IllustrationTHE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON MY DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED WORKING AND NOW I CAN ONLY OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY AFTER I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR ONLY 4 HOURS. IT WAS WORKING FINE BEFORE THAT.
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
What owners actually said
766 reportsI BOUGHT A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED EDITION AT THE END OF 2016 IT HAD 43 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TAKING IT TO ABOUT 6 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS DUE TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND ENGINE POWER LOSS AND OUT IF THE 6 I HAVE GONE MORE THE A FEW TIMES. THEIR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CAR IS WE CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS SO THERE IS NO…
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I BOUGHT A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED EDITION AT THE END OF 2016 IT HAD 43 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TAKING IT TO ABOUT 6 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS DUE TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND ENGINE POWER LOSS AND OUT IF THE 6 I HAVE GONE MORE THE A FEW TIMES. THEIR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CAR IS WE CANNOT REPRODUCE THIS SO THERE IS NO PROBLEM OR THERE'S NOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. EVERY DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE GONE TO REPEAT THIS SAYING OVER AND OVER. WHEN MY CAR SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR IT'S ALMOST AS IF THAT GEAR HAS TWO MORE LIKE DRIVING A STICK SHIFT BUT YOU'RE SHIFTING TOO SOON SO IT SPITS AND SPUTTERS, IN ADDITION TO THIS 3RD 4TH 5TH GEAR HAS A LONG DELAY IN SHIFTING IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AS THE RPMS AND SPEED COME UP IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION GRIPS AND YOU CAN FEEL THE TORQUE KICK IN IF YOU WILL. THERE'S BEEN MANY TIMES I HAVE TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF 5TH INTO 6TH AND A FEW TIMES OUT OF 4TH. MY CAR HAS 38970 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND THE ENGINE, IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, I USE PREMIUM GAS AND FUEL INJECTIONS CLEARER. NOWADAYS WHEN I'M DRIVING I HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HALFWAY DOWN FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY MOVE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER I GOT THIS CARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM COMING TO A YIELD, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF LITTLE R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM COMING TO A YIELD, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF LITTLE ROCK LOCATED AT (11701 COLONEL GLENN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72210) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
WHILE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESSWAY OR ROAD THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. ALL OF THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON IN THE DASHBOARD AND I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK TO START IT BACK UP. IT WILL ALSO SHUT OFF IF I'M TURNING SLOWLY AROUND A CORNER OR IF I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED EXCESSIVELY AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROGERS AUTO GROUP CHICAGO LOCATED AT (2720 S MICHIGAN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED EXCESSIVELY AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROGERS AUTO GROUP CHICAGO LOCATED AT (2720 S MICHIGAN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60616) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE UNKNOWN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF FORT MYERS LOCATED AT (2850 COLONIAL BLV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF FORT MYERS LOCATED AT (2850 COLONIAL BLVD, FORT MYERS, FL 33966 (888) 461-3831) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE VALVES AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATION 117,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKING AND DO NOT WANT TO OPEN. IT FIRST STARTED WITH THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THEN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS NOT WANTING TO OPEN. IT'S A HAZARD IN CASE THERE IS A CAR FIRE
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.
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.
ENGINE 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.
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.