Third generation, long, wheelbase (NC / Santa Fe XL)
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
The most reported problem on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is engine failure, with 377 complaints, usually around 93,000 miles.
- 968owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 14involved a crash
- 62,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Santa Fe doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2017 model year.
Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe has 968 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 3.2 times the median of 307 for 2017 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Santa Fe model years since 2014, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2016 and 2018
- The 2017 stands out from the model years on either side. It draws 97 complaints for each year on the road, while the 2016 draws 21 and the 2018 12.
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: engine failure, named in 377 of the 968 complaints (39%). It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 179 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were past about 93,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 42 of the 968 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 14 reports mention a crash, 23 mention a fire and 18 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- engine failure, stalling and misfire all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 17V-578. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 209 and have dropped every year since, to 97 in 2025. So far in 2026, 90 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 377 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
968 complaints is 3.6 times the median 2017 model on this site and 3.2 times the median 2017 SUV. Among the 13 Santa Fe model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai filed 140 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. 16 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 4 bulletins · 165 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.
2 more on this problem
This bulletin describes the service procedure to replace the inhibitor switch. A possible symptom is Diagnostic Trouble Code P0705 (Transmission Range Sensor Circuit).
IF YOU ARE SERVICING AN APPLICABLE VEHICLE WITH A COMPLAINT OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND ONE OR MORE OF THE DTC LISTED BELOW, FOLLOW THE REPAIR PROCEDURE AND REPLACE THE RELATED SOLENOID AND OIL PRESSURE HARNESS.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 3 bulletins · 66 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 4.
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
1 more on this problem
If you are servicing a vehicle with a harsh and/or delayed shift, use the GDS as shown in the Service Procedure to measure shift engagement time.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 59 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Transmission hesitates when accelerating 1 bulletin · 46 complaints
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE TCU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE A TRANSMISSION HESITATION OR SHIFT SHOCK WHEN ACCELERATING AT SLOW SPEEDS.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 2 bulletins · 15 complaints
This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection conditions. 3.
This bulletin contains information regarding the clock display on certain Navigation (AVN 4.0) head units. This procedure is specifically for the clock date and time not displaying which started appearing around August 17, 2019.
Suspension noise, struts or alignment 2 bulletins · 10 complaints
In certain areas, a vehicleâs underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road salt usage. As a preventative measure, cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody components, and an undercoating spray is applied to exterior surfaces of ...
In some areas, a vehicleâs underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road salt usage. As a preventative measure, cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody components, and an undercoating spray is applied to the bottom exterior ...
Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE PRELIMINARY PROCEDURE TO INSPECT THE LOT NUMBER OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MODULE OF SOME SANTA FE (NC) AND TUCSON (TL) VEHICLES.
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 2 bulletins · 7 complaints
Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft bearing.
Certain 2017-2018MY Santa Fe (NC), 2016MY Veloster (FS), 2014MY Elantra (MD), and 2016-2017MY Azera (HG) vehicles may experience a warning lamp being illuminated intermittently when starting the engine after replacing the motor driven power steering (MDPS) ...
Complaints filed by year
209 complaints came in 2023. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
3.3l engine loss of motive power (lomp). Closed may 16, 2024.
NHTSA summary
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
NHTSA summary
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. 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.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
All 6 recalls on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine failure, with 377 of the 968 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 93,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Of the 444 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 11,000 miles and half by about 62,000.
Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?
Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has more complaints than both the 2016 and the 2018: 97 a year against 21 and 12.
How many 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
42 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 17V-578. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.