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2018 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 190 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine complaints

140 reports
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136,000 miles · Apr 27, 2024
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I was driving about 45 mph when the car just turned off the first time. I was able to put it in neutral and start it back up to get to the side of the road and it died on me again. I was about 30 feet from my destination at this point so I got it where I was going and turned it off. When I turned it back on it was making a terri…

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I was driving about 45 mph when the car just turned off the first time. I was able to put it in neutral and start it back up to get to the side of the road and it died on me again. I was about 30 feet from my destination at this point so I got it where I was going and turned it off. When I turned it back on it was making a terrible knocking/grinding noise. It didn’t have a drop of oil in it (about a thousand miles after my last oil change mind you) so I put oil in it and started it again and the sound quit. I went to drive it and it died before I could accelerate to a decent speed, got it cranked and rolling again and it slowly got up to 40 mph, but the second I started to slow down again it would die. So I had it towed to my mechanic who at first thought it was because the timing chain had a lot of slack in it, assuming it jumped time so he changed that, but it was still dying. He ended up finding the cause to be the exhaust cam sprocket? I’ve never heard of this before but I do know that ever since I bought the car 3 years ago it never felt like it would get up and go whenever I hit the gas. Since I picked it up from being fixed, this thing zoom zooms everywhere now! But it is still using an ungodly amount of oil between oil changes.

NHTSA ODI #11585555

224,809 miles · Apr 12, 2024
EngineFire

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud popping sound. Two other drivers alerted the contact that flames were coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact checked the rearview mirror and noticed smoke coming from the vehicle's rear end. The …

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud popping sound. Two other drivers alerted the contact that flames were coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact checked the rearview mirror and noticed smoke coming from the vehicle's rear end. The steering wheel then seized, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was received. The flames extinguished themselves. There were no police or fire department reports filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a seized crankshaft and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 224,809.

NHTSA ODI #11582547

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2024
Engine

AT LESS THAN 62,000 MILES THE ENGINE NO LONGER HAS PRESSURE AND THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING 1 WEEK PRIOR TO CAR BECOMING INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11581804

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH TRIED TO SPEED UP AND SWITCH LANES AS I PRESSED THE GAS YOU CAN HEAR THE ACCERATION BUT THE CAR DIDNT INCREASE IN SPEED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK (BLACK). CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. ITS VERY DANGEROUS THAT THE CAR FALFUCTIONS IN CRITICAL CONDITIONS LIKE BEING ON THE FREEWAY. YES I HAVE TOOKEN IT…

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ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH TRIED TO SPEED UP AND SWITCH LANES AS I PRESSED THE GAS YOU CAN HEAR THE ACCERATION BUT THE CAR DIDNT INCREASE IN SPEED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK (BLACK). CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. ITS VERY DANGEROUS THAT THE CAR FALFUCTIONS IN CRITICAL CONDITIONS LIKE BEING ON THE FREEWAY. YES I HAVE TOOKEN IT TO HYUNDAI AND THEY NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALSO AT TIMES THE CAR WONT EVEN TURN ON. NO TYPE OF WARING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI #11580771

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2024
Engine

Having issues in several instances the past few months , where my car abruptly stalled in highway traffic, again less than a month later while at a stop light, traffic built up, I became nervous an scared, finally after turning my car off an on several times I was able to get my car to stop stalling an drive away. Third instance…

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Having issues in several instances the past few months , where my car abruptly stalled in highway traffic, again less than a month later while at a stop light, traffic built up, I became nervous an scared, finally after turning my car off an on several times I was able to get my car to stop stalling an drive away. Third instance has been the ammount of oil consumption my car is needing, I’ve noticed an increase use of oil for my car I use as a daily driver just commuting to a from work, an a clicking/knocking sound, other instances was my car accelerated at high rates of speed on the freeway on its own. Only after smash the break button was I able to disengage the throttle. An now just recently my car is using up more an more oil an has developed a hard knock in the engine. Similar to other models that have been recalled for the same reason. Reading online has made it clear thousands an thousands of other people are having issues just like mine around the same mileage as me an other models that have had the problems

NHTSA ODI #11578005

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2024
Engine

Unfortunately I bought a Hyundai Elantra sport brand new in 2018 i’ve kept the maintenance even to this day the car currently at 147,300miles. However I started having issues at 30,000 miles check engine would go on the car with shake and stall and miss fires would occur frequently. Every time I took it to the dealer they reset …

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Unfortunately I bought a Hyundai Elantra sport brand new in 2018 i’ve kept the maintenance even to this day the car currently at 147,300miles. However I started having issues at 30,000 miles check engine would go on the car with shake and stall and miss fires would occur frequently. Every time I took it to the dealer they reset the computer but never made an actual note of what was going on with the car. That dealership that I took it at the time was Universal Hyundai in Orlando, Florida. So now that I have 147,300 miles the same misfires are now catastrophic failures on the same cylinders, to add insult to injury I took it to a different dealer located in Sanford Fl so they can try to get willful engine replacement, and my claim was denied because I was out of warranty and over the mileage, the dealership new that I was both over mileage and out of warranty the second I brought the car in somehow I still get charged $213. It seems like no one can do anything about it cause Hyundai America made there decision to deny my claim. These cars are straight up trash my buddies Kia similar situation has made it to 150,000 before he had total engine failure engine seized up on him. To make things worse I’m making payments on a car that’s needs an engine replaced. I’m never buying a car from Hyundai ever again they’re straight garbage and now I have to purchase another vehicle. Thanks Hyundai America for making unreliable vehicles and then taking my $213 to just deny my claim despite having a perfect maintenance record. I hope people read this and realize what crooks you guys are. Side note Hyundai America refused to help, however when I threatened to contact the BBB to complaint about there product the customer service agent Ciani mentioned they will open up case as to why I’m putting a complaint to the BBB, I don’t know what the outcome of this will be but it’s irrelevant I wouldn’t take a free Hyundai even if it was given to me! You lost another customer for life!!!

NHTSA ODI #11577743

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2024
Electrical SystemEngine

MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WENT FROM 50 MPH TO 0 IN SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON . CAR DIDNT TURN OVER AFTER THAT GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND ONCE THERE CHECKD THE OIL AND THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. RECEIVED MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON 1/31/2024 STILL HAD…

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MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WENT FROM 50 MPH TO 0 IN SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON . CAR DIDNT TURN OVER AFTER THAT GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND ONCE THERE CHECKD THE OIL AND THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. RECEIVED MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON 1/31/2024 STILL HAD MILES LEFT OVER BEFORE GETTING ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SIGNAL NOTIFYING OF OIL LOW OR ANYTHING AFTER SPEAKING WITH SERVICE MECHANINC THEY MENTIONED THE ENGINE BEING SHOT. THERE IS NOT EVEN 100,000 MILES ON THIS ENGINE AND IT NEEDS A NEW ONE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY ADDING ANOTHER COMPLAINT CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING SO THERE CAN BE A INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI #11576026

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2024
Air BagsEngine

I got this car like 5 months ago and after driving it for 2 months I had to get a new engine for 4500 dollars. There is no way it can go bad in 2 months. The car only had 52,000 miles on it and it went bad when it reached 54,000 miles. After fixing that it went bad again after 4 months. I was also told that Hyundai Elantras are …

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I got this car like 5 months ago and after driving it for 2 months I had to get a new engine for 4500 dollars. There is no way it can go bad in 2 months. The car only had 52,000 miles on it and it went bad when it reached 54,000 miles. After fixing that it went bad again after 4 months. I was also told that Hyundai Elantras are known for their engine problems. It would be great if there is an engine recall on this car. I am not trying to sell this car but I was this car to be fixed. Thank you!

NHTSA ODI #11575007

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2024
Engine

Our hyundai elantra 2018 car started with a knocking sound while we were driving and it got worse our of nowhere when we accelerated and suddenly did this throttling sound with a pop. The battery light came on, the engine light came on and suddenly our car engine turned off and we were able to go on the side of the street we wer…

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Our hyundai elantra 2018 car started with a knocking sound while we were driving and it got worse our of nowhere when we accelerated and suddenly did this throttling sound with a pop. The battery light came on, the engine light came on and suddenly our car engine turned off and we were able to go on the side of the street we were on. Fumes were coming out of the hood and oil began to leak. The car was not able to be turned on to move it. We have towed it to our home, our local mechanic told us it was the engine. It has 135,000 miles on it. We got it from the dealership about 5 years ago and had not had issues until suddenly our engine blew!

NHTSA ODI #11574130

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2024
EngineVehicle Speed Control

When I drive my car shuts off in the middle of driving in traffic I almost got into an accident with my kids in the car The dealership doesn’t know what’s the problem they fixed a code of p0011 can anybody help because it’s a safety hazard with me and my family in the car please help feel like I’m just wasting money

NHTSA ODI #11572217

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems