Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 35 mph, the engine seized. The driver detected smoke and oil leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was pushed into a parking lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The contact mentioned the rod punctured the engine.The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
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. …
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving to the emergency room at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle began to lose motive power and the contact had to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine. The contact continued to drive the vehicle to the emergency room, and after leaving emergency room when the vehicle was started, the knocking sound continued. The contact stated that while coming to a stop light, the oil and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact drove to a nearby gas station where 2.5 quarts of engine oil was added to the vehicle however, the engine continued making the knocking sound. The contact discovered an unknown NHTSA Campaign related to the engine however, the VIN was not included. …
Component or system failed: The electrical and/or engine system failed spontaneously. Gray smoke originated from under the hood, followed by black smoke and an intense fire. The vehicle is NOT available for inspection as it was declared a total loss and scrapped 30 days after the incident. Safety risk: My safety was at immediate risk as I was inside the vehicle when the fire began. Public safety was also threatened; the Bloomingdale Fire Department had to evacuate a Wendy's restaurant and its customers for two hours due to the intensity of the fire and smoke. Confirmation of problem: The problem was confirmed as a Total Loss due to fire by the Bloomingdale Fire and Police Departments on the scene. Inspections: The vehicle was inspected at the scene by police and fire officials. …
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while pulling out of the driveway and shifting into drive (D), the vehicle started lunging and jerking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle responded as needed as she continued driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was determined that the failure was related to the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the road. The contact beeped the horn to avoid being rear-ended. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. …
The contact owns 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The check engine warning light and the low coolant level warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that a bystander assisted in pushing the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the camshaft needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V727000 (Engine); however, the model of the vehicle was not included in the recall. …
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the engine started misfiring. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that one of the cylinders had misfired and the failure was associated with Technical Service Bulletin Number: 20-FL-001H. The ignition coil and spark plugs were replaced; however, the independent mechanic did not have the ECM software update that completed the repair per the Technical Service Bulletin Number: 20-FL-001H. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted for assistance but informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in a recall or in Technical Service Bulletin Number: 20-FL-001H. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was making abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where unknown engine parts and a computer part were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle was jerking. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated; however, the contact stated that an oil change had recently been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil consumption. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Engine complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 313 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, 39% of the model year's 795 complaints. The component named most often is engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Hyundai Elantra engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 6 fires and 6 injuries to engine & cooling 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.