2017 Hyundai Elantra · symptom sheet
Doors, latches or locks fail
- 77owner reports
- 64,970median miles
- $500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
183 of the 767 complaints on this car are about the structure. 77 of those describe door latch.
Tick what matches of 77 reports
Door latch on other Elantra years
No other Elantra model year has enough reports of door latch for a sheet of its own. See every Elantra year.
What this problem usually is
Door complaints sound minor until you read them. The most common is a "door ajar" warning with every door shut. Others describe a door that won't open from inside, one that won't latch at all, locks that cycle on their own, and occasionally a door that opened while the car was moving.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the handle (31 reports), the latch (24 reports) and the actuator (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the structure covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Elantra
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
5 of the 77 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 47,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 21 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Certain Elantra (AD/ADa) and Tucson (TL) vehicles may experience an internal or external door handle being inoperative or requiring repeated attempts to open the door. If this condition occurs, replace the affected door latch.
CERTAIN 2017 ELANTRA (ADA) MAY HAVE LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON THE FASTENER SECURING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE(S). THIS MAY LEAD TO IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE(S).
What owners wrote
“The driver rear door will not open from the inside or from the outside. No matter how you lock/unlock it when you pull either door handle nothing happens basically leaving a rear seated passenger trapped.”
Filed Oct 10, 2021
“the problem is with the door lock actuator rear driver side and front passenger side, 2 doors!!! they don't open even from inside and out side when the door is locked and unlocked its so dangerous at the accident time or emergency times when the car is in fire and doors don't open from both sides when they are unlocked”
Filed Sep 20, 2021
“The door latch actuator on rear driver side has failed. Door will not open from inside. Have to jerk fast on the outside handle to get open. Has not been looked at but pretty obvious when the kids are trappes in the backseat waiting to be let out.”
Filed Aug 14, 2021
“Rear passenger doors will not open from inside or out .. door will only open if you pound on door by latch several times. Once door is locked and unlocked again it will not open.. dealer states it is a "lock actuator " and is $500 to replace. This is a safety issue. In an accident, no rear passenger would be able to exit vehicle. There are several articles of complaints on Google about this issue.”
Filed Aug 6, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 77 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 156 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 114 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 77 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 47 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 41 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 38 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 32 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 28 reports