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: other or unspecified
54 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 17, 2026
This vehicle lacks an engine immobilizer, a defect that has made 2011-2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles unusually susceptible to theft via a method widely publicized on social media as the "Kia Challenge." My vehicle was stolen using this method, driven approximately 30-40 miles, and abandoned. It was found stripped of parts, including the catalytic converter. This defect is already the subject of a nationwide class-action settlement (hyundaitheftsettlement.com) and a multistate Attorney General settlement. I am filing this report to ensure my vehicle/incident is included in NHTSA's records on this ongoing safety issue.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 11, 2026, crash
My daughter was in a parking lot and put her car in park, removed her keys and exited the vehicle. She walked around the vehicle and was removing her school bag and the car came out of park and rolled into another vehicle.
Other or unspecified, May 18, 2026
The vehicle is experiencing premature paint failure and delamination on factory-painted body panels with Quartz White Pearl (W8) paint. Paint is peeling, chipping, and separating from the underlying surface without collision damage, abnormal wear, or neglect. The issue appears consistent with widely reported Hyundai white paint adhesion defects affecting similar vehicles and paint codes. The condition developed gradually and continues to spread to additional areas of the vehicle. The affected paint failure exposes underlying surfaces and may reduce long-term corrosion protection of the body panels. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the issue. The vehicle remains operational, but the paint defect appears to involve loss of adhesion of the factory-applied paint system rather than normal cosmetic wear or isolated rock chips. The issue is available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has issued warranty extensions and programs related to similar white paint delamination conditions on Hyundai vehicles, but this vehicle was reportedly excluded despite having the affected paint code and similar failure pattern.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 19, 2026
The paint is chipping and cracking and just falling off. It started on the hood now it’s going to around the windows seals and part of the roof.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 30, 2026
The oil plug fell out and caused significant damage to the engine where the engine is seized and no longer works. It can be inspected if requested. Check oil light did not turn on. The car wouldn't run and almost got stuck in the middle of the road. The problem is common and recognized by you. No remedy has been made with the manufacturer. Insurance inspected it and told us that it was due to an impact wrench not being used to tighten the oil plug. There were not.
Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2026
The paint, there was a recall in the last but my vehicle isn’t apart of it but I have a silver 2018 Hyundai Elantra and my paint is just peeling like crazy! It’s peeling all of the good the roof and now starting in the back of the trunk where the rear window is located. It is starting to rust on the hood.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 6, 2025
Excessive oil consumption. Engine completely dry after 3500 miles in between oil change with no check oil warning light
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 28, 2025
the car keeps lagging on acceleration i had the throttle body checked and cleaned and they said it was fine i have been doing all maintenance required by manufacturer, but sometimes is lacking on the power loses acceleration, i see these model has a recall but when i entered my vin number doesn't show up so i am concerned why is not covered as it could lead to my car been stalled in the middle of the highway, dealer wants 300 dollars just to take it in and usually they can't reproduce the issue , what should i do in this case, i dont want to wait until i have an accident for this to be checked thank you
Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2025
I am writing to report an issue with a paint recall repair performed on my Hyundai vehicle. The vehicle was repaired in 2023 at Sheehy Hyundai of Waldorf. However, the paint has started peeling within one to two years of the repair, which indicates that the issue was not properly resolved. I spoke with Hyundai corporate office which offered no solutions and deferred me to the dealership whom performed the repainting. After speaking with the dealership I was told that is just what happens with this color vehicle and that a ticket of some sort was submitted and denied by corporate to fix the issue. I am seeking assistance from the NHTSA to address this matter and ensure that the recall repair is appropriately handled.
Other or unspecified, May 29, 2025
AFTER ANTI-THEFT SOFTWARE UPGRAGE MY CAR WILL LOCK ME OUT. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE CAR DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB OR BY USING THE KEY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. I DON'T KKOW IF IT WILL LOCK ME IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SINCE THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED. HAD TO CALL AAA TO GET BACK INTO CAR. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WAITED TWO HOURS AND THE CAR OPENED USING KEY FOB.
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2025
Out of curiosity, after searching up my current car I pulled a vehicle report from a NMVTIS approved site for my former car listed above. Upon searching up the vehicle history i learned i was a victim of odometer fraud. The miles listed for the owner of the car before me was 63,000 miles. However, when I purchased the car it was somehow listed as 20,518 miles. I am listed as title 4 and I registered the car in Atlanta, Georgia. I will attach the report below. I purchased this vehicle in September of 2021 from Efrid Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Florence, South Carolina.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 19, 2024
About 4 weeks ago (mid-May) I was driving in stop and go traffic on a major highway. My car is a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, manual transmission. After about 30 minutes of this, the car started to just cut out, the engine cut out when I was changing gears. It did this about 6 times on my drive home. I noticed that when the rev meter got below 1, the engine would just stall out, so I tried to give it gas to keep the revs up. In addition, the engine was making a knocking sound. I took it to my mechanic's the next day and when he heard the sound, he said it needs a new engine. He has had a few customer's with similar issues with their Hyundais. He told me to tow it to the dealer and they would help me get the engine replaced. That same day, I had it towed to a dealer nearby. They charged me $195 for a diagnostic and said it needed new spark plugs and replaced cylinder 1 coil, which they did. ($900) I picked it up, but I could tell it still wasn't right. The mechanic assured me he fixed it. However, they also told me the "check engine" light was on (it wasn't). When I was driving it, it started to stall again when I was changing gears. I brought it back to the dealer, he told me his mechanic had trouble getting it into reverse, there was a problem with the clutch. He would need to "tear down the transmission" for $2,000 and even then, he wouldn't know what the problem was. This just didn't feel right--I got the impression they didn't know what they were doing and that this mechanic couldn't even drive stick. I took it back to my own mechanic who couldn't find the problem. He told me to drive it around and when it makes the sound/cuts off, to bring it back. I drove it home--today--and the knocking sound started after 15 minutes. I recorded it and texted it to my mechanic. He called me and said "it's the engine. the dealership mis-diagnosed your problem and overcharged you." I called a different dealer, got an appointment for next week and must play the $200 diagnostic .
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2023
Car isn’t starting just changed the started two years ago after it failed now it’s not starting we have gas in it and it won’t start
Other or unspecified, Sep 16, 2023
I heard it’s a TikTok Trent going on where’s as though they are stealing Hyundais, they tried to 4 times, I jus wanna now is there anything y’all can do to help like a kill switch or something? Cause this is getting out of control, they broke two of my windows, slashed one of my tires, broke my steering column and stole my license plate, too much money I have been putting out on this car, and the police not doing anything about it
Other or unspecified, Electrical system, Aug 14, 2023
The car was stolen from an apartment parking lot due to no immobilizer being installed, making the car very easy to steal.
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2023
My car was stolen due to Hyundai's failure to design and manufacture the vehicle with adequate security measures, thereby making them incredibly easy to steal. These design flaws have impose significant safety risks and have place my family under a substantial financial burden.
Other or unspecified, Aug 2, 2023
My complaint is that my 2018 Hyundai Elantra keeps dying. I feel like it's a major safety issue. I can stop at a stop sign, light or slow down and it will quit. We've had work done on it and they say they have it fixed but it's still doing the same thing. It will just die, the engine light will come on or it will say key not recognized. I'm at my wits end. There has to be some type of recall to get this fixed because I've heard where this can happen while driving down the interstate or wherever. That can cause major problems. I just got this car in March and I love it, but we bought as is so we're stuck not knowing what to do now. I'm hoping you can help us find out the problem. Thank you.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 1, 2023
UNKNOWN- intermittently - multiple times a day for the last month the car starts making clicking noises like a card in the spokes of a bicycle. Mechanic could not find the cause. UNKNOWN- two times in 2 weeks- while making a turn my car stalled in the middle of an intersection, all the lights on the dash went on, and wouldn't start up again for a couple minutes. Then car starts and runs fine besides the intermittent clicking
Other or unspecified, May 12, 2023
UNKNOWN
Other or unspecified, Apr 17, 2023
- Due to a lack of a sufficient Theft system in my vehicle, the vehicle was easily stolen by individuals who broke into my back windows, removed the steering column and used a USB drive to hotwire the vehicle. The vehicle was found later by Minneapolis police, and my insurance company deemed it a Total Loss, as they would no longer insure the vehicle because the same models have such a dramatically high theft rate. - My safety was put at risk due to the vehicle's ability to be easily stolen and driven by individuals with criminal intent, leaving me vulnerable without a vehicle and having my personal life turned upside down. I have had issues with my finances, loss of work, and personal well-being due to the vehicle's theft, because of Hyundai's failure to install standard security software in the vehicle, which has resulted in Hyundai being investigated for violating national and state specific consumer protection and safety laws. - Hyundai did not notify me about this lack of security in the vehicle at the time of my purchasing the vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2023
The paint on all white 2017 & 2018 Hyundai vehicles are defective. I received an extended warranty but was denied stating it had expired. This is very unethical practice in not addressing this issue.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 27, 2023
Engine seizes or stalls shutting off the car completely and randomly. This puts myself and passengers and other on the road at serious risk of injury or death due to not being able to maintain speed or control of vehicle. It is available for inspection upon request. It has been an ongoing issue since 2020 and the dealership has “fixed the issue” twice. It is not fixed as it keeps happening. They deny any further issues and claim they cannot replicate the issue. I drove it from the lot again today after they “fixed” it and had it shut off on my way home. There has not been a check engine light that comes on in the past however this time it did making today the first time the check engine light came on. The check engine light came on before the car shut off while driving home from dealership. I put date of occurrence as of today but the first time it happened was back in 2020. It will shut off while at a stop light or even going 45 mph. I am unsure of how many miles were on the car at first occurrence. I think around 20 or many 30k
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 15, 2023
Without any warning, the vehicle suddenly shut off while driving in a very busy intersection. It was able to be started two times as we tried to get out of the way of other moving vehicles but it eventually had to be towed. There were no warning lights that appeared on the vehicle to give us any indication something was wrong. It was towed to the dealership and we were told that there was engine damage, the engine needed to be replace and that it would not be covered.
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.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2022
There is no immolizer the car can stolen with usb cord