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
282 reports, newest first.
Engine, Jul 14, 2020, fire
THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND IT STARTED SMOKING. THE CAR JUST STOPPED AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE CAR DID NOT WARNING OF OVER HEATING OR OF THE CAR NEEDING TO BE SERVICED. I BROUGHT THE CAR USED AND IT WAS TWO MONTHS AFTER I MADE THE PURCHASE THAT THIS HAPPENED.
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
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, May 23, 2020
ENGINEERS SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN SPEEDS AT OR OVER 65 IN FWY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES UNSTABLE WHEELS START VEERS OFF ROAD, HAVE TO HOLD TIGHT GRIP ONTO STEERING WHEEL. WHEN BRAKING AT SUDDEN STOPS WHEN BRAKE THE CAR SKIDS. VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. *TR
Engine, May 2, 2020
IN NOVEMBER 2018, I TURNED ON MY CAR, AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I TURNED IT BACK OFF, THEN ON. IT SHOOK AGAIN, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LINE WAS ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID SINCE THE LIGHT WASN'T FLASHING, I COULD DRIVE IT OVER. TURNED IT ON, NO ISSUES, DROVE OVER. THEY READ THE CODE AND REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. MILEAGE WAS 12,884. THIS MORNING (MAY 2), THE CAR TRIED TO TURN ON, BUT COULDN'T (LIKE A DYING BATTERY). OIL, ENGINE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WAITED A FEW MINUTES, TRIED AGAIN, SAME ISSUE. THE THIRD TIME, IT FINALLY STARTED, BUT SHOOK VIOLENTLY FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT OVER. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND SAID IT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THE IGNITION COIL, AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 15,000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP PER THE SCHEDULE. I USED THE CAR THE EVENING OF MAY 1 WITH NO ISSUES, AS WELL AS FOR A 45 MINUTE DRIVE ON APRIL 29, SO, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE BATTERY, EITHER. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. I AM AFRAID IT WILL BREAK DOWN SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN MY DRIVEWAY AND LEAVE ME STRANDED OR IN DANGER, SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION.
Engine, Apr 26, 2020
IN FEBRUARY 16 DRIVING IN FREEWAY AT 67 MILES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AT 10468 AND BLINKS WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LOSS SOME OF POWER AND PULLED OVER TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND ATTEMPTED TO STAR ENGINE AND TOOK 5 CRANKS TO START ENGINE NEXT DAY FEBRUARY 17 TAKE TO DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP TOOL ME NO FAULTS CODES IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE TOKE TO DEALERSHIP USE SCANNERS HAVE 2 GENERICS CODES PO128 (TERMOSTART NO OPEN PROPERLY) THE OTHER CODE NO POSIBLE YO READ DUE TO LIMITED SCANNER . THE DEALER THE DEALERSHIP THE ADD B 90C042R1 ELANTRA ECM SOFTWARE UPDATE (20-01-008H AND NO MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CODES O THE UPDATE IN SATURDAY'S APRIL 18 2020 AT 9:10 AM THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AGAIN THIS CASE NO ENGINE LOSS OF POWER APPEARS GO HOME AND RECHECK THE CODES AND SAME CODES AT MILEAGE 11539
Tires, Mar 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN TIRES, TIRE LINE: NPRIZAH8, TIRE SIZE: 195/65/R15 N/A, DOT NUMBER: 153T. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE COCONUT CREEK HYUNDAI LOCATED AT (4960 N. STATE ROAD 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS PREVIOUSLY PATCHED. THE CONTACT REPLACED AND ROTATED TIRES. ONE MONTH LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE ORIGINAL TIRE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT REPLACED AND ROTATED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LESS THAN A MONTH LATER A THIRD TIRE OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,600.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Mar 11, 2020
WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOP CAR LUNGES AND THEN STARTS TO MOVE, SINCE BOUGHT IT I HAVE TOLD DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THEY SAY NOTHING WRONG THAT HOW IT IS. ALSO TIRES HAVE ALL FELL APART OR WENT FLAT AND HAVE WIRE SHOWING ON INSIDE . I FEEL THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN AND WHEN BUYING A NEW CAR TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 1 YEAR I SHOULD NOT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS EITHER.I HAVE SOME PICTURE
Wheels, Feb 3, 2020
WARNING LIGHT FOR TIRE PRESSURE COMES ON EVERY 4 TO 5 DAYS. TIRE PRESSURE GOES DOWN, EVEN AFTER TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED.
Engine, Jan 16, 2020, crash, fire
GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BUT THERE WAS IMMEDIATELY AN ENGINE FIRE
Other or unspecified, Jan 9, 2020
HEATING HOSE ASSEMBLY AND UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSES WORE OUT IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS ON A BRAND NEW CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 5 DAYS AFTER I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND MULTIPOINT INSPECTION DONE ON MY CAR, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD GOTTEN IT SERVICED.
Wheels, Jan 5, 2020
I PURCHASED A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2018 WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES, HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2. THE TIRES ARE BALANCED, ROTATED, AND ALIGNED EVERY 5,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE SIDEWALLS HAVE SEVERE CRACKS ON ALL 4 TIRES. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE DEFECT AND IN NO WAY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS ALSO A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AS THE TIRES ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO CALLED THE HYUNDAI COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, HANKOOK. I HAD DONE THAT TWICE BEFORE, AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED HANKOOK DEALER. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A TIRE KINGDOM, AN AUTHORIZED HANKOOK DEALER, AS RECOMMENDED BY HANKOOK. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND AGREED THAT THE CRACKED/SPLITTING SIDEWALLS WERE INDEED A DEFECT, CALLED HANKOOK HIMSELF, EXPLAINED WHAT HE SAW, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING HANKOOK COULD DO. THE CRACKED SIDEWALLS ARE INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH HAS OCCURRED BEFORE WITH THESE SAME HANKOOK TIRES (VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2) ON HYUNDAI VEHICLES, IN WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND TIRES (47,000) WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WAS FOR TIRES PRODUCED BETWEEN MAY 2013 AND FEB. 2015. ALTHOUGH MY TIRES HAVE A DIFFERENT DOT, IT SEEMS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR WORSE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY TIRES.
Suspension, Dec 28, 2019
SINCE MY CAR HAD 7,000 MILES, I AM EXPERIENCING A CREAKING SOUND AROUND FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEED, MORE SO WHEN ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT.
Engine, Oct 29, 2019
CAR CONTINUOUSLY SAYS IT OVERHEATING. FIRST TRIP TO DEALERSHIP COULD REPLICATE THE ISSUE. SECOND TRIP A MONTH LATER. REPLACED HEAD GASKET DUE TO LEAK AND EXHAUST PIPE. CURRENTLY SITTING IN IT WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. STILL OVERHEATING NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER ALSO NOW PUTTERS AND SHAKES WHEN I TRY TO START IT.
Service brakes, Oct 15, 2019, crash
I DRIVE A LOT DUE TO COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY DUE TO RAPID CHANGE IN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAD A NEAR MISS. I WAS 5 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. I HAD STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AS FAR DOWN AND HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD TO SWERVE AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THEM. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK AND I FELT AS IF I WASN'T SLOWING DOWN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED OF 30 MPH. I BROKE AGAIN HARD AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP.
Service brakes, Sep 3, 2019
I HAVE MID 26K MILES I CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID AND PADS THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. THE BRAKES FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS ROUGHLY 15K MILES (I DRIVE 5K MILES A MONTH) HAVE BEEN SPONGY AND SOFT. UNLESS I HIT THE BRAKES HARD THEY BARELY WORK. SOMETIMES I HAVE. TO PUMP MY BRAKES 2 OR 3 TIMES TO HAVE THEM FEEL NORMAL. I'M GOING TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LOOK OVER THE ABS SYSTEM AND BRAKING SYSTEM SINCE IT SEEMS VERY UNSAFE AND I HAVE A NEWBORN. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR ONLY DOES IT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 OR 30MPH
Engine, Aug 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EAST ON STATE ROAD 64 IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS WERE UP , WITH MY SON I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MOSQUITOS FLYING AROUND AND ROLLED THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ,AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WINDOW REMAINED UP ..WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN I THOUGHT THE WIND TURBULENCE WOULD EXPLODE THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE ,THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND LOOKED AS THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BLOW COMPLETELY OUT....BOTH ME AND MY SON SAID WHAT IN THE F@CK JUST HAPPENED
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 11, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE BRAKE GOT STUCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALSO RELEASED A GAS/OIL ODOR WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING. THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS TO START NEED TO ATTEMPT TO TURN ON VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE IT ACTUALLY STARTS. BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS LOOSE AND DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEARNY MESA HYUNDAI (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,086.
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.
Power train, May 27, 2019
I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP THE CAR SHUDDERS LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WHEN YOU DON'T GIVE IT ENOUGH GAS. ALSO THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION WHICH I AM FAMILIAR BUT THESE ARE NOT NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION
Fuel/propulsion system, May 15, 2019
AFTER A FULL STOP AND YOU PRESS ON THE GAS TO MOVE, AT TIMES THERE IS A PAUSE OF PERHAPS 5 SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN START TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC.
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.
Visibility, May 1, 2019
2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELDS ON BOTH VEHICLES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO EASILY SCRATCHED BY AN ICE SCRAPER DURING WINTER. *JS