2017 Hyundai Sonata Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine problems: excessive oil consumption, stalling or loss of power while driving, and in some complaints engine noise followed by failure. A second recurring theme is a loss of power steering assist that comes on suddenly mid-drive, often with a power steering and traction control warning light, and that sometimes clears after the car is restarted. Many reports arrive between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, with some engine failures reported at much higher mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 258 complaints (34%)
   • median 69,939 mi at 4.5 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,888 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing motive power at speed or at a stop, sometimes with the check engine light blinking or with no warning at all, and sometimes with the car refusing to restart. Several owners report an abnormal knocking or popping noise before the stall. According to the complaints, dealers often diagnosed internal engine damage, in some cases recommending engine replacement, while other owners were told the vehicle did not qualify for a recall or warranty program or were asked to pay for diagnosis. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly between about 40,000 and 150,000 miles, at highway and low speeds alike.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for oil change and service records, listen for knocking at idle and on start-up, and have a pre-purchase inspection check for stored engine codes and metal debris in the oil.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11320160, filed 2020-04, 41,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11605432, filed 2024-07, 104,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out, wheel goes stiff

   • 175 complaints (23%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, often with a power steering and traction control warning light, while turning in a parking lot or at highway speed. Several report that steering returned after shutting the car off and restarting it. Complaints mention repeated occurrences and dealers who reset a steering sensor, diagnosed rack and pinion problems, or told owners the behavior was normal. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often during low-speed turns and sometimes at highway speed.

   What to check: On a test drive, make slow full-lock turns in a parking lot and watch for any steering warning light; ask whether the steering sensor or rack has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the 2017 Hyundai Sonata at speeds of 60 plus MPH the steering wheel locks up and the power steering light comes on along with the traction control lights. This incident has even caused damage to the right front corner of my Hyundai due to losing steering causing me to veer in to the guard rails.”

   NHTSA complaint #11309488, filed 2020-02, 102,525 miles

   “Within my 2 months of owning owning this 2017 Hyundai Sonata, my steering wheel has locked up at least 7 times. A few of those times I was on the highway and had to pull off to the side with little to no control of the steering wheel. The power steering and traction control lights came on and I could not regain control until I turned the car off and on again. I was terrified every single time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340003, filed 2020-07, 83,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 229 complaints (30%)
   • median 78,973 mi at 5.0 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report needing to add oil frequently, in several cases a quart or more per 1,000 miles, with no visible leaks and sometimes no warning light until the level drops low. Complaints describe the oil light or check engine light coming on, and dealers performing an oil consumption test; some owners were told a engine replacement was needed, while others were told to change the oil more often or that no failure was found. Some owners mention the problem starting or worsening after an engine control software campaign was completed. Reported from as little as about 14,000 miles up to roughly 165,000 miles, often noticed between oil changes.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, ask whether an oil consumption test was ever done, and plan on checking the dipstick regularly between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Excessive oil consumption. I bought the car in used condition back in june 2019 with approximately 82,000 miles on it. It currently has 125,000 miles on it and only recently have I been experiencing this issue. I change the oil on this car every 5,000 miles or so since I do plenty of commuting for work. The last time I took my car to get the oil changed before I noticed the problem was in december 2020. I never bothered to check the oil because I had complete confidence that the oil was topped off at every oil change. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395322, filed 2021-02, 124,000 miles

   “I bought this vehicle from a used car lot. I keep all maintenance up on this vehicle since I work as a lube maintenance technician. I noticed that the engine burns oil at a very fast rate. Not even 2000 miles into my maintenance interval the engine is dry. The oil lamp turns on. There is no leaks from the engine. I knew this was gonna be a problem to fix and I knew it would be very expensive. I just basically changed my oil more often. I was driving it from work and then it suddenly started idling rough and it started stuttering real bad. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406804, filed 2021-04, 111,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Trunk latch will not open or will not stay shut

   • 41 complaints (5%)
   • median 53,394 mi at 3.9 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2024

   Complaints describe the trunk failing to open with the key fob or the release button inside the car, and in some cases the latch not catching so the trunk will not stay closed. Several owners reference a recall for the trunk latch and report that dealers did not have the parts or wanted to charge for the repair once the vehicle was out of warranty. Reported from very low mileage up to around 60,000 miles.

   Recall 21V619000

   What to check: Open and close the trunk several times, test both the fob and the interior release, and ask whether the latch recall repair has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Trunk latch works intermittently...only 3 year old car...I have called the dealership for repair...they have not or will not call back. Latch works sometimes...but other times will not open or other times will not stay shut.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351986, filed 2020-08, 59,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V619000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11431323, filed 2021-09, 53,394 miles

Buying note. Have any candidate car inspected for oil consumption and stored engine codes before purchase, and confirm which recalls and service campaigns have actually been completed. Because several reports involve stalling and steering assist loss, a thorough test drive and a written service history are worth insisting on.

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.