2017 Hyundai Elantra: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
767 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fifth-generation Elantra (2011–2016) carries complaints about the engine's piston-slap ticking, premature brake wear, and — with the highest counts — steering that pulls and wanders, which Hyundai addressed with a software update to the electric power steering. The 2011–2013 years are the worst of it; 2014–2016 score above 78. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 767 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 767 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 85.22
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
All four rear/side door latch mechanisms have exhibited intermittent failure to release the door from the interior and/or exterior handle. Repeated operation or increased force can sometimes cause the door to release. This creates a potential safety hazard because an occupant may be unable to exit the vehicle through an affected door during an emergency. The manufacturer has previously issued an extended warranty/TSB…
Doors are not unlocking on open from the outside both front doors from inside and out do not open unless you pull three or four times the rear doors the passenger side rear door does not open at all. It’s like it doesn’t unlock and the driver side rear door only opens if you pull a handle like four or five times.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagno…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V232000 | Air Bags:Frontal | Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical… |
| 17V063000 | 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 assist. |
| 17V213000 | 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 in a loss of electric power steering assistance. |
| 16V956000 | 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 manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016. In these vehicles, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 35 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,850
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine290 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Structure134 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Unknown Or Other131 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System111 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering71 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Power Train62 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Hyundai Elantra years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (290 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Hyundai Elantra a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 35/100, computed from 767 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Hyundai Elantra's most common problem?
290 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Hyundai Elantra sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Hyundai Elantra cost to run per year?
About $5,398 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,992 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 21/04/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Hyundai Elantra really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 767 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 767 NHTSA complaints on record (85.2/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (32.7/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems