VehicleVerdict

1997 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

The 1997 Hyundai Elantra has 28 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

28

Engine complaints

14%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Elantra engine complaints by model year289 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 8 complaints1994: 9 complaints1995: 25 complaints1996: 23 complaints1997: 28 complaints1998: 16 complaints1999: 28 complaints2000: 54 complaints2001: 24 complaints2002: 13 complaints2003: 22 complaints2004: 16 complaints2005: 10 complaints2006: 6 complaints2007: 18 complaints2008: 41 complaints2009: 13 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 97 complaints2012: 140 complaints2013: 236 complaints2014: 163 complaints2015: 92 complaints2016: 110 complaints2017: 289 complaints2018: 139 complaints2019: 126 complaints2020: 103 complaints2021: 16 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 17 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Elantra engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DEFECTIVE STEERING SYSTEM CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, STEERING HAD A VIBRATION AND TIRES WERE WORN TOO QUICKLY. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 25, 1998 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra engine — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.