YearToAvoid

2017 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#7 most-complained of 21 Sonata years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2017 Hyundai Sonata has 764 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 70 out of 100 — #7 highest of 21 Sonata model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (409 complaints, 54% of the total). Complaints report 28 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
764
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
28 / 11
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 35 hwy

Top 2017 Hyundai Sonata problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine409 (54%)
  2. Steering173 (23%)
  3. Other102 (13%)
  4. Electrical System83 (11%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain55 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body54 (7%)
  7. Fuel System33 (4%)
  8. Brakes30 (4%)
  9. Airbags22 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (1%)
2017 Hyundai Sonata complaints: complaints filed per quarter552016 Q42018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
985 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (55).

2017 Hyundai Sonata recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V749000Sep 24, 2021Electrical System469,377 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    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.

    Risk: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V619000Aug 6, 2021Structure & Body348,158 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    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."

    Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 16V956000Dec 30, 2016Airbags110 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

2017 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
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 Sonata years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid851,1449 !27
2016Avoid75725628
2017Caution70764328
2018Caution50373128.5
2019Good25161028.5

All Hyundai Sonata years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Hyundai Sonata a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Hyundai Sonata ranks #7 of 21 among Sonata model years (Complaint Index 70/100, verdict: Caution). It has 764 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Hyundai Sonata?
The most reported problem areas are engine (409 complaints), steering (173 complaints), and electrical system (83 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 55,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, most recently reported 2021, covering electrical system, structure & body, and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA rates the 2017 Hyundai Sonata at 28 MPG combined (25 city / 35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.