Is the 2017 Hyundai SONATA reliable?

The 2017 Hyundai SONATA has 989 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2017 Hyundai SONATA?

Top problems: ENGINE (395 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (172 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (101 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2017 Hyundai SONATA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH. Contact any Hyundai dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Hyundai SONATA?

The 2017 Hyundai SONATA gets 29 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1655. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2017 Hyundai SONATA often stolen?

The Hyundai SONATA was the #3 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 17,687 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: very-high. Pre-2022 models are affected by the Kia Boys challenge — verify your VIN has the manufacturer security update.

How much does it cost to insure a 2017 Hyundai SONATA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2017 Hyundai SONATA is approximately $1,934/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2017 Hyundai SONATA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Hyundai SONATA has 989 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 540. The most common issue is engine problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: while i was driving i had come to a stop at the stop light. when it turned green i began to make a left turn. halfway through the turn at a few miles an hour my engine light and traction control lights came on. at the same time the engine began to rev to about 4500 rpm. it died down quickly. i then . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 28 crash reports 4 injuries

989

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

395 complaints

40%

• WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CAPI
• WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA WITH 980 MILES SHUT DOWN AND TURNED ITSELF OFF WHEN I MADE A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T MOVING FAST ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR TO SHUT DO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2017 Hyundai SONATA

Based on 288 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 54K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

100

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 54K mi · 25 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 17 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 43K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 21K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 26K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

In line with typicalmedian 24K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE30/12/2016

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. 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.

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.

Very high theft risk

#3 most stolen in 2025

The Hyundai SONATA was the #3 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 17,687 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2017 Hyundai SONATA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,656

Per month

$138

Per mile

13.8¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,334/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2017 Hyundai SONATA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,934

Full coverage / month

$161

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

+16%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.28x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1934

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai SONATA Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2017 SONATA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 989 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I PURCHASED BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2017 SE. IT TOOK ME SEVERALS DAYS TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS WANDERING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S NOT ME. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT. IT'S MORE APPARENT AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. AT 70MPH YOU MUST PAY 100% ATTENTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2017 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT ENGAGED THE WARNING ALERT SYSTEM WHEN A VEHICLE WAS BEING FOLLOWED CLOSELY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)