Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The body of our car has been losing paint in big strips. As we drive, large paint chunks will fly off parts of our vehicle. Hyundai is aware that their 2017 "white pearl" Elantras are having this issue; however, they refuse to do anything to help with the cost of repainting the car. They claim that an extended paint warranty was issued until Dec. 10, 2022; however, the paint issue on our vehicle just began happening on October 11, 2023. On Oct. 11, we had another motorist stop us at a light to tell us that paint came off the roof of our car onto their windshield as we were driving down a state road. Paint is now bubbling and beginning to peel from different places on the vehicle (the roof, the hood, and the passenger side door). …
I was driving and would hear a squeaking sound when turning right. Then I started to hear rattling I pulled in my driveway that has a curb and noticed an object sticking out that looks like it should have been screwed into something. It ended up being the front right passenger strutt it exploded through its casing. Not only damaging the casing but the hood of the car. If I would have continued to drive on it I could have loss control of the vehicle and put me and others in danger on the road. I was unaware this was a reoccurring issue with this model until I did some digging on the internet it sounds like a manufacturer defect. Now I was going to take it to hyundai dealership but they are stating they have to do a diagnostic for 170.00 which you can visibly see the strutt sticking out the hood. …
My vehicle, and hundreds if not thousands of other same make/models, are experiencing a heavy paint peeling issue. It is highly unsafe and ill-considerate for the environment and also for consumers. In the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of us are already struggling in many areas of our lives. To have such an expensive issue arise in these times is mentally damaging. My vehicle cannot go in an automatic car wash or even be driven in windy or rainy conditions. Corporate directed me to have this inspected by a dealership and the dealership refused to help and said corporate needs to handle the problem at hand. Corporate continues to send me back to the dealership. The paint peeling off exposes the body down to the bare metal and can begin rusting. If this begins happening, pieces of the vehicles body could become severely damaged and be a live hazard on the road.
The door locks are faulty and do not allow the door to open. This is the second time the vehicle has had issues with the doors not unlocking. The first time it was my front passenger side a few years ago and I paid an auto shop to repair it as this was an immediate safety concern in case of a car accident or fire. A few months later Hyundai issues a recall and sent me an email about the faulty door locks and that they could be repaired at a Hyundai. I called to ask for reimbursement since I paid out of pocket and they refused. Now another door lock is broken, this time the rear driver side, and I have the same safety concerns as before since the door does not open from the inside or outside. In both cases, the issue was sudden and no other damage occurred to the vehicle. It's unsafe to have to drive with doors that cannot unlock from either inside or outside.
For the people that have the doors that will not lock or unlock there has been a resolution for that and I am surprised that it isn't on this site. It's called " DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT(WARRANTY EXTENSION TXXL" number 21-BD-006H you can go to any Hyundai dealership and they will replace it free of charge. I had to do my own research since nobody would help me, including this website to find out the information. This is very disappointing that there was no recall or any information to help anybody regarding this situation. Especially since it's a huge safety issue. Not to mention when it rains my car leaks which could be the cause. I do not know, but I will never buy another Hyundai ever again. The lack of support from anybody is null and void and you are on your own to find the information. So nobody has to do the work I uploaded the file for you.
The rear driver side door will not open from either the outside, nor the inside. This is a major safety concern for any passengers that ride in the backseat, especially children. I just bought this vehicle on 08/12/2023 and was unaware of the issue until after purchasing the vehicle upon leaving the dealership. The dealership has been made aware, and quoted that they'd "take a look at it" when I bring the vehicle in to be serviced for another predetermined purpose. But, that hasn't been scheduled as of yet. I researched this and can't find if Hyundai has an active recall for this on the 2017 Elantra, but many others have made complaints that this has happened to them. This is very scary to think that it could happen to the other door as well and trap my child, or any passenger, in an emergency!
Bought 2017 Hyundai Elantra in May 2020 car had no paint peeling at Odometer reading 82,888. In October 2020 the paint on the hood of the car near the headlights started peeling the odometer reading was about 92,897 at that point. A couple months later the roof next to the windshield start peeling too. Now those spots have grown each time it rains. These spots are now starting to rust. Obviously this is bringing down the value of the car. Not to mention it makes the car look terrible. After I bought the car I went out and put new tires and wheels on it plus other accessories to make it stand out only to have the paint start peeling and have it look terrible. As a consumer I should not have to pay for Hyundai mistake in painting thier cars incorrectly.
I am filing a complaint regarding my white 2017 Elantra because Hyundia refuses to address the peeling paint issue on the hood. The paint is literally falling off. I tried to have it fixed under the original warranty - Plano Hyundia Huffines said it was not covered - This was not true, and it could have been fixed. I know this because I received an extended warranty notice (TXXW) specifically addressing the paint issue. I took the car to the dealer, and they again stated it's not covered - too much time had passed....I just received the notice 2 weeks prior to the appointment on 2/25/23 at 10:30 am CST. I am looking to simply have my hood painted / repaired and i cannot get anyone to be accountable to the poor quality of this car's paint.
Body complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 134 complaints about the body & structure of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, 17% of the model year's 795 complaints. The component named most often is body (128 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Hyundai Elantra body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Elantra body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.