2017 Hyundai Santa FE Sport Problems

What owners report

Most complaints for this model year center on the engine: owners describe excessive oil consumption, low oil warnings, knocking, hesitation, stalling and loss of power, often followed by a diagnosis that the engine needs replacement. A second cluster covers ABS warning lights and cold-start or low-speed shifting complaints, and these often appear on relatively low-mileage vehicles. The rest of the sample is scattered across steering, brakes, paint and trim items.

1. 1
   Engine

   Loss of power, stalling and engine knock

   • 105 complaints (29%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle hesitating or refusing to accelerate, shuddering, then stalling or losing motive power, often with the check engine light on. Several owners say the dealer found rod bearing or cylinder misfire problems and recommended engine replacement, and some mention a knock sensor code or a prior software update. Spread from about 14,000 miles up to 146,000 miles, with many reports in the 60,000 to 120,000 mile range.

   11 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ECM update campaigns were completed, listen for a knock at cold start, and request any stored diagnostic codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This car has had a lower engine knock at start up from day one. They took care of knock sensor system but it still knocks at start up all the time and they refuse to take care of it at the dealership. I am a retired automotive restoration shop owner of 40 years and have had articles written about my shop so I know for a fact that the knock is coming from the rod bearings! It seems as though Hyundai dealerships thinks and acts like everyone they encounter with this issue does not know what they are talking about. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11351350, filed 2020-08, 20,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud abnormal popping sound. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact drove the vehicle to a safe location. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11575544, filed 2024-03, 66,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption and oil loss

   • 133 complaints (37%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the oil level dropping far faster than expected between changes, sometimes with the low oil pressure or oil light coming on shortly after a service. Several report the dealer ran an oil consumption test, added oil, or said consumption was normal, while others were told the engine needed replacement. Some note oil leaking onto the ground or exhaust smoke and fumes. Reported from roughly 37,000 to 166,000 miles, with several cases around 80,000 to 120,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick and ask for oil change records; ask whether an oil consumption test has been documented and whether the engine has ever been topped off between services.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There has been a knock since the car was bought 3 yrs ago. It burns threw at about1-2 quart of oil every 2000 miles triggering the oil light to come on. Oil changes are done every 3000 miles with full synthetic always. It's also been taken into Hyundai of olympia for acceleration issue while driving (doesn't shift up/down, shift very hard, stutters when shifting) also asked about oil consumption when taken in for recall and was told the oil consumption was normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377694, filed 2020-12, 92,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and was flashing on and off. The contact stated that while stopped at the next stop sign, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was notified that there was half a quart of oil in the engine. The oil level was topped off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11589187, filed 2024-05, 94,432 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS and traction control warning lights

   • 54 complaints (15%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the ABS, traction control, hill descent and parking brake lights illuminating together, sometimes intermittently. Some describe the vehicle shutting off or stopping abruptly, and several mention recall 22V056000 with the repair part unavailable at the time. Mostly reported between about 57,000 and 88,000 miles.

   Recall 22V056000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V056000 was performed and whether the ABS module has been inspected; watch for multiple brake-related warning lights on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. Additionally, the vehicle had experienced several electrical failures including the headlights randomly turning off and on and the vehicle not immediately starting. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11494370, filed 2022-11, 88,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while reversing in the driveway, the vehicle stopped abruptly and lost motive power. The ABS, traction control, and an unknown warning light were illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11463881, filed 2022-05, 54,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation and rough shifting from a cold start

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe delayed or rough shifts, stuttering when accelerating, and brief hesitation on a cold start. Some say the dealer could not duplicate the condition or performed an update without resolving it. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low miles up to about 92,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle from a cold start and note any hesitation or hard shifts; ask whether any ECM or transmission software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced shaking and vibrating while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11474690, filed 2022-07, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal and attempting to overtake another vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately respond, and the vehicle decelerated. Additionally, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power while driving at various speeds and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who could not duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11618542, filed 2024-10, 10,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for complete service records, confirmation of the ECM update campaigns, and any oil consumption test results before buying, and have an independent mechanic check for engine noise and warning lights. Budget for the possibility that engine-related repairs may come up.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.