,000 miles.

Does the 2017 Hyundai Sonata have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Hyundai Sonata. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.