Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
974 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 672, 18× a quiet Santa Fe year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 18× the complaints of a quiet Santa Fe year, spread over 12k–97k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Santa Fe owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 672 (69%) | 12k–97k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 166 (17%) | 0k–22k miles · mostly behind | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 70 (7%) | 4k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 62 (6%) | 7k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 54 (6%) | 1k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 27 (3%) | 7k–21k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 59 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 20 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 10 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 974 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 23 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 38 say the car was towed.
113 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While turning right out of a parking lot onto a two lane road, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating for 3-5 seconds as a truck was bearing down on us.
The oil light began flickering on and off at random times while driving. Mechanic found that rear seal broke, causing fluid to slowly drip.
I had my car for 12 months I bought bran new. It has staled and turn off on me at least 5 times. This is a safety issue especially on the freeway the car loses power and stops.than before it stops makes a knocking noise.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe: 6
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear. The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 125
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage
Certain 2013 - 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage
The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date…
2013-2019MY Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL (NC) Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system may exceed its capacity in certain situations
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2016 Santa Fe: 238 complaints, consider selling · 2018 Santa Fe: 110 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Santa Fe years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
974 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 672, 18× a quiet Santa Fe year. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 18× the complaints of a quiet Santa Fe year, spread over 12k–97k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (672), transmission and drivetrain (166), electrical system (70), fuel system (62), speed control (54). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 12k–97k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 22V-056), Engine (NHTSA 17V-578), Latches and locks (NHTSA 17V-358), Tires (NHTSA 17V-142) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.