IllustrationSteering really bad car pulls both ways on the highway makes weird noise when taking off and accelerating and car randomly dies
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
Steering complaints
71 reportsThe steering wheel on the vehicle is loose and jagged; therefore when I turn the steering wheel it does not follow. I have to turn slowly to make the adjustment and I can hear the griding in the steering wheel system as I try to steer. I must get a repair as soon as possible fearing that the steering will stop working and caus…
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The steering wheel on the vehicle is loose and jagged; therefore when I turn the steering wheel it does not follow. I have to turn slowly to make the adjustment and I can hear the griding in the steering wheel system as I try to steer. I must get a repair as soon as possible fearing that the steering will stop working and cause me to veer in a dangerous direction.
When my teenage daughter drove our 2017 Hyundai Elantra, the power steering locked up on her while entering a busy interstate. Thankfully, she did not run into the barrier wall or nobody hit her from behind. Took it into the Hyundai dealership and apparently the torque sensor went out. They want to charge $1800 to fix it. Conven…
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When my teenage daughter drove our 2017 Hyundai Elantra, the power steering locked up on her while entering a busy interstate. Thankfully, she did not run into the barrier wall or nobody hit her from behind. Took it into the Hyundai dealership and apparently the torque sensor went out. They want to charge $1800 to fix it. Conveniently for them, it’s not covered under warranty as warranty stopped at 60k miles. The car just rolled over at 61k. As I researched, apparently this is a known issue with Hyundai.
The steering wheel tightens up occasionally when making right turns. Also when turning the steering wheel it makes a clicking turning on gravel sound on occasion. No ESP light is on, on the dash cluster. It is without a doubt 2017 Hyundai Elantra have steering problems that need to be address and recalled.
There was a recall on 3/28/2017 on the 2017 hyundai Elantra for a power steering (eps motor) problem. Recall 161 I recently bought a 2017 Hyundai Elantra used. It showed no outstanding unrepaired recalls on the vin number check. However without realizing there was a former steering recall on my car i have been noticing that my c…
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There was a recall on 3/28/2017 on the 2017 hyundai Elantra for a power steering (eps motor) problem. Recall 161 I recently bought a 2017 Hyundai Elantra used. It showed no outstanding unrepaired recalls on the vin number check. However without realizing there was a former steering recall on my car i have been noticing that my car when steering to the right catches. I mostly experience this at higher speeds and while driving on the highway when changing lanes. As if it snagged on something or i have no control for a microsecond. Its happens and just as quickly goes away when i bring the steering wheel back to the left.I am wondering if the march 2017 recall and my current problem are related. Is there any way of determining if my car was under that recall and whether it was repaired or not. When recall notices on a particular car/vin number are repaired does that info get entered into a national data base . It seems very coincidental to say the least that i am experience a steering anomaly and i now find out there was a past recall for a problem involving steering. Yet i can't seem to determine if my car was repaired for such a recall in the past
FIRST THE CAR HAS BEEN ACTING LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE EVEN WHILE DRIVING IT. NOW I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS DIFFICULT TO TURN BUT IT'S OFF AND ON. IT'S ALWAYS WHILE I'M ACTIVELY DRIVING IT'S BEEN BOTH CITY STREET AND HIGHWAYS.
THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM CLICKS OR CLAPS WHENEVER STEERING EITHER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE NOISE ISN'T ALWAYS THERE. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, BUT ITS AT EITHER DIRECTIONS WHEN STEERING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR A PARKING LOT.
IN OPERATING SPEED LESS THAN 25 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING AND POWER STEERING LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. OPERATOR LOST 90% CONTROL OF STEERING. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A BAD BATTERY BUT ALL O…
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IN OPERATING SPEED LESS THAN 25 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING AND POWER STEERING LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. OPERATOR LOST 90% CONTROL OF STEERING. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A BAD BATTERY BUT ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OPERATED. RECALL 161 DESCRIBES A MORE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF A DAMAGED ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONNECTOR RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE.
YES I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEI THEY NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR BLEW UP BECAUSE OF ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE STICKING BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR THE SECOND MOTOR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING GETTING STUCK AND SHAKING THE STEERING…
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YES I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEI THEY NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR BLEW UP BECAUSE OF ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE STICKING BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR THE SECOND MOTOR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING GETTING STUCK AND SHAKING THE STEERING WOULD LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHERE I COULD NOT EVEN STEER OR IT WAS HARD TO STEER WHY EVEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY DID NOT INFORM ME OF RECALLS WHEN I TALK TO THE CAR BACK AND HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED THEY STILL DID NOT INFORM ME OF ANY RECALLS THESE THINGS COST ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND TOTALED MY VEHICLE
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.
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.