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: engine
144 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, May 29, 2022
I have been having issues with my car since November 2021. My car would not go over 35 miles per hour, if I let my car sit for a couple of days I would have to jump my car. My check engine light came on and then 10 minutes later went off. So I finally got it in to the Hyundai dealership after months of them not having enough mechanics. So they did a multipoint inspection and came back saying the catalytic converter needed to be replaced even though no codes in the system. So I was coming back from Florida when my car stopped accelerating on the highway and my check engine light. So I had to take the long way home which means no highways and anytime I stopped I had to throw my hazards on until it would pick up any speed. I took it to Jiffy Lube in SC and that's when my car was reading 8 different misfire codes so I did my tune up with them and that is when I was told that my engine valve was cracked and dumping oil on my spark plugs and coil pack. Yesterday my engine valve replaced and another set of spark plugs in 2 weeks and it is still reading misfire codes and still no change in acceleration. I have only had my car 4 years and my catalytic converter should not be gone. I have not really moved my car in 10 months because my husband passed and I had 2 surgeries. My family can't take another loss if something happens to me because of this car.
Engine, Other or unspecified, May 26, 2022
At slow speeds car just shuts off engine. Starts back up but does it constantly. Also the engine lifters are starting to make noises like a clacking someone said it was a defective motor.
Power train, Engine, May 19, 2022
I've had several issues over the years with this vehicle but nothing too major but more so a nuisance. Such as the car hesitating when accelerating, light bulbs constantly burning out on the vehicle within less than a year of being replaced by myself , etc. It is now April 2022 and vehicle problems begin arising, I heard a weird noise coming from the engine (after much personal research learned this is a knocking sound). Which also happens to be the same issue from the prior year models. One day while out running errands the car just completely dies and goes into limp mode while I was turning onto a busy street (very dangerous). I drove it a very short distance back & forth to work a couple of times because thats as far as I felt going safety wise. The engine jerked forward one day but still continued to run. Then one day on my way home from work when I began slowing down to turn into a driveway. The car completely died again. It went into limp mode enough for me to creep and barely park it where I ended up having to get out & push the vehicle. It doesn't turn over or start at all now. The car gave absolutely no warnings no codes for me to turn to regarding what was going on etc. Hyundai says in order for it to be covered under the warranty that I have to provide them with information. Which I have no problem doing. However based on the research that I've done from other Hyundai Elantra owners others have had similar issues. My Car is barely 4 years old & only has about 65,000 miles on it. I went with Hyundai's because I wanted something that would be safe and reliable especially because I had a child coming into the world at any moment. I ended up going with this vehicle which isn't even 5 years old & it has already become a lemon. Hyundai currently has the vehicle as I try to figure out what to do with it. Since I no longer feel safe driving it. There are no warning lamps etc that came on.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Engine, May 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle did not drive smoothly. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil and fuel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Engine, Apr 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer replaced several unknown sensors; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to oil clogging the valves. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,644.
Engine, Apr 27, 2022
Engine would randomly idle mild to very rough when started and would sometimes correct and sometimes not correct while driving. This would turn on the check engine light for a misfire on cylinder 4. All ignition coils were replaced, and same code would happen. Hyundai was aware of this being a widespread issue and did a software update (Tech Bulletin 90C042R1). The problem continued, but seemed the check engine light would not come on as soon as before the software upgrade. Took back to dealership and they said the ignition coils would need to be Hyundai brand, change cylinder 4 to OEM and still having the issue. Engine also burns about 1 quart of oil every 7000 miles and often has a rough idle, with very rough idle periodically. I feel this would put myself and others on the road in danger if the engine were to fail while driving due to the ongoing damage rough idling appears to be causing to the engine.
Engine, Mar 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle began to shake and vibrate and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that two cylinders were misfiring. No further information was available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,000.
Engine, Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. While driving and turning the steering wheel was firm. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The driver added oil to the engine. There was an abnormal sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and informed them to schedule an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Engine, Jan 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the engine replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer and was awaiting diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Engine, Nov 3, 2021
On 10/29/2021 I was driving approx 40 miles per hour when my car engine shut off with no warning and almost caused an accident with my kids in the car. I had it towed to hyundai after the care refused to restart. No check engine light anything. Was told my engine failed by the dealership I have 72000 miles on the car. This whole incident has been a nightmare
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 .
Engine, Oct 13, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated the oil and the low tire warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the ignition and drive to an independent mechanic and had oil maintenance completed. The contact stated on 10/31/2021 while driving 35 mph, she started to smell smoke and saw smoke exiting the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated the oil, the low tire, and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle near a parking lot. The contact stated her boyfriend was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher from a near restaurant, but the fire continue to expand. The fire department was able to extinguish the rest of the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured nor seek medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Engine, Sep 13, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact had a remote start system installed on the vehicle; however, the vehicle would inadvertently start. The headlights would also activate independently. The vehicle was taken on four separate occasions to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the remote was sticking. The contact was provided new remotes, remote start module, and the mechanic cleared the codes. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.
Engine, Aug 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle inadvertently shuddered and stalled. The contact stated he was able to veer to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine coil pack needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who diagnosed that the engine coil pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving and the vehicle was taken to the same dealer who diagnosed that the engine coil pack needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was still awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Engine, Jun 25, 2021
Engine Seized Completely On 6 /20/2021 Car Was Only highway Driven and has had Regula Oil changes Using Quaker State Synthetic Oil As Is Recommended by the Automaker We still owe $10 K on this Car Its Outragous that Hyundai Has Had So Many Of these Seize But Yet It Keeps Going On We Have Had a Licensed Owner /Mechanic Look the car over and Will Provide A Letter We Fully Expect This Engine Be Replaced At Hyundai's FULL EXPENCE
Engine, Jun 1, 2021
While driving the vehicle this past January, I experienced a brief “clunking” noise in the engine, and the car stalled. The check engine came on briefly and then disappeared. The code identified was a “faulty crankshaft” code. I made an appointment with the dealership to take it in to be inspected, but later that day my son was driving to pick me up from work and the vehicle literally died in the middle of an intersection. No warning, all lights came on in the vehicle, the electrical system terminated, and the vehicle died. I had to have it towed to the nearest garage, which was a Pep Boys, and they diagnosed the problem as an alternator and battery, serpentine also. So. 1300 dollars worth of work later…. Turns out the car has an engine issue.
Power train, Engine, May 28, 2021
no warning at all the engine blew apart sling oil in the road car lost all power I was turning into the drive way or about too when this happened I had to clean the road way and tow the vehical home hundyai would not help I cannot get help from hundyai dealer which told me it would be 3 months becor they could look at it or pay for it to be towed to Memphis
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.
Structure, Engine, Apr 28, 2021
1. CAR EATS UP OIL SO FAST AND THERE SEEM TO BE NO VALID REASON. - CAUSING ENGINE MISFIRE. 2. THE ACCELERATION ON THE CAR IS DELAYED OR STALLED AT TIMES WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD 3. THERE IS I RINGING/ RATTLE INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I BROUGHT THE VEH BRAND NEW IN 2017 4. THE CUTE TRIM ON THE CAR STARTED TO PEEL OFF AFTER ONE MONTH
Engine, Feb 3, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER GENE MESSER HYUNDAI (4025 W. LOOP 289, LUBBOCK, TX 79407, (806) 785-7853) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE AND DECLINED TO OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,559.
Engine, Jan 19, 2021
MY 2018 ELENTRA VALUE EDITION STARTED KNOCKING IN AUGUST OF 2018. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN CHILLICOTHE OH AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT IN THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THEY SAID I SHOULD PLAN TO WAIT WHILE THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IT HOME THAT DAY.. I DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND DIED. THEY NEVER TOLD ME WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BUT THERE WAS OIL AND CHUNKS OF ALUMINUM ALL OVER THE ROAD. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD 33,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. THEN ON DECEMBER 23 OF 2020 MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING THE SAME EXACT NOISE. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 144,000 MILES ON IT. I REMOVED THE OIL PAN TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IT WAS THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER. THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING WAS BAD. I CLEANED THE JOURNAL ON THE CRANKSHAFT AND MEASURED IT WITH PLASTIGAUGE. IT WAS 0.001" OVER THE TOLERANCE. I INSTALLED NEW BEARING ON ALL FOUR RODS IN HOPES THAT 0.001" OUT OF TOLERANCE WOULDN'T BE TO MUCH. EVERY BEARING ON THE ROD SIDE WAS WORN OUT AND THE COATING GONE. THE BEARINGS ON THE BOTTOM "CAP" SIDE WERE IN DECENT SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WHICH WAS DESTROYED. AFTER THE ENGINE HAD STARTED AND I HAD DROVE FOR AROUND 5 MILES IT STARTED KNOCKING AGAIN. THE JOURNAL ON THE CRANKSHAFT IS TO WORN FOR THE BEARING TO WORK. I HAVE AN ENGINE ORDERED AND I AM REPLACING IT MYSELF. I HAVE SEVERAL YEARS OF SCHOOLING IN AUTO MECHANICS AND HAVE GROWN UP IN A GARAGE, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE AND NEVER MISSED ANY ON MY CAR. IT HAD EVERY OIL CHANGE WITH SYNTHETIC OIL, OIL FILTER CHANGED EVERY TIME, FLUID LEVELS WERE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS WAS THE AIR FILTER. THE CAR ISN'T DRIVEN HARD, THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE ISSUES I'VE HAD OTHER THEN DEFECTIVE PARTS OR DESIGN OF THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR.
Engine, Nov 4, 2020
GOT MY OIL CHANGED 9/10/2020 AND IT HAS NOT RAN EVERY SINCE 9/10/20 WANT STAY RUNNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MAKING A LOUD NOISE I HAVE TO KEEP GIVING IT GAS TO KEEPIT RUNNING. SO. MY STEPDAD WAS LIKE IS THERE ANY OIL IN IT I TOLD HIM I HAD JUST HAD IT CHANGED NOT EVEN MONTH AGO WELL HE CHECK IT AND IT'S 2 AND HALF QUARTS LOW BUT HOW IS THAT IT'S NOT EVEN BEEN RUNNING IN TWO WEEKS AND I HAVE NO LEAKS SMH ENJ
Engine, Aug 29, 2020
I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR AND WHEN I DID IT EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS LIT UP AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK IN PARK. IT HAPPENED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND IT WORKED BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME HE USED SOME SORT OF TOLL HE HAD TO UNLOCK THE GEAR SHIFT WHICH ALLOWED IT TO BE DRIVEABLE. OF COURSE WHEN THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND DID SO.
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