NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 882 owner complaints for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata (including the hybrid). It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: exterior lighting, engine, latches, locks and linkages, hybrid propulsion system, and 1 more. Most-described problem: excessive oil consumption (152 complaints, 17%). Most-reported area: engine (449 complaints, 51%; median mileage when it happened: 67,500).
More complaints than a typical Sonata year
The 2017 drew 132 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 92 for a typical Sonata year (about 72 for a typical year since 2016).
Years to avoid: 2011 to 2013 and 2015; best year: 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles.
These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Risk: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install a new Battery Management System (BMS) that contains an Overvoltage Protection Device (OPD). The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 175.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: SONATA. Hyundai campaign 156.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2017 Hyundai Sonata; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
DTN air bag inflator rupture
Engineering analysis EA25005Open since Oct 21, 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during… NHTSA's full summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listings: SONATA, SONATA HYBRID. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
Engine fires
Engineering analysis EA21003Closed Feb 5, 2024 (opened Dec 22, 2021)
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: SONATA HYBRID. Component: Engine.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 882 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Sonata. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Excessive oil consumption152 · 17%
Median 92,700 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Check engine light138 · 16%
Median 64,500 miles at failure, from 43 reports with mileage
Engine failure or replacement124 · 14%
Median 93,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Power steering problems or locked steering111 · 13%
Median 41,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off106 · 12%
Median 67,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode106 · 12%
Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Misfires or rough running60 · 7%
Shaking, shuddering or vibration52 · 6%
Median 40,800 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Median 67,500 miles at failure, from 114 reports with mileage
Steering182 · 21%
Median 54,000 miles at failure, from 58 reports with mileage
Electrical system94 · 11%
Median 24,600 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Powertrain70 · 8%
Median 32,600 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system46 · 5%
Body structure38 · 4%
Most named: body (37)
Brakes28 · 3%
Median 24,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Unknown or other120 · 14%
Median 47,500 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Sonata recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2017 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2011 Sonata drew the most (624) and the 2017 drew 132.
Owner complaints
2017: 882 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Sonata
Model year
Complaints
2010
345
2011
3,476
2012
1,714
2013
2,029
2014
778
2015
1,211
2016
889
2017
882
2018
384
2019
172
2020
199
2021
190
2022
117
2023
103
2024
58
2025
28
2026
6
Safety recalls
2017: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Sonata
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
17
2012
11
2013
11
2014
8
2015
12
2016
9
2017
5
2018
2
2019
0
2020
4
2021
4
2022
3
2023
2
2024
1
2025
0
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 882 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Hyundai Sonata, the problems described most are excessive oil consumption (152), the check engine light coming on (138), and engine failure or replacement (124). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2017 Hyundai Sonata safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2017 Hyundai Sonata?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2017 Hyundai Sonata: DTN air bag inflator rupture (EA25005, opened Oct 21, 2025). It has closed 2 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Sonata has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SONATA, SONATA HYBRID, SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.