IllustrationREAR RIGHT DOOR NOT UNLOCKING FROM EITHER OUTSIDE.
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 reportsDRIVER SIDE DOOR PERIODICALLY WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT. JUST STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. THOUGHT IT WAS MY KEY FOB DYING HOWEVER I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL IS CAUSING THE SAME ISSUE.
YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE REAR DOORS. BY THE HANDLES INSIDE OR OUT. SOMETIME THEY WILL OPEN IF YOU WIGGLE THE OUTSIDE HANDLE ALOT OF TIME. THE INSIDE ACTS LIKE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS ON. THE CHILD SAFETY NOT ON. IF AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE REAR CAN NOT GET OUT. THIS STARTED IN 2020 ON DRIVER PASSENGER FIRST …
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YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE REAR DOORS. BY THE HANDLES INSIDE OR OUT. SOMETIME THEY WILL OPEN IF YOU WIGGLE THE OUTSIDE HANDLE ALOT OF TIME. THE INSIDE ACTS LIKE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS ON. THE CHILD SAFETY NOT ON. IF AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE REAR CAN NOT GET OUT. THIS STARTED IN 2020 ON DRIVER PASSENGER FIRST AS OF TODAY 3/30/2021. THE REAR PASSENGER WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE LOCAL DEALER - GLENDALE HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 411 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE LOCAL DEALER - GLENDALE HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 411 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V063000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
I HAVE TO CHANGE OUT MY LIGHTS EVERY 3 MONTHS. IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR OVER 2 YEARS.
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. LOCK MECHANISM OPENS AND CLOSES WITH FOB OR DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON BUT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL.
HYUNDAI AVOIDS TAKING CARE OF THEIR CARS BY SENDING OUT GENERAL STATEMENTS FOR TECHS TO "FIX" THESE ISSUES BUT THEY NEVER DO THEY SAY I DIDNT HEAR IT WHEN BROUGHT IN MULITPLE SUSPENSION ELECTRICAL ISSUES MY HUSBANDS 2019 HYUNDAI ELETRICAL GOING OUT. THE ENGINE ISSUE ALL THEY DID WAS SAY DIDNT DO IT FOR ME. THEY NEED TO REPLACE A…
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HYUNDAI AVOIDS TAKING CARE OF THEIR CARS BY SENDING OUT GENERAL STATEMENTS FOR TECHS TO "FIX" THESE ISSUES BUT THEY NEVER DO THEY SAY I DIDNT HEAR IT WHEN BROUGHT IN MULITPLE SUSPENSION ELECTRICAL ISSUES MY HUSBANDS 2019 HYUNDAI ELETRICAL GOING OUT. THE ENGINE ISSUE ALL THEY DID WAS SAY DIDNT DO IT FOR ME. THEY NEED TO REPLACE ALL THESE KNOWN ISSUES IT IS BRAKING DOWN THE WHOLE VEHICHLE FOR BOTH OF US. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS NEGLIGENT IN WORRYING ABOUT THE COST OF AFULL RECALL SO THEY DENY ANYTHING.I HAVE VIDEOS DOCUMENTS, MY CAR WENT FROM RED GAS TO GREEN RANDOM CLICKS DETERIORATION. MY HUBSANDS CAR IS THE ONLY OWNER ENGINE SHUDDERS RANDOMLY THEY DO A FAKE IINVESTIGATION. HYUNDAI DOES NOT CARE IF YOU DIE.
THE DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY OPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT OPENS FINE FROM THE INSIDE. I USUALLY HAVE TO GET IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE TO GET IN THE CAR.
I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND IT WAS RELATED TO THE HEATER CORE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, WHEN I STOPPED TO HAVE A PARTS STORE RUN THE CODE. THEY ASKED ME IF IT WAS OVERHEATING, I TOLD THEM NO. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING COLD AND WHEN I WENT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS THERE WAS ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING…
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I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND IT WAS RELATED TO THE HEATER CORE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, WHEN I STOPPED TO HAVE A PARTS STORE RUN THE CODE. THEY ASKED ME IF IT WAS OVERHEATING, I TOLD THEM NO. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING COLD AND WHEN I WENT TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS THERE WAS ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS WARMED UP. AS I STARTED DRIVING I WOULD GET WARM AIR BUT AS SOON AS I STOPPED COLD AIR BLEW AGAIN. I TOOK IN INTO HYUNDAI THE FLUSHED THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT I GOT IT BACK AND THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING, TOOK IT BACK THEY THEN REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, GOT IT BACK SAME THING, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AGIAN, STILL DIDN'T FIX IT, SAME THING WAS STILL HAPPENING, I AM NOT WAITING FOR THEM TO GET A SPECIAL PART TO APPARENTLY FLASH THE SYSTEM AGIAN, BUT REMOVING AIR BUBBLES. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH IT WILL FIX IT SINCE IT DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST TIME.
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ABOUT 75 MPH. OCCUPANTS WERE A DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. BOTH WHERE BOTH BUCKLED IN. DRIVER REPORTED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THEY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS THEY WERE NOT SURE WHY INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN PASSENGER LOOKED AND NOTICED THEIR PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPEN ABO…
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DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ABOUT 75 MPH. OCCUPANTS WERE A DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. BOTH WHERE BOTH BUCKLED IN. DRIVER REPORTED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THEY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS THEY WERE NOT SURE WHY INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN PASSENGER LOOKED AND NOTICED THEIR PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPEN ABOUT 10 INCHES. THE PASSENGER GRABBED DOOR AND PULLED IT SHUT. THE INTERIOR LIGHT SHUT OFF. THEY REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THIS THEY HEARD NO ALARM BELLS, HEARD NO ROAD OR AIR NOISE AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS OFF. THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING FACING FORWARD WITH ARMS CROSSED NOT TOUCHING THE DOOR.
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.