2017 Hyundai Sonata
The 2017 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas large car with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid SE, is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 874 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 50 kW IPMSM | 38 | 40 | 39 (58 MPGe blended) | 27 mi electric | 34 | 2.7 h | $1,600 |
| Sonata Hybrid SE | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion | 39 | 45 | 42 | — | — | — | $1,500 |
| Sonata Hybrid | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion | 38 | 43 | 40 | — | — | — | $1,550 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 36 | 31 | — | — | — | $2,000 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 25 | 36 | 29 | — | — | — | $2,150 |
| Sonata Sport Limited | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 25 | 35 | 28 | — | — | — | $2,250 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 31 | 26 | — | — | — | $2,400 |
| Sonata Limited | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 30 | 24 | — | — | — | $2,600 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38046, 37531, 37532, 37452, 37432, 37433, 37462, 37431.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Hyundai Sonata is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (5)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseEngine
209Latches/Locks/Linkages
208Hybrid Propulsion System
175Air Bags
156NHTSA defect investigations
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module — DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture open
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 the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures. Six of those drivers sustained fatal injuries and two sustained severe injuries. In all eight incidents, the subject inflators had been installed as replacement equipment after the vehicle was involved in a previous crash. Information gathered during NHTSA’s initial analysis of these incidents indicates that the inflators were potentially
Opened Oct 21, 2025 · action EA25005
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003
Engine — Engine Fires closed
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 (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software mo
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · closed Feb 5, 2024 · action EA21003
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed
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. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database29 involved a crash · 15 a fire · 12 injuries · 1 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 26 · 2018: 36 · 2019: 67 · 2020: 68 · 2021: 98 · 2022: 150 · 2023: 139 · 2024: 132 · 2025: 104 · 2026: 51
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Sonata model years
2027 Hyundai Sonata
0 recalls · 0 complaints
A2026 Hyundai Sonata
1 recalls · 5 complaints
A2025 Hyundai Sonata
0 recalls · 27 complaints
A2024 Hyundai Sonata
1 recalls · 54 complaints
C2023 Hyundai Sonata
2 recalls · 100 complaints
D2022 Hyundai Sonata
3 recalls · 110 complaints
F2021 Hyundai Sonata
4 recalls · 183 complaints
C2020 Hyundai Sonata
4 recalls · 194 complaints
A2019 Hyundai Sonata
0 recalls · 169 complaints
B2018 Hyundai Sonata
2 recalls · 380 complaints
F2016 Hyundai Sonata
9 recalls · 880 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.