10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,223 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #125

Feb 262022

Elantra

  • miles
My Hyundai Elantra 2017 died while driving on the highway. Started with hesitation when accelerated and died on the highway. The vehicle would not restart

- Van Lear, KY, USA

problem #124

Feb 262022

Elantra

  • miles
While driving on highway the vehicle quit running and would not restart. It seemed it lost power prior to completely dying. Check engine light came on when starting and had some hesitation but started then once on highway stalled out. Paint is also coming off hood color is Pearl White

- Van Lear, KY, USA

problem #123

Nov 012021

Elantra

  • miles
November 2, 2021 driving on the freeway, car started to shake, travelling at approximately 5mph in traffic. Check engine light came on and stayed on. Not knowing what was going on with the car took it to an independent mechanic to determine the problem. Mechanic ran diagnostics and determined car was misfiring. All 4 spark plugs were replaced and 2 coils. Induction cleaning was performed. February 4, 2022 car started shaking at a stop light, pulled into a parking lot. My father came to get the car and the check engine light came on. My father used an OBD meter and determined the car was misfiring once again. He was going to replace the coils himself, called Hyundai to see how much they would charge and was told that it was under warranty. Hyundai ended up replacing 4 coils. The coils placed installed in November did not meet the new coils that Hyundai is now using as OEM parts. Seems like this should be a recall if Hyundai knows that the coils delivered with the car our faulty. Tried to recover some of the costs from Hyundai for the previous work and was told they do not reimburse work done at independent mechanics.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #122

Feb 122022

Elantra

  • miles
In June 2021 (41600 miles), my car cut off 3 times without service engine light coming on. When I stopped at lights and/or idle, the shuts off without warning. This is extremely dangerous for anyone on the highway or at traffic lights. The reason for the car shutting down is that the car's cylinder 2 misfired. I had to take my car twice, just for the dealership to say nothing is wrong with my car. I had to use my T-Mobile Sync Up to get the code and relay that message to the dealership. They would not fix it until I had a code. (What if I didn't have the Sync Up in my car to diagnose the problem. Once the dealership had the code, then the cylinder 2 ignition coil was replaced. I have an invoice. In February 2022 (44000 miles), the same thing happened at traffic lights and when my car was about to stop for parking. No advance "check service light" came on. The car just shuts off. This time T-Mobile Sync Up states that it was cylinder 4 misfired. But, when I took it to the dealership, they say nothing is wrong. They don't believe me unless it is in the car's system's history. But, T-Mobile Sync Up determined the problem before the dealership can find it. I don't have an invoice yet of the problem. This is a safety hazard and I spoke with a representative at my dealership and she stated that a lot of vehicles were having this safety issue. Someone could of ran in back of me. It's a good thing I didn't have kids in the car!! All of the cylinders' ignition coils need to be RECALLED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!!

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #121

May 152020

Elantra

  • miles
For almost 2 years now I have had issues with my vehicle. In the middle of me driving, all the light would come on and sometimes just the engine light and the car would proceed to stop working. This had happened on the highway while I was pregnant and I almost got into a major accident. I have major anxiety because of the situation. Each time I would get the car towed to the dealership where I purchased it. They will have my car for months at a time, notify me when the issue is supposedly resolved and then return car back to me. A week or 2 later, the problem would happen again. I have had to take my car to the shop 5 major times. My safety, my child-??s safety, and husband-??s safety have been placed in jeopardy. I am very afraid to even step foot in the car. The problem has never been fixed. My car is currently at the dealership receiving service for the same issue. I am still paying on the car and it hasn-??t worked for almost 2 years. I-??ve tried to sell the car back to the dealership but they said there is a negative equity on the car and they aren-??t willing to pay the difference. When I mention to them all that I have been through with the car, I am told the situation sucks but there is nothing they can do. This car should have been recalled from the beginning and no one ever reported it. I was told by an attorney that after the fourth time, there should have been alternative solutions such as: replacement of the vehicle or compensation. It still makes me feel scared to trust that they will fix the issue because as I have mentioned before, the problem keeps occurring. I have reported to the National BBB and I have 2 cases open with Hyundai Customer Care Center. Hyundai Customer Care Center has yet to respond to me. This issue has effected my ability to go to work because I don-??t have transportation, my credit, my safety and family-??s safety and overall wellbeing. I-??ve tried several times to get this matter resolved. I have all of my receipts.

- Reisterstown, MD, USA

problem #120

Jan 072022

Elantra

  • miles
Engine idles rough, shifts rough, idles high, stalls, and sometimes just simply won't run. CEL came on when it was time for an oil change/service, had oil and filter changed at Express Lube, and had them run a diagnostic on the CEL to make sure it was for the oil change, it was code P0017 cam/crankshaft. They cleared the code to be sure it wasn't just a glitch, CEL came right back on not even 50 miles down the road, and the car stalled in the middle of traffic, barely made it out of harms way with my two children in the car! I bought this car in October 2021, made my first payment in December 2021 and the CEL came on originally in January 2022. After spending the money to have it diagnosed further by my Hyundai Dealer where I purchased the car, the technician confirmed the P0017 code and also that it is a timing chain issue and that it's recommended to just replace the entire motor! The car is barely 4 years old, not even 100k miles, and I am only the SECOND owner! How does this just happen to such a new car with lower mileage that has a good maintenance history just all of a sudden needs a new motor? I can't afford to keep making high payments on an unsafe vehicle. I have searched through the complaints about this specific model and have found several identical cases related to the P0017 code which tells me this is a reoccurring malfunction from Hyundai and they need to own that responsibility before a class action lawsuit is filed. CEL came on at approximately 95K miles which would qualify for the powertrain warranty but since I am the second owner the warranty is no good. Someone help please!!

- Livingston, TN, USA

problem #119

Feb 012022

Elantra

  • miles
One of the four ignition coils failed. Car started shaking originally at 60mph and continued to shake when stopped. Check engine light flashed on and off during the drive. Problem was reproduced and confirmed by the reading of the engine code (P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected). No warning prior to car starting to shake. Check engine light didn't come on until after car started shaking. Ignition coil was replaced by owner, no dealer or independent service center was involved in fixing the vehicle.

- Saint Louis Park, MN, USA

problem #118

Jan 282022

Elantra

  • miles
Check engine light on with diagnostic error code P0304 cylinder 4 misfire detected ignition coil

- Pine Bluff, AR, USA

problem #117

Jan 032022

Elantra

  • miles
The engine has produced knocking sound at 134000 miles. I replaced spark plugs, ignition coil and upgraded the fuel to higher octane, but the problem is unresolved

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #116

Dec 302021

Elantra

  • miles
Left a location driving my vehicle normally the check engine light comes on, then my vehicle loses acceleration and then my vehicle stalls and I almost didn-??t make it home.

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

problem #115

Dec 132021

Elantra

  • miles
My daughter purchased her first car, a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, last December (2020). She drove it for the first few months without any major issues but then it started having issues with the car -??jerking-?? and stalling every time she drove it. It actually stopped in the middle of the road multiple times and she had to start it up again, which is highly unsafe. The check engine light came on and she took it to the local O-??Reilley auto parts for the free diagnostic scan. It pulled up a camshaft sensor. Her best friend-??s dad is a local mechanic and has a high-tech reader, so he plugged it in and it pulled up camshaft/crankshaft. He also noted that the oil was really low (she had it for six months at this point). No oil light on. They added oil to it. The car sat in our driveway for a few months until we could afford to repair it. Took it to the local repair store and they stated that one of the major issues was the timing chain was loose due to -??worn sprockets-?? (which the mechanic stated appeared to be a manufacturing defect as they are too short to properly grasp like they are supposed to). After completing a $1800 timing belt repair they are now stating that, that was not the only issue and that the motor itself is going to need to be replaced. At this point, the car is not valued at the price of the repairs and replacement, leaving my daughter without a car and with a finance payment. I-??m at a loss of what to do. I do not know much about cars but I do know that a car that was manufactured in 2017 should not need an entire motor replaced by 2021.

- Florence, OR, USA

problem #114

Dec 072021

Elantra

  • miles
Check engine light came on while driving to dealership for an unrelated recall on door handle. A diagnosis of the car computer showed a code of P0128 Coolant Thermostat. Further check of information on this particular problem produced a Technical Service Bulletin from the manufacturer, Hyundai, Number 18-01-012. This bulletin was found on the NHTSA site. I notified the dealership and sent a copy of the bulletin. The dealership refused to comply with the bulletin and never returned our calls. I tried another dealership and Hyundai corporate office in California, and again was refused to comply with the bulletin. The replacement of this part was to be performed by any dealership if this particular vehicle was brought in for any type of service. The dealership manager, service manager and service department were all rude to my wife and myself in person and by phone. One person told my wife to fix it herself and hung up on her. Since obtained this bulletin from NHTSA website I feel that the refusal to perform the work is in direct violation of a known defect to this car. There is no recalls listed for this car even though I received a recall notice concerning the door opening flaw. There is nothing noted about the problem with the Coolant Thermostat even though the Manufacturer and NHTSA have both reported the problem. This repair was to be made regardless of whether there was a noted problem or not, as per the writing on the Technical Service Bulletin.

- White Stone, VA, USA

problem #113

Nov 172021

Elantra

  • miles
Elantra was running fine, parked the car at the store and went to start it and it didn't start. Tried starting it multiple times before smoke started coming out of the engine. Had the car towed to a Hyundai dealership to have it diagnosed and found out the engine was seized and the starter was blown due to trying to start the vehicle.

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #112

Nov 012021

Elantra

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would jerk and hesitate and experience unintended acceleration. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel injectors were faulty. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #111

Nov 162021

Elantra

  • miles
According to the Hyundai Dealership, located in Corona, CA, the Hyundai Elantra's are known for the ignition coil to go out. This is also not covered under warranty and list below of why it should be: This can cause Engine misfiring in a vehicle whose ignition coils have failed. Trying to start the engine of such a vehicle will result in engine misfiring that sounds like a coughing, sputtering noise. When driving at high speeds, jerking and spitting will be seen in the behavior of the vehicle. A vehicle with a failed ignition coil will also result in vibration when it is idling at a stop sign or light. Driving with a faulty coil pack can damage other components of the engine. Also most cars will register a faulty coil and immediately stop gas feed to that cylinder. However, damage may be caused if the fault isn-??t registered by the PCM and the dead cylinder continues to receive gas. Your catalytic converter and oxygen sensors may become contaminated by raw gas and need to be replaced. This can be dangerous if it is a known common issue in a Hyundai Elantra and cause an accident when travelling at a higher speed. I was at a stop when this problem occurred for me but was able to safely move out of the way.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #110

Aug 312021

Elantra

  • miles
Abbreviated. Full description in files. Since July 2021, I have had intermittent issues with my 2017 Hyundai Elantra. When trying to accelerate, the car would struggle to move and feel like it was about to stall. The engine light would come on any time I would step on the gas. It was a danger should my car refused to accelerate while making a turn, merge, etc. On 8/31, I brought my car to Healey Hyundai. However, Healey could not fix the car, as the error codes were not in the car. On 9/6 I was able to drive to Healey Hyundai within the same day of the issue. The error code, a misfire on cylinder 2. On 9/16, Hyundai Motor Corp recognized there was a premature failure of the ignition coil on cylinder 2. A warranty repair was done to replace the ignition coil. Once fixed, a representative from Healey Hyundai acknowledge they had seen this issue before. They went so far as to warn me that the other ignition coils could go at any time. On 9/27 at 11 am, the issue occurred again and worse than I ever experienced it. The engine light turned on and my car struggled to move. For 15 minutes until I was able to safely stop. Once off, the light went away, and it appeared to operate normally. On 9/28 at 1 pm, I brought the car to Healey Hyundai again. It was 26 hours, 30 miles, and 4 starts since the issue occurred. However, the error codes were again missing from the car. Healey Hyundai was not able to reproduce. And while I have felt the car shutter and hesitate since, it is not enough for the engine light to turn on. The original ignition coils installed in the car are faulty. They overheat during normal use causing them to melt and warp. It also explains why the issue has decreased as the weather cools. Also alarming is the excessively short period of time error codes are stored in the computer. It is a matter of time till my car fails again and I am afraid for my safety when it does.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #109

Oct 192021

Elantra

  • miles
While accelerating on moderate incline engine has failed three times and souns like it-??s flooding. After taking the vehicle to the dealership, they reported no engine failures or misfires were documented by the vehicles OBD. Engine has become excessively noisy, but after a 17 mile driving test by the dealership, they reported not experiencing any issues or hearing any noises. Vehicle Mileage: ~48.5K miles.

- Scott Afb, IL, USA

problem #108

Sep 272021

Elantra

  • 101,000 miles
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 approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #107

Oct 122021

Elantra

  • miles
The engine shakes while driving slowly or idle and starts to act like it will stall. Happened in the middle of driving several times including on the freeway where I was lucky enough to get off to the side of the road without getting hit. Turns out the ignition coils are bad and was confirmed after trying to replicate the problem several times. This has been reported several times for this make and year. Looks like some years were previously recalled but not my specific vehicle. Yet it was still a problem. This presents an extreme safety hazard as you do not know when it will stall and can do so while driving. With repeated reports of this part being affected, there should be a recall. Seems like hyundai is trying to save money at the expensive of the driver's safety. My previous Elantra lasted for 13 years without this problem.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #106

Oct 042021

Elantra

  • miles
Heavy engine knocking, no warning lights came on, had low oil (oil changed 1.5 months ago), car stalled 30 seconds after pulling to expressway shoulder

- Audubon, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »