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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

What owners actually said

766 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2026
Engine

I bought my 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE earlier this year with about 119,000 miles. It had good maintenance records when I bought it, and it now has about 128,000 miles. Since buying it, I've had two oil changes done along with new spark plugs, coils, front brake pads, and tires. About two days before the engine failed, I noticed th…

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I bought my 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE earlier this year with about 119,000 miles. It had good maintenance records when I bought it, and it now has about 128,000 miles. Since buying it, I've had two oil changes done along with new spark plugs, coils, front brake pads, and tires. About two days before the engine failed, I noticed the car had suddenly burned through a significant amount of oil. There was no visible oil leak. The car stopped running, so I had it towed instead of continuing to drive it. Oil was added, and afterward it started and seemed to be running fine.The next day, I was driving approximately 70 mph on the interstate when the car suddenly lost acceleration and warning lights came on. There was smoke while I was driving, including smoke/fumes coming into the car. Afterward, there was oil everywhere. The car had to be towed again and is no longer drivable.What concerns me most is how quickly this happened. The car went from suddenly consuming oil with no visible leak to losing acceleration and experiencing a major engine failure while I was traveling 70 mph on the interstate. Losing power at that speed was dangerous, and the amount of oil and smoke also made me concerned about the possibility of a fire. Hyundai has told me the vehicle is no longer under warranty. I have not paid for an extensive engine teardown yet. My grandfather looked and he said it appears the engine threw a connecting rod through the side of the engine block. With the valve cover off, the engine looked brand new. I'm filing this complaint because an engine suddenly losing power at interstate speeds, along with oil and smoke, is a serious safety concern, especially with the potential for a fire. I hope NHTSA will compare this incident with other complaints involving engine failure and excessive oil consumption in 2017 Hyundai Elantras. Currently, it's available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI #11763633

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2026
StructureUnknown Or Other

All four rear/side door latch mechanisms have exhibited intermittent failure to release the door from the interior and/or exterior handle. Repeated operation or increased force can sometimes cause the door to release. This creates a potential safety hazard because an occupant may be unable to exit the vehicle through an affected…

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All four rear/side door latch mechanisms have exhibited intermittent failure to release the door from the interior and/or exterior handle. Repeated operation or increased force can sometimes cause the door to release. This creates a potential safety hazard because an occupant may be unable to exit the vehicle through an affected door during an emergency. The manufacturer has previously issued an extended warranty/TSB addressing this latch failure, but the vehicle is now beyond the 10-year extension period.

NHTSA ODI #11762346

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2026
Structure

Doors are not unlocking on open from the outside both front doors from inside and out do not open unless you pull three or four times the rear doors the passenger side rear door does not open at all. It’s like it doesn’t unlock and the driver side rear door only opens if you pull a handle like four or five times.

NHTSA ODI #11760662

108,404 miles · Aug 17, 2026
Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. No warning light was illuminated. An independent me…

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The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and referred the contact to the BBB to report the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 108,404.

NHTSA ODI #11757404

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2026
Engine

Vehicle stalled while driving on a highway without warning. The car was able to start back up, would go a few feet and stall again. Had it towed to a Hyundai dealership to repair. They replaced the exhaust camshaft and timing components. They released the car, saying it was fixed. Less than 12 hours later, the car stalled aga…

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Vehicle stalled while driving on a highway without warning. The car was able to start back up, would go a few feet and stall again. Had it towed to a Hyundai dealership to repair. They replaced the exhaust camshaft and timing components. They released the car, saying it was fixed. Less than 12 hours later, the car stalled again while driving through Washington DC. Once again, it would start up again but stall every few feet. We took it to another Hyundai dealership. They replaced the oil pump (saying the oil pressure was too high). That did not fix the issue and the dealership stated that the intake camshaft needed to be repaired. The third party warranty company would not approve that repair, as they are saying the engine needs to be completely replaced. We bought the car in March. The first incident occurred in June and the second incident was 12 hours later. The car has been at the dealership for 'repairs' ever since.

NHTSA ODI #11756274

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2026
Engine

Car wouldn't start. Makes clicking sound. Mechanic diagnosed it and said timing chain is broken, valves are bent and pistons broken.

NHTSA ODI #11755070

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2026
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAGS FAILED

NHTSA ODI #11754599

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2026
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

While operating my 2017 Hyundai Elantra under normal driving conditions at approximately 70,000 miles, the engine suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power and stalled completely while moving in active traffic without any prior warning. This severe stalling event occurred despite the vehicle being strictly and meticul…

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While operating my 2017 Hyundai Elantra under normal driving conditions at approximately 70,000 miles, the engine suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power and stalled completely while moving in active traffic without any prior warning. This severe stalling event occurred despite the vehicle being strictly and meticulously maintained according to all manufacturer guidelines and scheduled service intervals. Prior to the stall, the Check Engine Light illuminated. A comprehensive diagnostic scan completed at an authorized Hyundai dealership confirmed active trouble codes P0014 (Exhaust Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced) and P0017 (Crankshaft-Camshaft Position Correlation Error). The internal physical engine timing assembly and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) components slipped out of synchronization, forcing an abrupt, automatic engine shutdown while navigating active roadways. This failure created an immediate, severe safety hazard and high collision risk due to the sudden loss of vehicle propulsion, power steering assist, and vacuum brake booster pressure, leaving me vulnerable in traffic. This structural timing deviation caused chronic engine misfires and forced raw, unburned fuel directly into the exhaust stream. This unburned fuel completely fouled and destroyed the primary Oxygen (O2) Sensor due to heavy carbon contamination and extreme thermal stress. The failed sensor and incorrect valve timing totally disrupted the electronic control unit's air-fuel management, inducing the unpredictable stalling hazard and causing an immediate, automatic state emissions/smog inspection failure. Repairing this underlying manufacturing and metallurgical defect at the official Hyundai dealership required an extensive mechanical teardown and replacement of the timing components, costing approximately $2,500 out of pocket. This exact failure pattern, cascading O2 sensor damage, and diagnostic trouble codes match hundreds of existing complaints with NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI #11747095

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2026
Unknown Or Other

I am reporting an active odometer fraud case on a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, VIN: [XXX]. The seller listed this vehicle on Facebook Marketplace claiming it had 65,000 miles and was in like-new condition. Upon running a CARFAX report, the vehicle shows over 300,000 actual miles. The CARFAX also shows the vehicle already had 98,000 mil…

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I am reporting an active odometer fraud case on a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, VIN: [XXX]. The seller listed this vehicle on Facebook Marketplace claiming it had 65,000 miles and was in like-new condition. Upon running a CARFAX report, the vehicle shows over 300,000 actual miles. The CARFAX also shows the vehicle already had 98,000 miles recorded in 2018, making the current 65,000-mile claim impossible. When I confronted the seller about the discrepancy, they claimed they purchased the vehicle from a mechanic and were unaware of the mileage history. They then immediately blocked me and deleted their Facebook listing. Shortly after, a second listing appeared under what appears to be the seller's wife's account advertising the same vehicle. The vehicle appears to have originated from Illinois and is being sold in Indiana, making this a cross-state fraud. The seller operates as a title-free flipper, never placing the title in their name, which appears to be an intentional strategy to avoid a paper trail. I have documentation including screenshots of the original listing, the CARFAX report, and records of my communications with the seller. I am prepared to provide all of this upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11746048

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2026
Steering

While driving and turning, the car loses power steering. This has happened multiple times to my wife at lower driving speeds. These disconcerting safety incidents have randomly occurred without warning since the first week of May. The incident was first reported and taken to the Hyundai dealership on May 6th. The dealer looked a…

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While driving and turning, the car loses power steering. This has happened multiple times to my wife at lower driving speeds. These disconcerting safety incidents have randomly occurred without warning since the first week of May. The incident was first reported and taken to the Hyundai dealership on May 6th. The dealer looked at the car and stated no issues with steering. It has occurred multiple times since then. The last incident occurred on June 9th at 4pm at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The car lost power steering control, a warning light briefly flashed and the engine shut off. I recovered the car and restarted it. The power steering reset itself. The car was taken a few days later to a Hyundai Dealer who has had the car since attempting to diagnose the issue. The dealer is now stating we should just replace the entire steering column assembly.

NHTSA ODI #11745972

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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