2017 Hyundai Elantra

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

I leased my 2017 Hyundai Elantra new in July 2016 and later purchased it. As of September 2026, it has approximately 77,000 miles. I am reporting two unresolved safety concerns despite repeated repairs and more than five months of seeking assistance from Hyundai. Multiple ignition coils have failed during my ownership. Most recently, I paid approximately $400 for service after another coil failure. Although the check engine light is no longer illuminated, the vehicle continues to struggle to accelerate and abruptly jerks or “burps,” particularly around 30 mph. At times, I must press the accelerator nearly to the floor to gain enough speed to safely merge onto the highway. I commute approximately 40 miles round trip, including stop-and-go highway traffic, and am concerned about my safety. When I reported that the symptoms continued after the repair, the Hyundai dealer said I would need to pay another diagnostic fee while also stating their equipment might not identify the problem without an illuminated check engine light. My driver-side exterior door handle is also completely inoperable. This issue was previously repaired by Hyundai under warranty and a known issue with the model year, but the repair has failed and the driver’s door cannot be opened from outside. To enter my vehicle, I must climb through the front passenger door, lower the driver’s window, exit, walk around the vehicle, reach through the window, and open the door using the interior handle. After more than five months of contacting Hyundai and seeking service, both issues remain unresolved. I am concerned about the safety of continuing to operate this vehicle and about the failure of a previously completed recall repair. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review these safety concerns.

NHTSA ID

11764901

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

I bought my 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE earlier this year with about 119,000 miles. It had good maintenance records when I bought it, and it now has about 128,000 miles. Since buying it, I've had two oil changes done along with new spark plugs, coils, front brake pads, and tires. About two days before the engine failed, I noticed the car had suddenly burned through a significant amount of oil. There was no visible oil leak. The car stopped running, so I had it towed instead of continuing to drive it. Oil was added, and afterward it started and seemed to be running fine.The next day, I was driving approximately 70 mph on the interstate when the car suddenly lost acceleration and warning lights came on. There was smoke while I was driving, including smoke/fumes coming into the car. Afterward, there was oil everywhere. The car had to be towed again and is no longer drivable.What concerns me most is how quickly this happened. The car went from suddenly consuming oil with no visible leak to losing acceleration and experiencing a major engine failure while I was traveling 70 mph on the interstate. Losing power at that speed was dangerous, and the amount of oil and smoke also made me concerned about the possibility of a fire. Hyundai has told me the vehicle is no longer under warranty. I have not paid for an extensive engine teardown yet. My grandfather looked and he said it appears the engine threw a connecting rod through the side of the engine block. With the valve cover off, the engine looked brand new. I'm filing this complaint because an engine suddenly losing power at interstate speeds, along with oil and smoke, is a serious safety concern, especially with the potential for a fire. I hope NHTSA will compare this incident with other complaints involving engine failure and excessive oil consumption in 2017 Hyundai Elantras. Currently, it's available for inspection.

NHTSA ID

11763633

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

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 addressing this latch failure, but the vehicle is now beyond the 10-year extension period.

NHTSA ID

11762346

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11760662

Incident

Feb 2, 2024

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 diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and referred the contact to the BBB to report the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 108,404.

NHTSA ID

11757404

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

Mileage

108,404 mi

Vehicle stalled while driving on a highway without warning. The car was able to start back up, would go a few feet and stall again. Had it towed to a Hyundai dealership to repair. They replaced the exhaust camshaft and timing components. They released the car, saying it was fixed. Less than 12 hours later, the car stalled again while driving through Washington DC. Once again, it would start up again but stall every few feet. We took it to another Hyundai dealership. They replaced the oil pump (saying the oil pressure was too high). That did not fix the issue and the dealership stated that the intake camshaft needed to be repaired. The third party warranty company would not approve that repair, as they are saying the engine needs to be completely replaced. We bought the car in March. The first incident occurred in June and the second incident was 12 hours later. The car has been at the dealership for 'repairs' ever since.

NHTSA ID

11756274

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

Car wouldn't start. Makes clicking sound. Mechanic diagnosed it and said timing chain is broken, valves are bent and pistons broken.

NHTSA ID

11755070

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

AIRBAGS FAILED

NHTSA ID

11754599

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. This warranty extension only applies to factory-applied paint and does not cover collision-related paint repairs or vehicles with a salvaged title. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for certain white paint colors under these conditions from 3 years and 36,000 miles, to 10 years with unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, and is valid for original and subsequent owners.

Some Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use and is valid for original and subsequent owners.

Certain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use and is valid for original and subsequent owners. The warranty extension does not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer or has a branded or similar title under any state’s law.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.

In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, we’ve developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade that can be installed at the ignition cylinder location to provide additional protection against the social media theft method. Because your Hyundai vehicle with the VIN listed above (“Subject Vehicle”) was not factory-equipped with an engine immobilizer and was previously eligible for the software upgrade, you are now eligible until March 31, 2027 to have the ignition cylinder protector installed — if you request it — at no cost to you through an authorized Hyundai dealership.