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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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Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2024
Engine

I was at work when my wife contacted me and informed me that the car has started to make a ticking noise (shared car mind you) upon acceleration and start up. This all started on 1/4/2024. Well I checked the oil level and it was a on the line of being on the low side so I changed the oil as I needed to anyways and topped it off.…

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I was at work when my wife contacted me and informed me that the car has started to make a ticking noise (shared car mind you) upon acceleration and start up. This all started on 1/4/2024. Well I checked the oil level and it was a on the line of being on the low side so I changed the oil as I needed to anyways and topped it off. I went to start to the car and ticking again, well I called around as I'm not going to ignore any sort of noise and was able to get a lcoal mechinic to look at it the next day as my local Hyundai dealership didn't have any opening until Saturday (1/6/2024). The next day I'm on my way to drop the car off to see where the sound could be coming from and the car shuts off. There were no warning lights or anything of that matter until the car shut off. I had to pull off into a street off the road. We get the car towed to the mechanic and he gets back to me the next day and states the car had low oil and that is why the engine failed. Hyundai shame on you all for knowingly putting a terrible engine into your products and for also at least not giving us the time by having poor sensors.

NHTSA ODI #11564095

60,000 miles · Jan 4, 2024
Electrical SystemEngine

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while a friend was driving the vehicle at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was restarted without any service being perf…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while a friend was driving the vehicle at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was restarted without any service being performed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11563608

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2024
Engine

I was driving on the highway early in the morning and my car would not accelerate and slowed down until stopped running. Then the check engine, check oil, and battery light came on after. I tried to restart the car and it would not do anything. I popped the hood to check the oil and there was no oil in the engine. My car was n…

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I was driving on the highway early in the morning and my car would not accelerate and slowed down until stopped running. Then the check engine, check oil, and battery light came on after. I tried to restart the car and it would not do anything. I popped the hood to check the oil and there was no oil in the engine. My car was not due for any oil change until another 1000 miles. No notification for low oil. No sounds , no smoke, nothing I had to tow it to my house.

NHTSA ODI #11563045

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2023
Engine

I noticed around 100,000 miles that my car was going through oil when I heard a ticking in the engine. I pulled over and checked and there was no oil on the dipstick. No warning lights or nothing. I just kept adding oil after that and thinking that I will never buy another Hyundai again but never thinking my engine would fail fu…

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I noticed around 100,000 miles that my car was going through oil when I heard a ticking in the engine. I pulled over and checked and there was no oil on the dipstick. No warning lights or nothing. I just kept adding oil after that and thinking that I will never buy another Hyundai again but never thinking my engine would fail full of oil. In June of 2023 my car lost power just as I got off the freeway. Thankfully it happened just as I got out of rush hour traffic otherwise it could have caused an accident. I had it towed home and the repair shop said my engine failed. I had it towed to a dealer and they confirmed that the engine failed. After many email and phone discussions with the dealership and Hyundai, they said they would cover 50% and then 70% of the repairs. The repair shop in town said this was common in Hyundai's and after checking online I found out that this has been an issue for 6 years before my car was built so Hyundai KNOWINGLY put a defective motor in my car. I have 149,000 miles on it but I still had over a year left to pay on it. just to get it moving I accepted the 70% and 9/27/23 I received an email saying it was done. The same day I received another email saying that they were wrong and it needed another part but should be ready early October. 3 months later I still have no car. I had to use an old truck I have that gets half the mpg. I've been paying insurance and payments on a car I don't have and don't want back. A page on Facebook, Engine Failure Kia/Hyundai describes many people's frustration with the same issue. When most get their car back, the engine fails again. I drive 110 miles a day just for work and its freeway 95% of the drive. If I have to drive in rush hour and my engine fails again, it could be disastrous. I want the dealer to buy my car back with compensation for lost money. I should not be forced to drive something that is a proven hazard on the road. I can mail all pertaining documents if needed. I can't scan them.

NHTSA ODI #11562821

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineFire

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A LOUD POP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FLASHED THEN WENT OUT. A PASSER BY COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ON THE GROUNG UNDERNEITH MY CAR. THEN OPENED THE HOOD WHERE THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE BEHI…

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WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A LOUD POP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FLASHED THEN WENT OUT. A PASSER BY COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ON THE GROUNG UNDERNEITH MY CAR. THEN OPENED THE HOOD WHERE THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE BEHIND THE ENGINE. ANOTHER TRUCK PASSING BY HAD A FIRE ESTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD. CALLED A WRECKER SERVICE TO COME AND PICK IT UP. UPON DELIVERY OF MY VEHICLE, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE WRECKER. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD SOMEONE COME BY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I COULD OF BEEN IN THE CAR AND BEEN BURNED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN OUT AND DONE A FULL REPORT ON IT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON DETECTING ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11547127

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2023
Engine

Engine completely out of oil. Only owned the car for 9 months. No warning lights no check engine lights just completely stalled on the freeway. Now has a very loud engine knock and needs a new engine

NHTSA ODI #11544771

46,000 miles · Aug 29, 2023
Air BagsEngineSeat Belts

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag was falling out of the air bag enclosure. The vehicle failed to start immediately but was started after several attempts. The air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag was falling out of the air bag enclosure. The vehicle failed to start immediately but was started after several attempts. The air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the battery terminal posts were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who tightened the battery post. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #11541387

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATING PROBLEMS, STALLING PROBLEMS FRESH FROM THE LOT EVEN BEFORE 5,000 MILES WITH MY HYUNDAI NOT ACCELERATING TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT 5 YEARS AGO. IT STILL CONTINUES TO STALL ON ME! IT BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN TWO DAYS IN A ROW. ONE ON 8/8 AND 8/9!…

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MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATING PROBLEMS, STALLING PROBLEMS FRESH FROM THE LOT EVEN BEFORE 5,000 MILES WITH MY HYUNDAI NOT ACCELERATING TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT 5 YEARS AGO. IT STILL CONTINUES TO STALL ON ME! IT BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN TWO DAYS IN A ROW. ONE ON 8/8 AND 8/9! COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR OTHERS IF I TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK TO REV UP THE ENGINE AT THE SAME TIME WHILE TURNING! COULD HAVE KILLED US! I AM SITTING IN A LEMON! IT IS NOT SAFE ON THE ROAD AT ALL!! I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO TRY AND GET A RENTAL. HYUNDAI WON'T LET ME GET A LOANER CAR! I CANNOT AFFORD UBER ALL THE TIME. ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TOO AND AIRBAG LIGHT. MY TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING TOO AND THE DOUBLE CLUTCH. CRANK AND CAM SHAFT PROBLEMS! HEADLIGHTW ARE VERY DIM TOO. AIRBAG WEIGHT FRONT SEAT SENSOR IS TURNING ON. ENGINE IS STALLING. SLOWS DOWN! WILL NOT ACCELERATE AFTER 60MPH GOES SUPER SLOW DOWN TO 55 MPH UP HILL. I WANT HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER TO PAY OR I AM GETTING A LEMON LAWYER AND CONTACTING THE BBB AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

NHTSA ODI #11538511

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2023
Engine

MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF ANYWHERE WHILE I AM DRIVING AS OF APRIL 02, 2023. I HAD TAKEN MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CRANK SENSOR REPLACED AND THEY COMPLETED THE REPLACEMEMT TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2023. NOW MY 2018 HYUND…

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MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF ANYWHERE WHILE I AM DRIVING AS OF APRIL 02, 2023. I HAD TAKEN MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CRANK SENSOR REPLACED AND THEY COMPLETED THE REPLACEMEMT TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2023. NOW MY 2018 HYUNDAI SHUTS OFF MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE. I WAS TOLD BY THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION OFFICE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORM THEM THAT MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS SHUTTING OFF MORE FEQUENTLY THAN BEFORE....AS OF TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2023.

NHTSA ODI #11537549

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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 s…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11535939

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