YearToAvoid

2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 19 Engine complaints for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid, 59% of its 32 total complaints, with median mileage at failure of 12,470. No related recall covers this engine issue on the plug-in hybrid.

Engine complaints
19
59% of 32
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
12,470 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power and stalling accompanied by a 'check hybrid system' warning message.
  • Some describe a loud knocking sound from the engine followed by an oil leak or a diagnosed hole in the engine block.
  • Several report the gasoline engine cutting in unexpectedly or refusing to restart, forcing the vehicle to coast to a stop.
  • Owners describe severe vibration when switching from EV mode to gas engine (HEV) mode, sometimes with the check engine light on.
  • A few complaints describe power surges or delayed power restoration while cruise control is engaged on hills.
  • One owner noted the engine failure resembled rod-failure issues that led to recalls on other Sonata models but said Hyundai had not extended a recall to the plug-in hybrid.

When 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 30, 2016, latest Apr 29, 2026.

2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2016Oct 2017Mar 2019Dec 2020Feb 2022May 2023Mar 2025Apr 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2016 to Apr 2026; peak Feb 2022 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sonata Plug-in Hybrid model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201618 (69%)
  2. 201719 (59%)
  3. 20180 (0%)
  4. 20191 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid?
NHTSA shows 19 Engine complaints out of 32 total complaints filed for this model year, or 59% of all complaints.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid engine?
According to the JSON data, there is no related recall listed for this engine issue on the 2017 model.
At what mileage do these engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 12,470 miles.
Did these engine complaints involve crashes or fires?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes and 0 fires among the complaints in this Engine category for the 2017 model.
How does 2017 compare to other Sonata Plug-in Hybrid years for engine complaints?
The 2017 model's Engine complaints made up 59% of its total complaints, compared to 69% for 2016, 0% for 2018, and 20% for 2019.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.