Reliable Auto DB

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport holds 350 complaints after 10 years, a rate of 24 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 6 Santa Fe Sport years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Anchorage, and Latch.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

350

Per year

24

Recalls

3

Years on the road

10

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (202 of 350), then Hydraulic brakes (41) and Powertrain (40). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 Santa Fe Sport has 69 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2018 has 320 complaints, 13 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2022-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 22V056000
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.
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.
Recall seat belts, front, anchorage 2017-06-05 · NHTSA campaign 17V365000
Summary Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt for the driver's seat belt anchor might not have been sufficiently tightened during assembly.
Remedy Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will verify that the driver's seatbelt anchor is properly secured, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 165.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, hood, latch 2017-06-05 · NHTSA campaign 17V358000
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.
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.

Complaints by component (350 total)

Engine
202
Hydraulic brakes
41
Powertrain
40
Speed control
28
Fuel and propulsion system
26
Engine and engine cooling
16
Electrical system
14
Service brakes
13
Air bags
10
Steering
9
Structure
8
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Seats
5
Suspension
5
Visibility
5
Forward collision avoidance
4
Seat belts
4
Air brakes
3
Lane departure
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Diesel fuel system
1
Exterior lighting
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Wheels
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

5

Fire-flagged

7

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

33201722201818201992020122021742022612023352024482025382026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Campaign /Service Update 9C2 / TSB-25-01-087H broke my Hyundai. The car hesitates idling and on acceleration. Hyundai have no solution to this failed software update or acknowledging other issues it may be causing."
    Speed control, Engine · filed 2026-09-17
  • "My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe was brought to a local Hyundai dealership for routine maintenance on July 1, 2026. The 9C2 software update was installed, without my knowledge or consent, during this service. Immediately after…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-17
  • "I took my SUV to get the 9C2 recall on 8/7/2026 performed and took it home. The next morning when I cranked it and left my driveway it acted as if the vehicle didn't recognize that I was pressing my accelerator. It…"
    Speed control, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-14
  • "My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport exhibits a documented mechanical failure under active code P0420 (Catalytic Converter Efficiency Below Threshold). This failure is the direct proximate consequence of a severe, long term…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-09-11
  • "Brought my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport into the dealer on July 25, 2026 for the ECU and Theta II software update (Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2). Before the recall service my car drove perfectly with no issues. After the…"
    Speed control, Engine · filed 2026-09-01

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

DM generation, 2013–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-30/5W-40 (2.0L turbo); 5W-20/5W-30 (2.4L) , 5.1 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R17, 235/60R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-520 covers certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles: brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, possibly resulting in an electrical short and an increased risk of an engine compartment fire. Dealers inspect the ABS module and replace it if necessary. Owners are advised to park outside until the repair is complete. Recall 21V-303 is a related ABS module campaign for certain 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Recall 17V-358 covers certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles where the secondary hood latch cable may corrode and bind.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Next year 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport See every Hyundai Santa Fe Sport model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport holds 350 complaints after 10 years, a rate of 24 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 6 Santa Fe Sport years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Anchorage, and Latch.

What are common problems with a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (202 of 350), then Hydraulic brakes (41) and Powertrain (40). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 Santa Fe Sport has 69 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2018 has 320 complaints, 13 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport been recalled?

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

Owners have filed 350 complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with NHTSA.

What oil does a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner's manual.

What generation is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

DM generation (2013-2018) for the US years this site tracks.

What tire sizes does a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport use?

Common US sizes include 235/65R17 and 235/60R18 depending on trim.