High Risk / Avoid NHTSA Record ID #2017-hyundai-santa-fe

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems & Recalls

Comprehensive defect analysis based on official US Federal safety databases.

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Defect Risk Score
100 / 100
Year to Avoid
Owner Complaints
972
Filed with NHTSA
Safety Recalls
6
Free Dealer Fixes
Incidents Reported
37
14 Crashes • 23 Fires
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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Top Failure Categories

Distribution of driver complaints across vehicle components according to federal taxonomy.

Engine & Cooling 53.3%
518 reported failures
Powertrain & Transmission 16.9%
164 reported failures
Unknown Or Other 7%
68 reported failures
Electrical System 5.7%
55 reported failures
Braking System 4.4%
43 reported failures
Vehicle Speed Control 3.4%
33 reported failures
🚨 Official Federal Campaigns

Official Safety Recalls for 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (6)

Dealer Repairs are 100% Free
NHTSA Campaign #17V142000 Component: Wheels & Tires

Defect Summary: 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."

Safety Hazard: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.

Free 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.

NHTSA Campaign #17V358000 Component: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Defect Summary: 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.

Safety Hazard: 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.

Free 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.

NHTSA Campaign #17V578000 Component: Engine & Cooling

Defect Summary: 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.

Safety Hazard: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Free 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.

NHTSA Campaign #16V842000 Component: Electrical System

Defect Summary: 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."

Safety Hazard: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Free 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.

NHTSA Campaign #16V145000 Component: Seat Belts:Front:Warning Light/Devices

Defect Summary: 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."

Safety Hazard: 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.

Free 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.

NHTSA Campaign #22V056000 Component: Braking System

Defect Summary: 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.

Safety Hazard: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Free 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.

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🗣️ Real Driver Reports

Verified NHTSA Owner Complaints

Excerpts of actual incident reports submitted to the federal Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).

ODI #11774378 • Engine & Cooling 10/29/2026

"The engine light came on. Upon driving it on the highway it would lost acceleration but was able to drive under 50 miles per hour about 5 miles. When opened the hood there was fluid splattered on the engine. There is a hole in the upper left quadrant beneath the engine cover."

ODI #11772926 • Electrical System 10/22/2026

"Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 45,000. However, when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a trade-in, it was discovered via a Carfax report that the mileage was over 109,000."

ODI #11771344 • Powertrain & Transmission 10/15/2026

"On [XXX], Laguna Niguel Hyundai performed Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU software update for Theta II emissions improvement, Hyundai TSB 26-01-013H) on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Immediately after the update, the vehicle developed drivability problems that did not exist before: rough/harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of power during cold-start o..."

ODI #11770978 • Unknown Or Other 10/13/2026

"On XXX, [XXX] Hyundai performed Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU software update for Theta II emissions improvement, Hyundai TSB 26-01-013H) on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Immediately after the update, the vehicle developed drivability problems that did not exist before: rough/harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of power during cold-start operation (..."

ODI #11767901 • Powertrain & Transmission 09/29/2026

"Was driving down road car went into limp mode about caused a big wreck, check engine was flashing and heard a loud noise as I was trying to get to safety. Had the car scanned and was for code p1326 and looking at all the recalls nothing is for the 2.4l but y'all have been having a lot of issues with these theta 2 engines."