Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Hyundai Elantra GT problems
Owners filed 735 complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra GT with NHTSA between Jul 2016 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (284).
Complaints
735
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
35
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine284
- Structure127
- Electrical system104
- Steering66
- Power train62
- Latches/locks/linkages52
- Service brakes45
- Air bags30
- Fuel/propulsion system28
- Vehicle speed control23
- Exterior lighting22
- Suspension14
- Wheels14
- Electronic stability control (esc)9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
35
44
68
87
137
127
109
76
38
7
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 68 |
| 2020 | 87 |
| 2021 | 137 |
| 2022 | 127 |
| 2023 | 109 |
| 2024 | 76 |
| 2025 | 38 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
284 reports3 crashes3 fires
“The Engine stalled completely at highway speeds. It was then towed to the dealership and was diagnosed with engine rod bearing failure. Hyundai is denying the warranty extension for this engine failure based on an incomplete 'Service Campaign 966' that does not appear on the NHTSA public recall database, leaving consumers unnotified of safety-critical software updates."”
Structure
127 reports2 crashes
“The rear door no longer open and the front doors need to be tugged several times before opening. This is a huge safety problem and I’ve seen many others with my type of vehicle and year with the same problem. The actual door problem is unknown. I just know they will not open and it all happened at once. I haven’t gotten into an accident or no force to prevent the door from opening has not happened. So I’m not sure of the actual problem.”
Electrical system
104 reports6 crashes1 fire
“I am writing to formally log a critical safety and product reliability complaint regarding my Hyundai Elantra GT. The vehicle has suffered catastrophic engine failure characterized by severe rod knock. This failure occurred without any prior warning from the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic systems, exposing an engineering and sensor flaw that creates an immediate safety hazard.The vehicle was operating normally when it suddenly developed a distinct, heavy metallic knocking sound from the engine block, indicative of failed connecting rod bearings. Upon immediate inspection, the issue was linked to critical oil starvation or pressure drops.Crucially, the vehicle’s warning systems failed entirely to alert me to an issue:No Low Oil Pressure Warning: The dashboard oil pressure light never illuminated to warn of low pressure or critical oil level depletion.No Check Engine Light (CEL): The engine sensors failed to detect underlying mechanical distress, oil degradation, or early-stage misfires before the catastrophic failure occurred.Complete System Silence: The vehicle gave absolutely no visual or audible alerts on the instrument cluster, depriving me of the chance to…”
Steering
66 reports7 crashes
“I bought a vehicle used and it malfunctions in six days. It is a safety hazard to me the driver and other drivers on the roads. The vehicle is weighing heavy on the passenger side the car is not parallel. Also the vehicle stalls while driving. The pedal stops giving power to the car. I attempted to fix the car and the problems still persist. The mechanics said the car need shocks, struts, and wheel alignment.”
Power train
62 reports2 crashes
“The vehicle has experienced ongoing powertrain and electrical malfunctions over several months. The most common symptoms include being stuck in 4th gear (limp mode), complete loss of RPM and speedometer readings, and illumination of the check engine and ESC lights. Most recently, while traveling at approximately 10 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of both acceleration and braking. The brake pedal became stiff and unresponsive, and the car had to coast to a stop without driver control. This posed a serious safety risk to myself and nearby traffic. These issues have persisted across multiple service visits to Ricart Hyundai in Groveport, Ohio. That dealership has replaced the crankshaft position sensor three times, the powertrain control module (PCM), and the battery, but the underlying problems remain unresolved. A technician at the dealership was able to reproduce the stalling event during a test drive. Despite that, the dealership has refused to proceed with further diagnostics unless I pay for an oil change, even though previous inspections by their own staff found no visible leaks and confirmed the oil level was sufficient at the time. They have…”
Latches/locks/linkages
52 reports
“The door locks are faulty and do not allow the door to open. This is the second time the vehicle has had issues with the doors not unlocking. The first time it was my front passenger side a few years ago and I paid an auto shop to repair it as this was an immediate safety concern in case of a car accident or fire. A few months later Hyundai issues a recall and sent me an email about the faulty door locks and that they could be repaired at a Hyundai. I called to ask for reimbursement since I paid out of pocket and they refused. Now another door lock is broken, this time the rear driver side, and I have the same safety concerns as before since the door does not open from the inside or outside. In both cases, the issue was sudden and no other damage occurred to the vehicle. It's unsafe to have to drive with doors that cannot unlock from either inside or outside.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.