Most common 2017 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of the 795 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra complaints by model year
Best Elantra years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018, 2011. Compare all years →
2017 Hyundai Elantra recalls (4)
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Hydraulic
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2017 Hyundai Elantra:
Loss of Motive Power
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.
What 2017 Hyundai Elantra owners say
Engine & cooling all 313 →
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at 25-30MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, where he checked the engine and oil level but could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated he continued to drive the vehicle, however, the vehicle would not go past 30 MPH. The independent mechanic came to the contact's residence and diagnosed that the engine had failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure was caused by a lack of engine oil. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised that they would cover the replacement of the engine based on the dealer's diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that they were informed by a family member that when the vehicle was turned on and moved into the driveway, smoke was coming from underneath the hood, where the engine was located. A while later, when returning to the vehicle, they noticed the vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The contact was unsure if a report was filed. The vehicle was towed and determined totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Body & structure all 134 →
Exterior and interior door handles failed to open vehicle door. Handle may work upon repeated engagement, but this does not always work. This is happening on both rear and front doors, both driver and passenger side. This endangers people's safety both inside and out. Should a person need to quickly exit a scenario (a woman being chased or threatened) the exterior door handle failing puts her at risk of unnecessary danger. Should this car be involved in an accident and people inside the car injured the failure of the door handle to open would prohibit help and aid to the people from people outside. Should the passengers or driver be incapacitated they could be trapped inside the vehicle, even with people there to assist them. The interior handles not opening could potentially cause severe injury or death to drivers or passengers. …
Door latch on back two doors failed and will not open at all. First door failed at 60,000 miles while getting additional maintenance at Hyundai dealership and door was discovered broken upon pickup. Dealership diagnosed problem but refused to fix it. The second door latch failure occurred at 67,000 miles. It happened while out on family trip. Having both rear doors unable to open was a major safety hazard for our children seated in back who would be unable to be easily retrieved if accident were to occur. No warning lights or any other signs of warning occurred. Doors just would not open upon arrival at destination. Hyundai dealership confirmed latch failure is cause. After researching online we discovered this is a common problem with this make and model car. Hyundai stated it will take several weeks and cost $500 per door when quoted. …
Electrical system all 114 →
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly over a concrete bar and drove up a hill. The contact depressed the brake pedal but to no avail. The contact steered the vehicle to the right direction to avoid entering a pool. She then crashed into multiple objects including trees, concrete parking bars, and multiple vehicles before coming to a stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was treated for injuries to her neck and back. A police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was destroyed. Parking barriers and trees were damaged as a result of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the fuel warning light flickered and the radio activated and deactivated independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the vehicle was performing as designed due to a satellite not being connected. On another occasion, the vehicle accelerated on its own and the brake pedal hesitated to respond. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard in order for the vehicle to come to a stop. The vehicle was taken to another dealer due to the above failures; in addition to shuttering and jerking while depressing on the accelerator, as if it was not receiving fuel. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact did a private diagnosis which indicated electrical system malfunction. The contact was informed to start using a halo battery charger to jump the vehicle. …
2017 Hyundai Elantra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 32 / 40 / 35 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 38 / 33 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 36 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Hyundai Elantra a good car?
Based on 795 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Elantra rates avoid: 4.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra at the same age. It is one of the Elantra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
The engine & cooling — 313 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm). Next are the body & structure (134) and electrical system (114).
How many recalls does the 2017 Hyundai Elantra have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, the most recent from March 28, 2017 (electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018 and 2011. See the full Hyundai Elantra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Elantra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 52% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.