2017 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID has 123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: while driving on a 4 lane street the car suddenly gave a message 'check hybrid system shut off engine'. i was stopped at a red light so i turned off the engine. when i tried to restart the car it would not start. it took 4 tried to get the car restarted. later that night the car would not start . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 3 crash reports

123

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

48 complaints

39%

• WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE STREET THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A MESSAGE 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT OFF ENGINE'. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK 4 TRIED TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED. LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT START
• CAR HAS 10000 MILES. CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND THE CAR DIED. RADIO WAS ON, DASH WAS DARK. TRIED TO RESTART, NO RESPONSE. TRIED 5 TIMES, ON THE 6TH TIME, ENGINE CAME TO LIFE. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE LAST WEEK; NO FAULT CODE DETECTED ACCORDING TO DEALER. THEY ARE IN TOUCH WITH HYUNDAI.
• 1: AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 210, WHEN THE MOTORWAY EXITS FROM EAST TO WEST, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK (PICTURED) AND THE CAR DECELERATES DIRECTLY FROM 70 MILES TO 30 MILES. THE BRAKES CAN NOT WORK FULLY. STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL MUST STEP ON MULTIPLE STEPS TO RELAX THE THROTTLE, DEPRESS THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE STREET THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A MESSAGE 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT OFF ENGINE'. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK 4 TRIED TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED. LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT START ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

15%

• ON THIS PAST LABOR DAY, WHICH WAS 9/3/2018, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL MY CAR. SHUT OFF CAR AND HAD KEY FOB WITH ME. PUMPED THE FUEL AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR. NOTHING. CAR WAS INOPERABLE. PRESSED THE START BUTTON, PRESSED THE BRAKES, SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK, PRESSED THE
• HEV WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING. I HEARD SOME GRINDING AND A BELT SLIPPING. DIAGNOSED AS GENERATOR PULLEY GRINDING, ALIGNMENT MARKS NOT ALIGNED. IT TOOK FROM 08/31/18 TILL 09/07/18 FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED.
• The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, the dealer informed the contact that they would be able to perform the recall repair in approximately five months. The manufa

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON THIS PAST LABOR DAY, WHICH WAS 9/3/2018, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL MY CAR. SHUT OFF CAR AND HAD KEY FOB WITH ME. PUMPED THE FUEL AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR. NOTHING. CAR WAS INOPERABLE. PRESSED THE START BUTTON, PRESSED THE BRAKES, SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK, PRESSED THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

11 complaints

• I WAS INFORMED BY AN AUTO MECHANIC THAT HYBRID VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A COLLISION COULD EXPLODE WHEN THE CAR DOOR IS OPENED. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? COULD IT BE TRUE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
• DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & OFF, THEN I SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE, SO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OUT OF THE FREEWAY TO THE NEAREST EXIT LUCKILY A PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
• CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. DRIVER HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. GOT ON FREEWAY FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND WAS ON FREEWAY FOR LESS THAN 10 MILES. WITNESS SAID CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDER VEHICLE IN THE REAR OF THE HYBRID VEHICLE. DRIVER PULLED OVER TO FEEDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“I WAS INFORMED BY AN AUTO MECHANIC THAT HYBRID VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A COLLISION COULD EXPLODE WHEN THE CAR DOOR IS OPENED. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? COULD IT BE TRUE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

10 complaints

• DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APX. 65MPH, THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER AND DISPLAYED A"STOP VEHICLE AND CHECK BRAKES" MESSAGE. I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS, SO COULD NOT SAFELY MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS STUCK IN THE ACTIVE FREEWAY LANE WITH CARS ZIPPING BY. AFTER THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP, I TURNED IF OF
• 1: AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 210, WHEN THE MOTORWAY EXITS FROM EAST TO WEST, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK (PICTURED) AND THE CAR DECELERATES DIRECTLY FROM 70 MILES TO 30 MILES. THE BRAKES CAN NOT WORK FULLY. STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL MUST STEP ON MULTIPLE STEPS TO RELAX THE THROTTLE, DEPRESS THE
• ABRUPT AND TOTAL LOSS OF ACCELERATION AT FULL THROTTLE AT OR NEAR HIGH RPM SHIFT POINTS. THIS BEHAVIOR CAN BE RELIABLY REPRODUCED BY "FLOORING IT" (ALL THE WAY, INCLUDING KICKDOWN) AND NOT LETTING GO - AS IF ONE IS EXECUTING A PASSING MANEUVER. THE POWER LOSS WILL OCCUR AT THE NEXT SHIFT POINT AFTER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APX. 65MPH, THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER AND DISPLAYED A"STOP VEHICLE AND CHECK BRAKES" MESSAGE. I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS, SO COULD NOT SAFELY MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS STUCK IN THE ACTIVE FREEWAY LANE WITH CARS ZIPPING BY. AFTER THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP, I TURNED IF OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

8 complaints

• MY VEHICLE HAS 65000 MILES AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET AND ALMOST HAD A COLLISSION. FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAD 55000 MILEA AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED A PART AT THAT TIME AND NOW JUST 2 MONTHS LATER I HAVE THE SAME PRO
• ON 7/17/19 MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. UNABLE TO STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES SHOWN AND THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRIC OIL PUMP. ON 8/12/19, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY. COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS
• I lost the ability to steer my car any more than 15 to 20 degrees in any direction while traveling at a maximum speed of 25 mph and within approximately 300 yards of driving. Once steering control became limited a warning was displayed on my dash very briefly saying my high beams were not functionin

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY VEHICLE HAS 65000 MILES AND THE STEERING WOULD FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET AND ALMOST HAD A COLLISSION. FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAD 55000 MILEA AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED A PART AT THAT TIME AND NOW JUST 2 MONTHS LATER I HAVE THE SAME PRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 123 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE STREET THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A MESSAGE 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT OFF ENGINE'. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK 4 TRIED TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED. LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT START
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ON THIS PAST LABOR DAY, WHICH WAS 9/3/2018, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL MY CAR. SHUT OFF CAR AND HAD KEY FOB WITH ME. PUMPED THE FUEL AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR. NOTHING. CAR WAS INOPERABLE. PRESSED THE START BUTTON, PRESSED THE BRAKES, SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK, PRESSED THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS INFORMED BY AN AUTO MECHANIC THAT HYBRID VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A COLLISION COULD EXPLODE WHEN THE CAR DOOR IS OPENED. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? COULD IT BE TRUE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APX. 65MPH, THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER AND DISPLAYED A"STOP VEHICLE AND CHECK BRAKES" MESSAGE. I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS, SO COULD NOT SAFELY MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS STUCK IN THE ACTIVE FREEWAY LANE WITH CARS ZIPPING BY. AFTER THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP, I TURNED IF OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)