***(NW Indiana)*** 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate FWD 3.3L - 64,000mi. Driven to and from work and around town. Purchased used with 31,000mi in July 2020 from Knauz Hyundai. On the afternoon of December 22nd, 2022 I went to accelerate from 35 mph at which point I heard "tick-tick-tick-tick-tick". I had never heard that sound before. I tried the accelerator again and the same "ticking" sound was…
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe powertrain problems
moderate 148 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
148
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 148 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 21 model years of Hyundai Santa Fe we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 148.
Owners have filed 148 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
T3G Campaign 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD, 116000 miles. Purchased from a dealer in VA [XXX]. Never would have purchased if engine issues had been disclosed. The letter re:T3G campaign went out to dealers/service managers from Hyundai (of which I have a copy) is dated for October 2019. We never received any information regarding a T3G campaign. We took my car to the dealership on 12/16/24.…
I have had on at least a half dozen times where the vehicle will not accelerate after stopping, and then attempting to accelerate. For example: leaving a parking lot going onto a roadway attempting to accelerate quickly to get up to the speed limit. Attempting to turn left at a flashing red left turn lane traffic light. The vehicle will roll about 10-20', but will not accelerate, like the…
When the vehicle is stopped, and when starting to accelerate, there are times when I'll experience a 1-2 second delay or hesitation, before the engine/transmission engage. This seems to occur mostly when the wheels are in a turned position. It can be a frightening experience at an intersection, with no power. This has occurred approximately a dozen times.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 148 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 50 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 5,700 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 17,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,700; a quarter make it past 41,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Hyundai/Santa Fe.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.