2017 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
765 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
44,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 280 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 288 of 765 complaints (37.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 123 | 16.1% |
| Steering behavior | 81 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 71 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 45 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 288 |
| Unknown Or Other | 131 |
| Structure:Body | 128 |
| Electrical System | 107 |
| Steering | 71 |
| Power Train | 62 |
| Service Brakes | 44 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 40 |
Engine: 288; Unknown Or Other: 131; Structure:Body: 128; Electrical System: 107; Steering: 71; Power Train: 62; Service Brakes: 44; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 80 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 71 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 58 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 80; 25,000 to 49,999: 71; 50,000 to 74,999: 58; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (80). 485 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 67 |
| 2020 | 85 |
| 2021 | 128 |
| 2022 | 125 |
| 2023 | 107 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 | 33 |
2016: 7; 2017: 35; 2018: 44; 2019: 67; 2020: 85; 2021: 128; 2022: 125; 2023: 107; 2024: 75; 2025: 59; 2026: 33
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 123 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 81 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10939894 · 2017-01-05 (January 5, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SUDDENLY STALLED RENDERING THE BRAKES AND STEERING USELESS. MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR. MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON BUT NO ENGINE SOUNDS. ALSO THE CAR WAS NOW STUCK IN PARK. A TOW SERVICE WAS CALLED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT HAS SAT SINCE DECEMBER 28, 2016 BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947077 · 2017-01-23 (January 23, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT CONFIRMED THE FAILURE FOR THE THERMOSTAT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE PART; HOWEVER, THE SECOND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10985544 · 2017-05-13 (May 13, 2017)
MY VEHICLE HAS ACC (ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL) AND, WHEN SET, WILL ACCELERATE AND BRAKE AS NEEDED TO KEEP A CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT THE SYSTEM HAS IDENTIFIED VIA THE RADAR AND CAMERA. I HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POSITIVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IN THIS EVENT, IT WAS A HAZY AFTERNOON WITH WET ROADS. I WAS FOLLOWING A VEHICLE ON A ROAD WITH THE ACC SET. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT STARTED A DECELERATION LESS THAN 10MPH/S AND MY VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY STARTED PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10985544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896128 · 2016-08-15 (August 15, 2016)
WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE ON AN INCLINE USUALLY SENDS ME HEADING BACK IN REVERSE AGAIN UNTIL I APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME A LOT IN MY DRIVEWAY AND MOST RECENTLY ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN, WHICH WAS REALLY SCARY. THE VEHICLE STARTS FROM STATIONARY MOTION TO REVERSE, THEN STOP, SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND IT ROLLS BACK IN REVERSE AGAIN. ALMOST LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015906 · 2017-08-17 (August 17, 2017)
I HAVE HAD MY ELANTRA FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND IT HAS AROUND 13,000 MILES ON IT. ALMOST THREE WEEKS AGO MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS IT CAME ON. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THEY TESTED MY CAR, REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESSS AND STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I GOT A CALL ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT A MOUSE HAD CHEWED THROUGH ALL THE WIRING IN MY FUSE BOX. I WAS INFORMED NOT ONLY BY THE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALSO BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON P…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061012 · 2018-01-07 (January 7, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING CAR AT 50 MPH ON A COUNTY ROAD ON 10/11/2017, CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF, I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. WARNINGS SUCH AS ANTENNAE DISCONNECT, BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM WARNING. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR I DROVE TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME AS THEY HAD NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS. FINALLY ABLE TO GET A APPOINTMENT AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP GETTEL 0N 10/21/2017 I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, 1ST TIME 10/21/17, FOUND PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024195 · 2017-09-19 (September 19, 2017)
3 OCCURRENCES: LEAVE FROM PARKING SPACE- TURN ON ENGINE- WAIT UNTIL TACHOMETER GOES TO 1- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFT INTO D- TACHOMETER REACHES 5 ON SPEEDING ENGINE BEFORE ABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION. DRIVING VERY SLOW- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE- IN FORWARD TO LARGE PARALLEL PARKING- SPEEDS UP- BRAKES SPONGY- DOES NOT STOP CAR. ONLY HIGH CURB PREVENTS CAR FROM CLIMBING ON SIDEWALK AND GIVING ME TIME TO TURN IGNITION OFF. STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ON ROAD WITH A 35 MILE SPEED ZONE. AFTER STOP, BRAKE BECOMES SPONGY, CAR'S WHEELS BEGIN SKIDDING- CAN ONLY TU…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11701681 · 2025-11-26 (November 26, 2025)
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal whistling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump was fractured and had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11701681 at NHTSA ↗