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 the federal safety agency document and review these safety concerns.
2017 Hyundai Elantra: doors won't lock, open or latch
113 of the 771 complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra describe doors won't lock, open or latch.
- owner complaints
- 113
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical repair cost reported
- $650
- typical mileage
- 76,000
- recalls
- 0
Doors won't lock, open or latch by model year
What owners say
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.
Both passenger-side doors won't open without tugging on the handle when unlocking them. The front seat passenger door opens from the inside but has trouble opening from the outside. The backseat passenger does not open from the inside at all and has a hard time opening from the outside. Once we get the door open and the car remains unlocked, the doors open fine (except for the back seat door). But once we lock and unlock the car, we get the same issue. I'm also experiencing paint chippng and rust on the roof of my car and the creases of the trunk.
Door lock actuator on rear driver's side door not working. Door stuck closed, even though power to lock is present and locking / unlocking mechanism works. Door will not open from inside or outside.
passenger front door wont open as of2-15-25 and rear door won't open as of 3-14-2024
Front doors won't open from outside.
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.
When car is unlocked the drivers door will not open until you pull 3 times. Now the passenger door will not open at all from the outside. You have to open door inside car and push door open.
The rear passenger door will NOT open from inside or outside. The front passenger door will ONLY open from the inside. This is a safety concern with young children in car seats in the back or for general emergencies. F on my research this is a common Hyundai issue.
the door handle doesn’t open from the outside, causing you to open from the inside
My two back doors will not open they just opening
My passenger doors will not open from outside or inside when it is unlocked. It sometimes open when it wants but it causes trouble if I would have to get out of the car.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra door locks
Is doors won't lock, open or latch a common problem on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
113 of 771 owner complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra (15%) mention doors won't lock, open or latch. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
How much does it cost to fix doors won't lock, open or latch on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $650 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
There are 0 recalls and 1 service bulletin for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra
Check engine light 129Stalling 123Engine failure 60Loss of power 40Misfire 40Knocking 35Oil consumption 30Jerking 22Headlights 21Hesitation 21Steering lock-up 15Key fob 14Power steering loss 14Won't start 14Grinding brakes 10Warning lights 10Airbag light 9No deployment 8Fire or smoke 8Harsh shifting 8ABS 7Shudder 7Tire blowout 7Brake failure 6Overheating 6Seat belt 5Spongy pedal 5
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