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2017 Hyundai Tucson problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
79%
844 of 1,088 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

79% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Hyundai Tucson have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 844 of 1,088 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Hyundai Tucson concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (79%), and the largest group is filed under engine (597). For comparison, the 2016 scores 54% and the 2018 scores 80%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
844
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
1,088
this model year
Fires reported
26
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
13 crashes · 14 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE597 · 55%
POWER TRAIN290 · 27%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER138 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL87 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83 · 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM75 · 7%

The years either side

2010
57%
29 of 59
2011
52%
64 of 124
2012
74%
184 of 255
2013
67%
172 of 266
2014
61%
122 of 203
2015
58%
129 of 227
2016
54%
861 of 1,620
2017
79%
844 of 1,088
2018
80%
308 of 396
2019
57%
214 of 380
2020
48%
79 of 178
2021
63%
48 of 79
2022
65%
236 of 383
2023
36%
45 of 134

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson

What one owner reported

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM05/22/20192 INJURED
JULY 2018 CAR BEGAN MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING ON AND BACKING UP. THE NOISE WENT AWAY WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM BEGAN GETTING WORSE, MENTIONED IT AT NEXT OIL CHANGE. NOW MIND YOU, I DRIVE A LOT!! CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 83K. BETWEEN JULY …

One of 844 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine21V727000 · Sep 2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.

Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed…

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module20V543000 · Sep 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson…
electrical system: wiring16V842000 · Nov 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Hyundai Tucson? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Hyundai Tucson

Does the 2017 Hyundai Tucson have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 844 of 1,088 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Hyundai Tucson concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (79%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 21V727000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Hyundai Tucson years are better?

Among the Hyundai Tucson years we track, the 2023 (36%), the 2020 (48%) and the 2011 (52%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (79%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Hyundai Tucson?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Hyundai Tucson has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.