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.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, May 23, 2018
2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING FUNCTION. *LD *JS
Engine, May 18, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN THE "ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED" WARNING CAME ON, AFTER WHICH I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A LOCAL ROAD NEAR BEFORE THE CAR STALLED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI CENTER THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND THEY FIXED THE ISSUE. TODAY, LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I WAS DRIVING AND ABOUT TO GO ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE "ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED" WARNING CAME ON AGAIN. I FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN CASE THE CAR STALLS AGAIN AT NIGHT ON A FREEWAY, AND AM WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM HYUNDAI TO EITHER FIX OR REPLACE THE CAR.
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
Other or unspecified, Mar 9, 2018
THESE NEW CARS DO NOT HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE FOR THE TRUNK ANYMORE - MAKING THEM EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS BY RELEASING THE LEVEL ON THE VERY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OR YOU MUST HAVE THE KEYS IN YOUR HAND. SO THE CAR IS PARKED AND MY SON GOES OUT WITH A FRIEND TO GET A POSTER OUT OF THE TRUNK AND SHUTS THE DOOR ON HIS HAND BY ACCIDENT. - OR SHOULD I SAY THE TRUNK CAME DOWN ON HIS HAND AND LOCKED HIS HAND INSIDE! AND NOW HE CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK DOOR - AND NEITHER CAN HIS FRIENDS BECAUSE THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE ANYMORE! AND THEY ARE ALL TO YOUNG TO KNOW THERE IS A RELEASE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. IF I HAD NOT BEEN CLOSE BY - MY SON WOULD HAVE LOST HIS LITTLE PINKY FINGER. IT WAS CUT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BONE. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI TO LET THEM KNOW - THE FIRST AND LAST RESPONSE WAS, "MA'AM, COULD YOU CALM DOWN BEFORE WE CONTINUE?" I SAID "SURE. I AM GOING TO CALM RIGHT DOWN AND CALL THE PRESS." AND I HUNG UP AND HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED ABC, NBC AND THE AUTOMOTIVE NEWS - THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. HOW COULD ANYONE ALLOW NEW CARS TO HAVE NO MANUAL WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK ANYMORE. THIS IS NOT EVOLUTION OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY. THIS IS A HUGE STRAP BACKWARD AND IT COULD REALLY PROVE TO BE HARMFUL TO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE. IT'S ONE THING TO SHUT THE DOOR ON YOUR FINGER OR HAND - BUT A DOOR THAT CAN NOT BE OPENED ... WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY COME UP WITH THIS FAUX PAS? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Vehicle speed control, Jan 22, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (EMPIRE HYUNDAI INC, 428 PLEASANT ST, FALL RIVER, MA 02721, (508) 673-7646) MORE THAN TWICE, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE DUE TO NO DTC. IN ADDITION, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. *TT *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS BEAMS HARDLY REACH ACROSS AN INTERSECTION.. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD SIGNS LIKE SPEED LIMIT, AND STREET NAME SIGNS.. ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON RURAL ROADS THAT HAVE DIPS IN THEM UNLESS YOUR SLOW DOWN TO 15MPH (NOT GOOD WHEN THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 ON THESE ROADS.... THE HEADLIGHTS DISAPPEAR ON SUBURBAN STREETS AS WELL... THE FIRST IMAGE THERE ARE TWO STOP SIGNS .. ..YOU CAN SEE THE POST THEY ARE ON BUT CAN YOU SEE THE SIGNS ? THE SECOND IMAGE SHOWS THE BEAMS OF THE CAR ON A FENCE .. THE CAR IS PARKED 26' AWAY FROM A 74" HIGH FENCE IM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT.... YOU CANT SEE STOP SIGNS.. YOU CAN SEE THE LEGS OF PEDESTRIANS BUT NOT THEIR TORSOS