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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2022
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

In regards to my 2018 Hyundai Elantra Limited currently with 47000 miles, driving and noticed the a/c temp display which also controls fan speed stopped working, display was blank. Checked all other electrical equipment inside car with no problem except that the heated seat function didn't work also.while doing an exterior inspe…

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In regards to my 2018 Hyundai Elantra Limited currently with 47000 miles, driving and noticed the a/c temp display which also controls fan speed stopped working, display was blank. Checked all other electrical equipment inside car with no problem except that the heated seat function didn't work also.while doing an exterior inspection noticed that all lights except the headlights worked.After the interior and exterior inspection and no error codes or indicators on the dash, I had the alternator, battery and starter checked along with probe testing every fuse in the car and under the hood checked and everything was fine. The Car has been perfect up to this point which is alarming because if the headlights go out while driving at night or in the rain this is a safety problem and driving citation. My only indication of when this happens is if the a/c control display goes out. The problem is intermittent and Hopefully it won't happen again and I couldn't find any other similar things like this happening to others.

NHTSA ODI #11457211

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11426915

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2020
Exterior Lighting

THE REAR LIGHTS, BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS , BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT WIRING HAS MELTED. HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE!!

NHTSA ODI #11362914

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO

NHTSA ODI #11166747

1,672 miles · Oct 31, 2018
EngineExterior Lighting

ON 10/13/2018 I TURNED IGNITION ON CAR TO START AND THE CAR BEGAN RUMBLING AND BUMPING AND THE SHUT DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STATIONARY IN MY PARKING SPACE AT HOME WHEN THIS HAPPEN...IT ALSO BEGAN BUMPING AND DRAGGING IF TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON 10/20/2018. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP..NEXT, THE INS…

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ON 10/13/2018 I TURNED IGNITION ON CAR TO START AND THE CAR BEGAN RUMBLING AND BUMPING AND THE SHUT DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STATIONARY IN MY PARKING SPACE AT HOME WHEN THIS HAPPEN...IT ALSO BEGAN BUMPING AND DRAGGING IF TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON 10/20/2018. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP..NEXT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN BLANK WHILE DRIVING ON 10/20/2018. NOW THIS TIME IT WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE MAL FUNCTION. THIS WAS ON 10/23/2018 AND 10/29/2018 AT LYNNES HYUNDAI..ON 10/16/2018 VECHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUDSON HYUNDAI FOR THE SAME BUMPING. THEY SAID THE TECH FOUND A SHORTAGE IGNITION COIL AND A CYLINDER MISFIRED AND HE CLEARED THE CODES. COMING HOME FROM LYNNES ON 10/29/18 AFTER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR, IT BEGAN TO RUMBLE AGAIN. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR. WHAT IF YOUR IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND IT SHUTS DOWN AND YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES BLACK.COULD BE A TRAGEDY, IF NOT SOMEONE'S DEATH

NHTSA ODI #11144561

100 miles · Jan 7, 2018
Exterior Lighting

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #11060983

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