161 complaints reported

2017 Hyundai Elantra Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
161
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2026

After no previous issues, car stalled out multiple times on short drive to work. No warning lights and no subsequent diagnostic codes were reported. Upon final restart, engine started knocking severely. Upon investigation, the oil stick showed no oil in the pan. Vehicle was towed to trusted, licensed mechanic for evaluation where we were informed about the potential of a failure due to rapid oil consumption. The mechanic confirmed the engine failure to to oil loss. Vehicle had received regular, documented maintenance and fluids were checked periodically between cycles. There was no low-fluid indicator prior to the mechanical failure. Dealership-level conversations confirmed the rapid oil consumption issue for the 2017 Elantra is common, but because the vehicle VIN was not listed as part of a prior recall no assistance could be provided to repair the engine. The dealer provided a full cost quote of $9,000 to replace the engine block with a remanufactured unit.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2026
Jun 2026 Fire

Driving on the highway in the far left lane. Check engine light came on, car stopped accelerating. Car came to a stop, car shut off. Smoke was coming out from under the hood and flames were seen underneath the car. Police and fire department arrived. Report states an electrical fire. Had car towed to Hyundai. Hyundai stated that the engine seized followed by the starter catching on fire. Car was only 2,000 miles in from last oil change. Was up to date on maintenance and safety inspection. Hyundai also stated there was a hole in the engine block. No prior issues with the car. The car would need roughly $16,000 in work done, confirmed by Hyundai. Car is now totaled. Car only had 121,000 miles on it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2026
Mar 2026

With no 'low oil' warning, the car's engine started may a knocking noise. Then, all kinds of warning lights started. Parked the vehicle and checked the oil the next day and there was NO OIL in the engine. This should not have been the case considering this car gets regular oil changes. Also, there was no oil spots or stains on the driveway to also indicate an oil leak. This happened to my son while driving home from work on the interstate at 10:30 at night. That is concerning.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2026
Mar 2026

Component or System Involved Engine and internal lubrication system. The engine and related components are available for inspection upon request. Description of the Problem In January 2025, this vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure and seized. An independent repair facility inspected the engine and reported metal fragments in the engine oil, indicating internal engine damage. The vehicle was then transferred to a Hyundai-authorized dealership for major engine repairs, which were completed on January 18, 2025. Less than one year later, the vehicle developed excessive oil consumption. In October 2025, the engine stalled and was found to have no oil, despite having received an oil change approximately one month earlier. The vehicle is currently undergoing Phase 2 of Hyundai’s oil consumption testing. The dealership has indicated a full engine replacement will likely be required. Oil consumption has been measured at approximately 1.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. This vehicle is not currently included in Hyundai’s engine recall or warranty extension, despite being the same make, model, and model year as vehicles that are covered and exhibiting the same failure characteristics. Hyundai and NHTSA have documented similar engine defects on other Elantra models due to piston oil ring issues, resulting in excessive oil consumption and engine failure. My vehicle exhibits the same symptoms and failure mode. Safety Risk Excessive oil loss can result in sudden engine stalling or seizure without warning, creating a risk of loss of propulsion while driving, including at highway speeds. Confirmation or Reproduction of the Problem The failure has been confirmed by an independent repair facility and by a Hyundai-authorized dealership through inspection and ongoing oil consumption testing. Inspections by Others The vehicle has been inspected by both an independent repair facility and a Hyundai-authorized dealership.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2024
Dec 2025 Crash

Excessive oil consumption/ vehicle dies while driving.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Dec 2025

The contact owns 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The check engine warning light and the low coolant level warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that a bystander assisted in pushing the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the camshaft needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V727000 (Engine); however, the model of the vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure and was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 99,112.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2025
Nov 2025 Fire

The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that they were informed by a family member that when the vehicle was turned on and moved into the driveway, smoke was coming from underneath the hood, where the engine was located. A while later, when returning to the vehicle, they noticed the vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The contact was unsure if a report was filed. The vehicle was towed and determined totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2025
Oct 2025

Check engine turn on , sent to shop for check up and they find out the engine is leaking.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2025
Oct 2025

Oil consumption, 1 quart a week with no known or visible leaks. 64,000 miles

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2025
Sep 2025

I've owned a 2017 Hyundai Elantra for a few years now, and it has been a headache. Over the course of the past year and a half, the engine has went out (seized) not once, not twice, but three times without any warning. I go to start the car one day and the engine bay starts shaking and power of the engine goes either completely out or down significantly. It feels like a gamble every few months of if my car will simply stop working. I've had the engine rebuilt twice already and will probably have to have it rebuilt again for the same issue (the timing).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2025
Sep 2025

Car had check engine come on with No significant symptom. Mechanic said this code leads them to either timing chain, phasers, or piston valve all located in the engine. The car does not have much time at this point. It’s very costly after just having changed all the oil gaskets from a leaky engine. Mechanic said it will suddenly get bad if left unpaired and could be dangerous for me while driving.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2025
Sep 2025

Issue with engine burning oil after I passed 104000 miles. I had my oil changed just after 100000 with no issues and just before the 104000 mile mark my Elantra began to make a clicking noise and my oil light came on. I took it to get the oil changed and I was told I was completely out of oil. I began monitoring the issue every few days and after traveling about 300 miles in a day I rechecked the oil level and noticed a definite drop in level. I contacted the dealer and was told nothing could be done due to the fact it was over 60000 miles and there were no active recalls. There is an TSB posted for the issue already. As well as there are recalls for the 2014-2016 hyandai Elantras burning oil after 100000 miles.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2025
Aug 2025

While driving down the road, the car lost complete power. No warning lights came on until after the car had lost power. Car struggled to start back up. I put flashers on in hopes that others would notice my disabled vehicle in the middle of the road, while it was also pouring down the rain. The vehicle was towed to my local dealership where it was confirmed that I would need a new engine. The engine had a high oil consumption issue that caused it to stale while driving. The dealership informed me either there was a rod bearing issue or a piston slap in the engine. They recommended to park the car until fixed

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2025
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was making abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where unknown engine parts and a computer part were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle was jerking. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated; however, the contact stated that an oil change had recently been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil consumption. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2022
Jun 2025

I was told by the mechanic about the following. My car has shown engine oil burning issue, and it made the timing chain placing in the faulty function frequently. I changed the timing chain last year and was advised that I would need to check engine oil level because of engine oil burning issue. I was advised to check it at every 2500 miles. Recently my car showed check engine light on again, so I visited the repair shop and found out that the engine oil was totally gone before 2000 miles. The synthetic engine oil change should be at every 5000 miles. The rapid engine oil consumption made my car getting check engine sign on and I was told that it eventually would stop my car. And I was told that it is very hard to fix it because it is due to faulty engine issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2024
Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost automotive power and then lost power after driving a short distance. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic; however, the failure was not replicated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the same independent mechanic, and the spark plugs were replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2025
Apr 2025

November 1st, 2024 My husband and I were northbound on I71/75 at mile marker 160 while traveling in the high speed lane, doing 65 mph, when the car suddenly lost power, the check engine light immediately came on (NO prior) warnings. The car would not respond, had to coast to the side of road while traffic is whizzing past us at 65+ mph. The car at that point was DOA, lights would come on but motor would not respond . After many discussions with Hyundai corporate and sending them proof of eligibility for remaining factory warranty (window sticker information) that I was told in detail by the dealership representative. I was told emphatically that with it being a lease turn in that I was still eligible for all remaining warranties. Hyundai corporate says that even though I only have 88,000 ( odometer reading at purchase was 24,147) of a 10year/100,000 warranty on the engine. Hyundai corporate says that because I wasn't the original purchased that the warranty is null and void. I feel like there is something very wrong here when these warranties can be voided at the whim of the manufacturer. I have since had to purchase another vehicle in order to make it to the VA medical center for my husband and make it to the hospital for my cancer treatments.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2024
Mar 2025

Engine light keeps coming on... took back to dealer twice coil misfiring had to be replaced Car was bought in 2018 Coils were replaced twice in 2020 because of check engine light and car not running In 2024 coils had to be replaced again because of engine failure 2025 blinking check engine light on again engine failed needs to be replaced Maxon Hyundai refused to replace the engine.,. Car has 86,000 miles Does not meet the 100000 threshold

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2025
Mar 2025

The vehicle has been randomly shaking at idle since around 100,000 miles. There have now been a few instances where the engine will shake when decelerating. There are no warning lights, codes, or diagnostic readings that have given a solution for this. Around 145,000 miles the engine began to shake aggressively while driving, as I stopped and put the car in park the engine light, oil light, and battery light came on and then the entire system failed and the car shut off and could not be turned back on. This happened on a “highway” CA-108. I was stranded in the middle of the road, during school traffic hours. I towed the car to the dealership where they said they couldn’t replicate the concern but replaced the oil control valve. It has been 2 months since the repair, the vehicle is again starting to shake when decelerating. I now pull over when this happens though it typically stops within 45 seconds. I have seen the other Elantra engine recalls and feel as though mine fits the description.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2025
Feb 2025

Motor locked up

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2025
Nov 2024

The cars just stops running as you are driving. It's happened multiple times. We've changed the crankshaft sensor & cleaned the fuel system. We saw these remedies online as multiple people are having this same problem with their Hyundai.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2024
Nov 2024

2017 Hyundai Elantra SE sedan. Car starting stalling around turns and the next day engine had rattle and loud noises coming from engine. No lights to indicate problems prior to stalling out or engine issues.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2024
Oct 2024

Driving 55 miles an hour on [XXX] engine shut off and seized I filed a complaint with Hyundai corporation Claim number [XXX] They said they were going to make a decision October 25th still didn't hear anything called them back now they said October 30th The vehicle is sitting at Webb Hyundai Merrillville Indiana. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2024
Oct 2024

Hyundai claims its engines have a 100,000-mile warranty, but my Elantra 2017 engine blew up/ broke down just after 890200. Therefore, I called the Hyundai corporate office to fix my car. I also approached local Hyundai dealers at Jaining Road Hartford, Connecticut, but they refused to resolve my problem and denied replacing my car engine. I have no choice but to fix my car. I filed my complaint to Hyundai case no. [XXX], but Hyundai is not ready to resolve this issue. I have spent $4000.00 from my pocket to put my car on the road. I am requesting for the reimbursement. I have all the repaired bills and invoices. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2024
Sep 2024

All four engine coils blew before 60,000 miles. The car was being used and maintained properly and there were no associated engine or spark plug defects noted. However, all four original engine coils failed and had to be replaced.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2024

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra has 161 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.