2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks worst of 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 966 complaints, 23 of them fires. Engine problems dominate at 73% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 39,000. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Santa Fe years.
- Complaints
- 966
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 14 / 23
- Injuries / deaths
- 18 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 23.5 hwy
Top 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine701 (73%)
- Transmission & Powertrain163 (17%)
- Other95 (10%)
- Brakes69 (7%)
- Electrical System68 (7%)
- Fuel System61 (6%)
- Steering27 (3%)
- Airbags20 (2%)
- Structure & Body13 (1%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (1%)
What owners report
- Owners report engine compartment smoke and fire that spread quickly, sometimes forcing the driver to abandon the vehicle.
- Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration or the vehicle revving and failing to stop despite braking, leading to low-speed collisions.
- Fuel system complaints describe hesitation followed by an abrupt surge when accelerating from a stop, causing crashes.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal collisions despite significant front-end damage.
- Electrical fires have been reported both while driving and while the vehicle was parked and turned off.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
6 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 17V578000Sep 20, 2017Engine420 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Risk: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
- 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.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Should I avoid the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Compared to other Santa Fe model years, 2017 ranks worst out of 16 years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 966 NHTSA complaints, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Engine issues account for 73% of complaints (701 of 966), including 14 reported fires, with a median failure mileage of 39,000.
- Does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe have engine recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 17V578000 covers 2017 Santa Fe vehicles with 3.3L engines whose crankshaft assemblies may have surface irregularities that can cause engine damage.
- How many recalls does the 2017 Santa Fe have?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2017 Santa Fe, covering brakes, engine, structure/body, suspension/wheels/tires, and seat belts.
- Are there fire risks with the 2017 Santa Fe?
- NHTSA complaints report 23 fires for the 2017 Santa Fe, with the Engine and Electrical System listed as top problem areas among the sample complaints describing fire incidents.