IllustrationENGINE WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE STREET AND ON THE FREEWAY. THERE IS NO NOTICE PRIOR TO CALL STALLING (ENGINE SHUTTING). CAR MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND THEN RESTARTED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR FULL DIAGNOSTIC WITH NO FINDINGS.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
800–25K
7125–50K
5850–75K
3675–100K
31100–150K
4150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
131 reports2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CAR IS SHAKING HEAVILY AT IDLE, NO CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO ONE WILL DIAGNOSE, TURNED AWAY BY DEALERSHIP. WHEN TURNING CAR WILL STALL MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME AND I AM TURNED AWAY. I'M STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY…
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2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CAR IS SHAKING HEAVILY AT IDLE, NO CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO ONE WILL DIAGNOSE, TURNED AWAY BY DEALERSHIP. WHEN TURNING CAR WILL STALL MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME AND I AM TURNED AWAY. I'M STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. I MAINTAIN IT UP TO MANUFACTURER STANDARDS. TRANSMISSION IS CLUNKY AND NOT WORKING WELL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO CODES. DEALERSHIP AND OTHER MECHANICS WILL NOT LOOK INTO ISSUES. TRANSMISSION IS SEALED SYSTEM BUT IS IN NEED OF FLUID CHANGE. FLUID IS DIRTY AND FILLED WITH METAL AT 55,000 MILES. OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF SAME ISSUE AT 35000 MILES. DEALERSHIPS SAY THIS IS A LIFETIME SYSTEM AND DOES NOT NEED SERVICE. THIS CAR IS STARTING TO SEEM UNSAFE. THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON HYUNDAI FORUMS TO THIS NATURE SHOULD REFLECT SOME NEED TO MAKE THE CAR NOT DANGEROUS.
BACK PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN
PUSH BUTTON START GETS STUCK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING IT WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL #3 THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AS HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS JUST THE BAD ONE THAT WAS IN MAY 2019 NO…
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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING IT WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL #3 THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AS HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS JUST THE BAD ONE THAT WAS IN MAY 2019 NOW IT STARTED SHAKING AGAIN THIS TIME I WAS BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IT IS IGNITION COIL #4 ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WAI FOR THE SHAKING TO STOP BLOCKING TRAFFIC
THE SEAL ON THE BACK DOORS KEPT COMING OFF AND PEOPLE ALMOST TRIPPED TRYING TO GET OUT THE DOOR. HAD TO PURCHASE SEALANT TO AND LINE IT UP ON THE DOOR. BUT IT WAS SO EMBRASSING.
THE CHECK OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, IT'S A MALFUNCTION. THE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES, BUT THE ENGINE CEASED DUE TO LACK OF OIL AND NEVER ANY WARNING. NEVER "CHECK OIL LIGHT" OR "OIL LOW" NOTHING. WHEN AAA TOWED THEY TOLD ME OIL WAS LEAKING THAT WHEN WE CHECKED. THE ENGINE IS GONE AND COSTING ME $2,600 TO …
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THE CHECK OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, IT'S A MALFUNCTION. THE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES, BUT THE ENGINE CEASED DUE TO LACK OF OIL AND NEVER ANY WARNING. NEVER "CHECK OIL LIGHT" OR "OIL LOW" NOTHING. WHEN AAA TOWED THEY TOLD ME OIL WAS LEAKING THAT WHEN WE CHECKED. THE ENGINE IS GONE AND COSTING ME $2,600 TO REPLACE ON A 2017 UGH. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AT 3AM IN THE MORNING. IT WAS DRIVING ALONG AND JUST STOPPED. THE DAY BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE CODE WAS P0011 "INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING.
I KEEP ON HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2017 HYUNDAI AND DUE TO MY WARRANTY BEING OVER I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN SUBMIT A COMPLAINT, I BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW AND THIS IS MY FIRST HYUNDAI AND MY LAST. I HAVE A 4 DOOR ELANTRA AND THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENS WITHOUT A PROBLEM IS THE DRIVER DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENS ONLY FRO…
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I KEEP ON HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2017 HYUNDAI AND DUE TO MY WARRANTY BEING OVER I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN SUBMIT A COMPLAINT, I BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW AND THIS IS MY FIRST HYUNDAI AND MY LAST. I HAVE A 4 DOOR ELANTRA AND THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENS WITHOUT A PROBLEM IS THE DRIVER DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENS ONLY FROM THE INSIDE THE THE BACK SEAT OF DRIVER DOOR YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE THEN OPEN AND JUST TODAY THE BACKSEAT PASSENGER DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I DID GOOGLE AND NOTICED THAT THEIR HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ISSUE A RECALL THIE DOORS NOT OPENING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION
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
MY CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED. I COULD BE CRUISING TO A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND I NEED TO SLOW DOWN...YOU CAN BET MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF. GOING UP A HILL...MY CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWO DAYS AGO; AS I SLOWE…
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MY CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED. I COULD BE CRUISING TO A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND I NEED TO SLOW DOWN...YOU CAN BET MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF. GOING UP A HILL...MY CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWO DAYS AGO; AS I SLOWED DOWN TO TRAVEL UP A SMALL HILL TO THE PARKING GARAGE, MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS. EACH TIME I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A FUEL SAVING ISSUE AS HYUNDAI DOESN'T NOT OFFER THAT TECHNOLOGY/OPTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR STALLS WHEN TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO BE MOVING. I HAVE NOW TAKEN MY CAR IN TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE.
Official recalls
417V213000 · 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
1DP22003 · 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.