HyundaiSonata HEV2017Overview/hyundai/sonata-hev/2017/base/

2017 Hyundai Sonata HEV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2017 Sonata HEV.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2017 Hyundai Sonata HEV is a passenger car whose hybrid powertrain requires 4.75 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil for proper maintenance, yet that very engine represents the top complaint area in the vehicle's reliability record. With 758 total owner complaints and three recalls logged, the powertrain has drawn significant scrutiny from owners over the years. However, examining the broader model complaint history reveals a downward trend in reported issues, dropping from a high of 16 complaints in 2020 to a low of just 9 in 2024, which indicates that the model's long-term reliability is stabilizing as the fleet ages.

Model year20172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.75 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-79 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 2630035505. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter2630035505
Spark plug1884911070
Front wiper blades99H09AKA26H alt 99H09AKA18H

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3252 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.75 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-79 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity7.5
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity7.6
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.8-8.7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.8-8.7 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.2-8.7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.2-8.7 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.2-8.7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.2-8.7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)47.0-54.2 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)21.7-28.9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-79 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts25.3-32.5 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug24.6-31.8 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub203.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)640 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)660 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.38-1.49 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.11-1.20 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.47-3.17 oz

Service checks

Engine Compression156
Engine Compression135
Engine Compression121
Engine Compression135
Engine Compression171

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 58-
ABS Sensor Torque6.6
Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 58-
ABS Sensor Torque8.5
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.039; Rear: 0.330

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep New cylinder head bolts must be installed.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees; Apply liquid gasket on the edge of the cylinder block and cylinder head gasket. Threebond 1217H or equivalent. Assemble the cylinder head gasket and the cylinder head within 5 minutes after applying sealant.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep New cylinder head bolts must be installed.

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees; Apply liquid gasket on the edge of the cylinder block and cylinder head gasket. Loctite 5900H or equivalent.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep New cylinder head bolts must be installed.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees; Apply liquid gasket on the edge of the cylinder block and cylinder head gasket. Threebond 1217H or equivalent. Assemble the cylinder head gasket and the cylinder head within 5 minutes after applying sealant.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
2120.0-125.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
220.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
3120.0-125.0
Engine Valve Cover Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
12.9-4.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5.8-7.22.9–4.3 ft. lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
12.9-4.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5.8-7.22.9–4.3 ft. lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
12.9-4.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5.8-7.22.9–4.3 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; spark plugs every 45,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 6,200 miIntercooler (inspect)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 45,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2017 Hyundai Sonata HEV logged 266 engine complaints and 144 steering complaints, along with 28 crash and 11 fire reports—figures far exceeding the total complaints (16, 15, 9) for the 2020, 2023, and 2024 model years in the federal record. That later trio shows a clear downward trend in complaints and recalls (only one recall in 2020, none after), plus a drop in TSBs from 58 to 17, indicating the generation’s issues were progressively addressed. The 2017 model sits at the high-problem end of that arc, before those improvements took effect. While the data does not specify root causes, the sheer volume of engine and steering complaints makes this a high-risk year. **Takeaway: Avoid the 2017 Sonata HEV unless you have documented proof that the engine and steering systems have been fully repaired or replaced.**

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
227
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
758
Owner complaints
28 involved a crash · 11 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 758 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine266
Steering144
Unknown Or Other51
Structure22
Latches/Locks/Linkages16
Air Bags15
Exterior Lighting15
Power Train14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V956000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 30/12/2016

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016. In… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer…

21V749000Exterior Lighting:Turn SignalReported 24/09/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals… Remedy: Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 227 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-01-013H-2 DN2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
26-01-013H-2 TSB2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
9C2 0605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
9C2 DCS 2605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
26-BD-002H TSB2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherCertain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata HEV. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2017 Sonata HEV take?

4.75 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2017 Sonata HEV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.