2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#2 most-complained of 6 Santa Fe Sport years
The 2017 Santa Fe Sport ranks 2nd worst of 6 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 350 NHTSA complaints. Engine problems dominate (227 complaints, 65% share, 5 fires), plus 3 recalls including a brake ABS issue.
- Complaints
- 350
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 7
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20 city / 26.5 hwy
Top 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine227 (65%)
- Brakes59 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain40 (11%)
- Other35 (10%)
- Fuel System27 (8%)
- Electrical System14 (4%)
- Structure & Body14 (4%)
- Airbags10 (3%)
- Steering9 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (2%)
What owners report
- Engine loses power suddenly at highway speed while oil pressure and check engine lights come on, sometimes followed by smoke and steering seizure.
- Vehicles catch fire under the hood or in the cabin, in some cases while parked or being test-driven by a dealer technician.
- Owners report smoke and flames appearing after a burning odor was noticed during stop-and-go driving.
- Front airbags fail to deploy in frontal or side collisions even though door-mounted airbags deploy.
- Brakes and steering wheel lock up simultaneously during normal turning, leading to loss of control.
- Driver's seat suddenly releases backward into the rear seat after being rear-ended.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V056000Feb 3, 2022Brakes357,348 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
- NHTSA 17V358000Jun 5, 2017Structure & Body437,400 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
- NHTSA 17V365000Jun 5, 2017Seat Belts17,160 vehicles
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt for the driver's seat belt anchor might not have been sufficiently tightened during assembly.
Risk: If the bolt was not sufficiently tightened, driver's seat belt may come unanchored in a collision, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will verify that the driver's seatbelt anchor is properly secured, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 165.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,875
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Santa Fe Sport years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 model ranks 2nd worst of 6 Santa Fe Sport years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 350 complaints, most concentrated in the engine.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Santa Fe Sport?
- Engine problems are the top issue, accounting for 227 complaints (65% of the total) and 5 reported fires, with a median mileage at failure of 62,521 miles.
- Does the 2017 Santa Fe Sport have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Santa Fe Sport: an ABS brake module recall, a secondary hood latch cable recall, and a driver's seat belt anchor bolt recall.
- How does the 2017 Santa Fe Sport compare to other years?
- The 2017 model (Complaint Index 80) is worse than the 2013-2016 years, which range from Complaint Index 0 to 60, but slightly better than 2018, which has a Complaint Index of 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Santa Fe Sport?
- EPA rates the 2017 Santa Fe Sport at 22.5 mpg combined (20 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,875.