2018 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 282 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 12 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 6 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
43 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 12, 2022
Financed last year (2021) at 38,000 miles, financing a vehicle i wish I knew to do research before hestitly excepting my first offer, first waring was on the test drive. The car had to be towed back to dealership because the battery was dead. In the sub-zero cold, the battery with read low and this causes electrical issues, from remote start not working to unable to open the doors. The more common and reaccuring issue that is getting worst is the lack of excellaration when taking off. Realizing this drastic difference recently, I know there is some thing happening, but I have not had much good customer service when I have brought issues to dealership and services center. Also issues with harness for the back left lights. The harness that holds the bulb keeps burning out. Dealer has never fixed when I immediately experience this issue and they just replaced the bulb twice until they realized the real problem and told me it would cost me $160
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 17, 2022
The car has a security vulnerability where the car is able to start without the key being present. Also, the engine will shutter randomly (car will shake) when in idle. This happens especially the first few minutes from a cold start.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Sep 14, 2022
My car will shut off as I’m driving it. I was going thru a busy intersection and my car turned off, I was in my car with my 3 babies traffic backed up and almost got slammed into. I had to get out and push my car to the side of the road. The check engine light started flashing then the whole dashboard started flicking
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2022
My brake lights kept burning out. I replaced them and they burned out the same day. It seems that the wire harness is corroded. I believe this is a manufacturer issue.
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 28, 2022
The air bag warning light randomly comes on disabling the air bags. It seems to turn on when the passenger seat gets moved forward or backward fast. In looking into this, it would appear Hyundais over the years have had this issue. It turns off sometimes when some one sits in the seat.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 18, 2022
In regards to my 2018 Hyundai Elantra Limited currently with 47000 miles, driving and noticed the a/c temp display which also controls fan speed stopped working, display was blank. Checked all other electrical equipment inside car with no problem except that the heated seat function didn't work also.while doing an exterior inspection noticed that all lights except the headlights worked.After the interior and exterior inspection and no error codes or indicators on the dash, I had the alternator, battery and starter checked along with probe testing every fuse in the car and under the hood checked and everything was fine. The Car has been perfect up to this point which is alarming because if the headlights go out while driving at night or in the rain this is a safety problem and driving citation. My only indication of when this happens is if the a/c control display goes out. The problem is intermittent and Hopefully it won't happen again and I couldn't find any other similar things like this happening to others.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 13, 2021, fire
About month ago Sept the car would shut off when driving or stopping and find out it oil I had changed at the tire shop it was changed 2 n half months before that once oil changed running good low tire light ,oil light flash off and on at time well as of 10/12/2021 started do it my again so I check oil there no oil werid where oil go no leak on ground when I leave wherever I parked well went to Walmart get oil put oil in it and started driving not even more 35 miles bout sudden smoke coming from under engine then smell fire I pull over in parking lot at restaurant ran put fire out and it got worse trying grab my stuff and bf with me fire went inside car and under the car hear siren firemen coming if they hadn't gotten there when they did it almost went to the gas tank could of exploded firemen said look like electrical cause fire . Engine light ,oil and tire light were on now undrivable .
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 29, 2021
It appears the parking lamps stay on when car turned off while headlights are in AUTO. This leads to unintended battery drain leading to unoperational car. Per Owner's Guide: The system automatically turns off the parking lamp when the key is removed (remote key) or when the driver turns the engine off (smart key) and opens the driver-side door. This does not meet the Owner's Guide's language. Dealerships and inspection services did not confirm/reproduce this. There are no warning lights or indicators of this.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 5, 2021
STARTED LOOSING POWER THEN THROW A ROD THROWING OIL EVERYWERE RIGHT AFTER 100000MILES
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 30, 2021
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT JUST STOPS. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR 1 YEAR AND THEY KEEP TURNING ME AWAY. MY BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THAT IS IT. I WAS TOLD I WAS EXAGGERATING THAT THIS WAS NOT HAPPENING. YESTERDAY WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER TIMES IT STOPPED. MY CAR STOPPED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RODE A CLIFF BECAUSE THE WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. NO ONE IS TAKING THIS SERIOUS. AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO DRIVE EVEN FURTHER TO GET IT FIXED. HOW IS THIS SAFE? I WAS TOLD BY RICH ITS MY CAR I OWN IT ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Jul 16, 2020, fire
ON JUNE 29,2020 MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH ONLY 40,000 HAD A ENGINE FIRE AND TOTALED MY ENTIRE CAR THAT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF INSIDE OF MY GARAGE
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2020, crash
CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND AT LOW SPEED WHICH COST ME AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST MY LIFE AND MY UNBORN I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR IT FIRST STARTED TWO MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE CAR IT CUT OFF AT A LIGHT I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT ON IT DID IT TWICE THAN NEVER AGAIN UNTIL RECENTLY. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 8, 2019
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHES AND WARNING SOUND INDICATES SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED WHEN NOBODY IS IN THE SEAT. WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE ARE MULTIPLE HESITATIONS WHERE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS, THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING NORMALLY
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 1, 2019
MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTERS WHEN I PRESS IT TO STOP GIVING OFF A LOUD NOISE AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO BRAKE AT TIMES. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAY NO ISSUES HAVE BEEN FOUND. WHAT CAN I DO. I'M CONCERNED THE PRIOR RECALL ON THE THE 2017. HERE IS THE LINK. HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/RECALL-ALERT-2017-HYUNDAI-ELANTRA-1420693395015/. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SEEMED TO STALL.
Electrical system, Wheels, May 10, 2019
THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY TIRE PRESSURE WAS DISPLAYED AS 14 PSI ON MY BACK LEFT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE TIRE AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LOW. I PLUGGED MY PORTABLE TIRE AIR PUMP IN AND ATTACHED IT TO THE TIRE, AND THE GAUGE ON THE PUMP SAID 36PSI, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AT. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING, AND THE CAR SAID THE PSI WAS BACK TO 36PSI. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. I EVEN TOOK PICTURE OF THE WARNING WHEN IT CAME ON FOR PROOF.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2019
ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 14, 2018
CAR HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. WILL GO INTO A FAIL SAFE MODE, WONT ACCELERATE PAST 40-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE CALL ON MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE FACT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. MY CAR LOST POWER AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CAR DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2018
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 27 2018 THE CAR WON'T NEVER CHARGE UP MY PHONE. WHEN I USE MY CHARGER TO CHARGE MY PHONE. MY DAUGHTER HAS A GENESIS AND IT DOES THE SAME THING AND HER CHARGE IN CAR BLEW OUT MY PHONE I'M SCARE THIS ELANTRA GOING TO DO THE SAME IT WILL NOT CHARGE UNLESS THE PHONE IS OFF. WHEN MY PHONE IS ON IT KEEPS MAKING FLICKERING SOUND. THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF ON MY LIGHTER ADAPTER AND MY PHONE WILL NOT CHARGE. SO I THINK IT'S ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE TRY DIFFERENT PHONES BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO STIVERS. [XXX] THE MECHANIC TESTED HIS PHONE AND HE SAID IT WORKS FINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR