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2017 Hyundai Elantra: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
343 of 732 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 58% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 58 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
343
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
790
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
37 crashes · 24 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE309 · 39%
STRUCTURE134 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER131 · 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM113 · 14%
STEERING72 · 9%
POWER TRAIN67 · 8%

The years either side

2010
15%
59 of 454
2011
32%
121 of 460
2012
34%
181 of 674
2013
26%
290 of 1,334
2014
55%
193 of 391
2015
47%
110 of 262
2016
54%
142 of 299
2017
47%
343 of 790
2018
64%
196 of 330
2019
76%
143 of 253
2020
66%
148 of 257
2021
20%
20 of 129
2022
29%
25 of 116
2023
30%
46 of 166

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact cars with no elevated signal in 2017

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE10/02/20214 INJURED
Randomly stall all different times all lights will light up and coast until stopped. Down a hill and to turn it would stall. Go into 8 most serious accidents. I need someone to reach out cuz this car is not safe to drive wit kids at all
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS07/03/2023CRASH1 INJURED
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 crash…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/15/2022CRASH1 INJURED
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 conn…

Three of 343 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (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…
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 manu…
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 assi…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2017 Hyundai Elantra

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.