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2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
32 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (53% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#18 of 564Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in ranks #18, scoring higher than 95% of them. See the 2017 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (17) · Electrical system (11) · Fuel system (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Engine
53%17 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“While driving at a high rate of speed propulsion to the vehicle suddenly and without warning ceased, the electric and internal combustion engine were non-responsive (I…”
Electrical system
34%11 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“While driving at a high rate of speed propulsion to the vehicle suddenly and without warning ceased, the electric and internal combustion engine were non-responsive (I…”
Fuel system
19%6 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle lost power in freeway. Complete power failure. Early crashed into. Vehicle coasted to off ramp and towed away.”
Transmission & drivetrain
13%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“I WAS DRIVING MY HYUNDAI 2017 SONATA PLUGIN HYBRID ON THE HIGH WAY IN HEV MODE AND SUDDENLY I FELT SEVERE VIBRATION IN MY CAR. THEN I CHANGED MY ENGINE TO EV MODE AND …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Hyundai before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident, and can you share a title history and any service records you have?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Hyundai SONATA PLUG-IN beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Sonata Plug-in model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.