What are the most common problems with the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Owners name the engine group in 891 complaints and the power train group in 208 complaints. Owners describe stumbling or hesitation when the car speeds up from a stop or a slow turn.

Does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact counts 7 recalls for this year. They are listed in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints are there for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?

NHTSA has 1,326 owner complaints on file. They are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

The file shows 1,326 complaints, with the engine group named in 891. See the by-year section on this page to compare it with other years of the same model.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 1,326 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe^[1]. The engine group is named in 891 of them^[2].

1,326owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

19–24MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name most often, biggest first.

Engine. 891 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the engine stumbling or bogging down when they pull away from a stop or come out of a turn. Some tell of a sudden loss of power while driving, and some describe smoke and flames under the hood. The fact lists 18 fires in this group^[2].
Power Train. 208 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe the gearbox pausing, lugging or lurching when they speed up again after slowing down. They say it shows up in parking lots, at intersections and in stop and go traffic, and several call it a safety worry when merging.
Unknown Or Other. 129 complaints^[7]. These reports do not fit a single named part.
Brakes. 114 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the car jerking or lurching when they press the pedal, and a dealer who could not find the cause. Others describe cruise control that does not slow the car when another vehicle pulls in, and seat belts that jam or do not lock.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 87 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a delay when they press the gas from a stop, with the car hanging for a moment before it moves. A few also mention the fuel gauge dropping quickly.
Electrical System. 85 complaints^[10]. The fact lists 10 fires in this group^[10].
Speed Control. 83 complaints^[11].
Steering. 36 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2017 Santa Fe is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (22V056), February 2022. About 357,348 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (17V578), September 2017. About 420 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch (17V358), June 2017. About 437,400 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage (17V365), June 2017. About 17,160 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems (17V142), March 2017. About 190 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Trailer Hitches (16V842), November 2016. About 6,172 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices (16V145), March 2016. About 34,200 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Santa Fe Sport FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	20 / 28 / 23	$2,900
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	20 / 27 / 23	$2,900
Santa Fe Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[22]	19 / 26 / 22	$3,050
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[23]	19 / 24 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[24]	18 / 25 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe Ultimate FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[25]	17 / 23 / 20	$3,350
Santa Fe AWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[26]	18 / 24 / 20	$3,350
Santa Fe Ultimate AWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[27]	17 / 22 / 19	$3,550
Santa Fe Sport FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	21 / 27 / 24	$2,800
Santa Fe Sport AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[28]	20 / 26 / 22	$3,050

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	14.3%
SUV FWD^[29]	5	5	5	4	15.1%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: SUV AWD^[30], SUV FWD^[31].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[32]	240 hp
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[33]	185 hp
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder^[34]	290 hp

How 2017 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Santa Fe model year. The 2017 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	209	4
2002	165	4
2003	308	4
2004	303	3
2005	216	3
2006	106	1
2007	684	7
2008	541	4
2009	358	2
2010	260	2
2011	181	2
2012	354	1
2013	805	7
2014	657	7
2015	339	4
2016	306	3
2017	1,326	7
2018	432	5
2019	229	3
2020	217	2
2021	187	8
2022	265	8
2023	290	2
2024	191	7
2025	238	5
2026	56	4

NHTSA's counts for the Santa Fe show 1,326 complaints and 7 recalls for 2017^[3]. Among the 27 model years listed, 26 have fewer complaints than 2017 and 0 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2017 (1,326)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2017 Santa Fe?

The complaint file for this year is large, at 1,326 reports^[1]. The engine group stands out with 891 complaints^[2]. Owners also describe the car hesitating when it speeds up from low speed^[6]. These are unverified owner reports, and the counts are not adjusted for sales. Check the recalls section and ask a dealer which ones apply before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?: Owners name the engine group in 891 complaints^[2] and the power train group in 208 complaints^[6]. Owners describe stumbling or hesitation when the car speeds up from a stop or a slow turn.
Does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact counts 7 recalls for this year^[3]. They are listed in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints are there for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?: NHTSA has 1,326 owner complaints on file^[1]. They are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts.
Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?: The file shows 1,326 complaints^[1], with the engine group named in 891^[2]. See the by-year section on this page to compare it with other years of the same model.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe get?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

2005 216 complaints, 3 recalls
2006 106 complaints, 1 recall
2007 684 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 541 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 358 complaints, 2 recalls
2017 this page
2019 229 complaints, 3 recalls
2020 217 complaints, 2 recalls

Compare all model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

Other Hyundai models from 2017

2017 Hyundai Accent 68 complaints, 0 recalls
2017 Hyundai Elantra 795 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 Hyundai Sonata 879 complaints, 5 recalls
2017 Hyundai Tucson 1,092 complaints, 3 recalls

All Hyundai models

Similar cars from 2017: small suvs

2017 Ford Escape 2,700 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 GMC Terrain 135 complaints, 1 recall
2017 Honda CR-V 1,776 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 Jeep Cherokee 1,337 complaints, 6 recalls
2017 Jeep Compass 229 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 Jeep Patriot 59 complaints, 0 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 1,326 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (19 mention a crash, 30 a fire, 26 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
891 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 18 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Hyundai Santa Fe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 27 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
208 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,000). NHTSA vehicle records
129 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 8 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,625). NHTSA vehicle records
114 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 6 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,000). NHTSA vehicle records
87 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,000). NHTSA vehicle records
85 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 10 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
83 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 6,500). NHTSA vehicle records
36 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 15,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 22V056, filed February 3, 2022: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V578, filed September 20, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V358, filed June 5, 2017: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Hood › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V365, filed June 5, 2017: Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V142, filed March 6, 2017: Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V842, filed November 21, 2016: Trailer Hitches. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V145, filed March 10, 2016: Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light / Devices. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Ultimate FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe AWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Ultimate AWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 240 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 185 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder: rated 290 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe: problems, recalls and fuel economy