2017 Hyundai Elantra transmission and drivetrain problems
67 of the 792 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 41 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 67 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 5
Half of the 28 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 5,000 and 85,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
792 complaints in all about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Elantra transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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.
Was driving the car on a two lane road and engine shut off. Had to coast to side of road. Had car towed to deal and they say it is a bottom end knock and engine has to be replaced. It has 54,000 miles and has been serviced regularly by Hyundai dealers.
Hi team, there is a grinding noise whenever I shift my car from park to drive. It happens whenever I shift from park to drive/reverse or slow down quickly. So, I AM concerned that there is a safety issue here. I feel really uncomfortable driving my own vehicle when there is something wrong with it.
2017 Hyundai Elantra. Car is shaking heavily at idle, no codes or check engine light. No one will diagnose, turned away by dealership. When turning car will stall middle of intersection, this has happened twice. This is unsafe and dealership will not help me and I AM turned away. I'm starting to worry about the safety of my car.
'takata recall' I have noticed that my transmission skips or jerks randomly. As i'm driving on the streets or on the highway... My rpm's will jump up to 3, 4, or sometimes 5 when i'm driving and holding steady at 2 rpm's. I always drive the speed limit and never floor my gas pedal.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications41 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra
Source: the same files- engine problems 315 complaints
- electrical problems 113 complaints
- steering problems 72 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 67 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 41 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,600 miles; half of them between 5,000 and 85,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.