2017 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems
892 of the 1,319 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 81 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 892 reports a crash · 18 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 6 · 2017: 36 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 127 · 2023: 233 · 2024: 172 · 2025: 125 · 2026: 95
Half of the 212 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 16,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,319 complaints in all about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, 95 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated as soon as the vehicle was started. The contact called the national central regional manager for consumer affairs.
Excessive engine braking on downhill roll with cruise engaged, will downshift then downshift again. While reducing the speed the cruise will cause the transmission to up-shift still rolling down the same hill at this point the cruise realizes the speed increase and does a double downshift from where it was.
I purchased a new 2017 Santa Fe sport on 5-26-17. On 7-19-17 at around 7100 miles I received a message warning me of the engine overheating. I put a phone call in the following morning to my dealership and was told to bring it into the shop 7-20-17 (thur).
There is a serious issue with acceleration from a stop with this vehicle. The vehicle hesitates severely when trying to accelerate from a stop or low speeds. This is a safety concern, since you may be pulling into oncoming traffic and then the vehicle has no power to go.
Vehicle was in motion on a country road when the engine stalled and the driver lost the ability to steer or otherwise control the vehicle. After having the vehicle towed into the shop, the cylinder number 1 fuel injector was replaced and there was excessive amounts of fuel in the oil
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V578000 HighSep 20, 2017 · 420 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigations
- DP24001 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)opened Feb 8, 2024 · closed May 16, 2024
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 2, 2024, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engines. The petition cites allegations of a loss of motive power, often resulting in an engine seizure. The stall is preceded by a kno…
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
81 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26-01-013H-2 DN Service campaignMay 21, 2026
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these vehicles may be releasing air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards.
- 26-EM-002H TSB Warranty extensionFeb 11, 2026
- Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure the proper procedure and repair is performed. The warranty coverage for engine repair or replac
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1326 P0014 P0302 P0420 P0021 P0024 P0128 P0278
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 205 complaints
- brake problems 117 complaints
- electrical problems 82 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 892 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (68% of everything owners filed about it), and 81 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V578000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 72,000 miles; half of them between 16,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.