YearToAvoid

2017 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 Tucson years

The 2017 Hyundai Tucson ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 1,086 complaints, 26 fires, and 3 recalls. Engine problems dominate at 61% of complaints, making this year one to avoid relative to other Tucson years.

Complaints
1,086
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
13 / 26
Injuries / deaths
14 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27
25 city / 30 hwy

Top 2017 Hyundai Tucson problems

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

  1. Engine662 (61%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain290 (27%)
  3. Other139 (13%)
  4. Electrical System93 (9%)
  5. Fuel System77 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body61 (6%)
  7. Brakes50 (5%)
  8. Airbags10 (1%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (1%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers8 (1%)

What owners report

  • Engine compartment fires reported, including cases where smoke and flames appeared from under the hood while driving at highway speed or shortly after parking.
  • Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, in one case at 20-25 mph while merging, followed by white or gray smoke.
  • Unexpected acceleration or loss of braking reported by owners, including one incident where the vehicle surged and pinned the owner against a garage wall.
  • Fuel odor and warning lights preceding a fire that started minutes after the driver exited the vehicle.
  • Electrical system faults linked to sudden loss of vehicle power that owners say caused collisions.
  • Airbags failing to deploy during a frontal side crash despite vehicle damage.
2017 Hyundai Tucson complaints: complaints filed per quarter762016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
1417 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (76).

2017 Hyundai Tucson recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V727000Sep 17, 2021Engine95,515 vehicles

    Engine

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.

    Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the defect on November 16, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed January 15, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 209.

  2. NHTSA 20V543000Sep 4, 2020Brakes652,024 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.

  3. NHTSA 16V842000Nov 21, 2016Structure & Body6,172 vehicles

    Trailer hitches

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.

2017 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,450
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 Tucson years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good27227123
2016Avoid931,619527
2017Avoid801,086327
2018Caution67396124.5
2019Caution73379124

All Hyundai Tucson years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid the 2017 Hyundai Tucson?
Compared to other Tucson model years, the 2017 ranks 4th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 80 and a verdict of Avoid. Engine complaints make up 61% of all reports for this year.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Hyundai Tucson?
Engine problems are the top issue, accounting for 662 of 1,086 complaints (61%), with a median mileage at failure of 48,000 miles and 21 reported fires.
Does the 2017 Hyundai Tucson have engine recalls?
Yes. NHTSA recall 21V727000 covers the 2017 Tucson for connecting rod bearings that may wear prematurely and cause engine damage, requiring inspection and possible engine replacement.
Are there other recalls on the 2017 Tucson?
NHTSA lists two more recalls: 20V543000 for an Anti-lock Brake System fuse issue requiring drivers to park outside, and 16V842000 for a trailer hitch wiring harness replacement.
How does the 2017 Tucson compare to the 2016 and 2018 model years?
The 2016 Tucson has a higher Complaint Index of 93 and is also rated Avoid, while the 2018 has a lower index of 67 and is rated Caution, making 2017 worse than 2018 but slightly better than 2016.

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.