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2017 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Elantra years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

280 reports with mileage · 486 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports6 fire reports19 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

111 reports
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55,000 miles · Feb 28, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I HAD THE RECALL ON MY CAR FIXED BUT IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHEN I SLOW DOWN IT WILL JUST CUT OFF ON YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11312147

88,000 miles · Feb 21, 2020
Electrical System

IN JANUARY OF 2019,MY CAR BEGAN SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIX BUT NOTHING WORKED. I'M SEPTEMBER 2019, AS I WAS DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AFTER WHICH MY CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT …

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IN JANUARY OF 2019,MY CAR BEGAN SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIX BUT NOTHING WORKED. I'M SEPTEMBER 2019, AS I WAS DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AFTER WHICH MY CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND THERE WAS A MISFIRING. ALL THESE ISSUES WERE'FIXED'. MY CAR HAS CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF AND I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT WHICH I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I AM ANXIOUS AND SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO BUY 3-5 BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN 2016. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11310538

72,388 miles · Jan 12, 2020
Electrical System

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE FAILED PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ANY REAR PASSENGERS ARE FORCED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HYUNDA…

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THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON BOTH REAR DOORS HAVE FAILED PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ANY REAR PASSENGERS ARE FORCED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND CAN COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR A PART THAT IS NOT GENERALLY CONSIDERED CONSUMABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11298874

76,000 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

BACK PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN

NHTSA ODI #11290373

79,615 miles · Sep 18, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. LEAVING US DRIVING IN THE DARK. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO USE BLINKERS OR SWITCH HIGH BEAMS ON OR OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY IT'S THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WANT 372.84 TO REPLACE IT. MY WARRANTY HAS JUST RU…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. LEAVING US DRIVING IN THE DARK. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO USE BLINKERS OR SWITCH HIGH BEAMS ON OR OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY IT'S THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WANT 372.84 TO REPLACE IT. MY WARRANTY HAS JUST RUN OUT AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOW THIS IS OUT AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT'S A 2017. I FEEL THE SWITCH AND POSSIBLY THE BACK DOOR ACTUATOR MUST BE FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #11256522

65,000 miles · Aug 5, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. MOMENTS LATER, AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. FLINT HILLS HYUNDAI (7920 E. HIGHWAY 24, MANHATTAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. MOMENTS LATER, AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. FLINT HILLS HYUNDAI (7920 E. HIGHWAY 24, MANHATTAN, KS) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #11241726

20,500 miles · May 14, 2019
Electrical System

ON AUG 26, 2018 THE CAR STARTED MISSING WHILE DRIVING. IGNITION COIL WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING AN IGNITION COIL WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11207445

59,000 miles · Apr 11, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO SPEED UP, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS NOT SPEEDING UP OR SLOWING DOWN VERY WELL. IT WAS SLIGHTLY SHAKING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF AND THE CAR WAS WORKING NORMAL AGAIN, BUT THEN THE CAR SCREEN STARTED FLASHING AND ENDED UP SHUTTING OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11195571

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

ENGINE COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED OR SWITCHED OUT TWO TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AFTER IT WAS "FIXED" THE FIRST TIME. CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION

NHTSA ODI #11194085

40,000 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

1. LOW RPM APPROX 300, ROUGH IDLE. A/C USAGE INCRESES THE RANDOM INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. 40,000 MILES WHEN ISSUE WAS NOTICED. 2. RELAY SWITCH, RAPIDLY TURNS ON AND OFF. USUALLY AT STOPS AND IDLE. (SOUND LOCATION UNDER HOOD/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT.) 32,000 MILES WHEN ISSUES WAS NOTICED. 3. PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT OCCUPANT SEAT SENSO…

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1. LOW RPM APPROX 300, ROUGH IDLE. A/C USAGE INCRESES THE RANDOM INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. 40,000 MILES WHEN ISSUE WAS NOTICED. 2. RELAY SWITCH, RAPIDLY TURNS ON AND OFF. USUALLY AT STOPS AND IDLE. (SOUND LOCATION UNDER HOOD/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT.) 32,000 MILES WHEN ISSUES WAS NOTICED. 3. PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR. OVERLY SENSATIVE, WARNING FOR SEAT BELT WHEN NO PASSENGER. CELL PHONE AND OR WEIGHT LESS THAN 5 LBS. 5,000 MILES WHEN ISSUED WAS NOTICED

NHTSA ODI #11189819

Official recalls

4

17V213000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 28, 2017

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Elantra vehicles. The affected vehicles may have a damaged Electronic Power Steering (MDPS) connector resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS motor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-243-7766. Hyundai's number for this recall 161.

17V063000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic

Jan 26, 2017

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Elantra vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake booster may fail, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of power brake assist can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will replace the brake system booster assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 157.

16V956000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Dec 30, 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 these vehicles, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.

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 service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 156.

16V232000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 21, 2016

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

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 indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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