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, 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.
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.
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
Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2021
My multifunction switch appears to be defective. I have taken it to 2 different dealerships to be looked at. They have been unable to replicate any issues either time. Occasionally at night time the headlights will randomly turn off. This happened in auto mode as well as when it was pouring down rain and the wipers were on. The headlight indicator on the dash stays lit but the lights themselves turn off. This also happened driving to work in the early morning. When it is cold outside and also randomly the left signal indication doesn’t work in the lane changing function. I sometimes have to hit it 3-4 times before it decides to come on. Neither dealership I have used knows what is happening with the vehicle and I am not keen to spend $600 to have it fixed if it’s not going to 100% fix the issue.
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 26, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming excessive amounts of fuel. The contact stated that there was no evidence of a fuel leak nor an abnormal fuel odor. The contact compared the fuel consumption to a previous vehicle owned that was the same year, make, and model. The contact needed to add $10-20 daily whenever the fuel gauge showed a half tank of gasoline. The contact's one-way trip from her residence to work was 35.3 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was test-driven for 7 miles and it was confirmed that the fuel gauge was providing inaccurate fuel readings. The dealer informed the contact to bring the vehicle back when the fuel gauge was empty to be able to have a code reading. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was also no code appearing on the code reader however, there was a powertrain failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,302.
Wheels, May 10, 2021
THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM CONSISTENTLY INDICATES LOW TIRE PRESSURE ON 3 OF THE 4 WHEELS WHETHER STATIONARY OF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. MANUAL CHECKING OF THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATES THE TIRES ARE AT CORRECT PRESSURE. THIS PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN WHILE IN WARRANTY. HYUNDAI DEALER DID A REPAIR. NEXT TIME IT OCCURRED, THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALER WANTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE SENSORS AND MONITORING SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED ON THIS SITE FOR THIS MODEL. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ACTUALLY A RECALL ON A SIMILAR MODEL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 5, 2021
STARTED LOOSING POWER THEN THROW A ROD THROWING OIL EVERYWERE RIGHT AFTER 100000MILES
Steering, May 5, 2021
I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED.. I NOTICE WHEN I'M DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT.I THOUGHT MAYBE MY TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WAS BAD GOT BRAND NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE BUT THE CAR STILL SWERVES TOOK IT TO MIDAS THEY PUT IN A NEW TIE ROD BUT NOTHING CHANGED ITS EVEN WORST WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET..
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
Suspension, Mar 21, 2021
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING RIGHT OVER UNEVEN SURFACES (OR BUMPS), THE VEHICLE MAKES CRUNCHING/CREAKING SOUNDS THAT MAY SUGGEST SUSPENSION ISSUES OR FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND UNABLE TO REPAIR. IT WOULD APPEAR RELATED TO ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER THAT CAN REDUCE NOISE IF APPLYING LUBRICATING SPRAYS, BUT UNSURE IF ANY AFFECT TO VEHICLE SAFETY.
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.
Structure, Jan 12, 2021
THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE-UP, CRACK AND PEEL OFF. THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS HIT THE HOOD AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WASHED WITH HIGH PRESSURE.
Service brakes, Dec 4, 2020
THE REAR LIGHTS, BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS , BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS
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
Power train, Oct 6, 2020
2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA: THE CAR ONLY HAS 21K BUT THE RADIATOR HOSE CLAMP CRACKED AND THE HOSE BURST OPEN. THE CAR'S ENGINE OVERHEATED CAUSING IT TO BE INOPERABLE. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE DENIES ANY FAULTY/MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS WELL NO REPORTED CASES WITH THIS MODEL AND MAKE. THIS SHOULD FURTHER BE LOOKED INTO AS IT MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DISTRESS FOR THE OWNER AS WELL AS ENDANGERING LIVES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DRIVING ON A FREEWAY UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACCEPT LIABILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO UNDER THEIR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, STATING THE VEHICLE MUST BE SENT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP ONLY.
Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2020
THE REAR LIGHTS, BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS , BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT WIRING HAS MELTED. HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE!!
Other or unspecified, Oct 3, 2020
DRIVING NORMALLY AT 35MPG AND THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE THE LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED BLINKING EVEN THOUGH THE PSI IN ALL TIRES NUMBERS WERE THE SAME AND NORMAL ON ALL FOUR TIRES... CHECKED PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE IN ALL TIRES AND STILL KEEPS BLINKING ALONG WITH THE SERVICE LIGHT STILL ON.
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2020
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING 65-68MPH ON NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHEN REAR BUMPER FELL OFF. NOTHING TOUCHED THE VEHICLE (NO COLLISION). ROAD WAS STEADY (NO POTHOLES).
Other or unspecified, Sep 4, 2020
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN,I JUST GOT A NOTICE AND MY LYFT ACCOUNT IS CLOSED NOW
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