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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

What owners actually said

281 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2021
Tires

While driving at low speed (25mph) I could hear a sound coming from one of my tires that sounded like I had rolled over a large piece of tape. I slowed the car and it sounded like something was stuck on a tire. I pulled over and found nothing when I examined all 4 tires. In the morning I checked the tires and tire pressure was g…

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While driving at low speed (25mph) I could hear a sound coming from one of my tires that sounded like I had rolled over a large piece of tape. I slowed the car and it sounded like something was stuck on a tire. I pulled over and found nothing when I examined all 4 tires. In the morning I checked the tires and tire pressure was good on all 4. Drove to work and I could hear the fapping sound. As I was driving 55mph, the drivers rear tire blew apart into small 2" square pieces. The tire fragments tore through the fender-well, destroying it as well. This happened early in the morning and I was able to keep control of the vehicle. Westlake RP18 size 195/65/R15. Less than 6 months old and under 15,000 miles on them.

NHTSA ODI #11442101

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2021
Structure

White paint peeling in less than 3 years of ownership. Jenkins Hyundai of Leesburg said they would put in a claim, but they have been non-responsive after saying they would put in a claim. No action from the dealership. The manufacturer, Hyundai, who painted the car, has also not taken any action, and have deferred the proble…

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White paint peeling in less than 3 years of ownership. Jenkins Hyundai of Leesburg said they would put in a claim, but they have been non-responsive after saying they would put in a claim. No action from the dealership. The manufacturer, Hyundai, who painted the car, has also not taken any action, and have deferred the problem to the dealership. The paint should have been covered under warranty.

NHTSA ODI #11441837

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2021
Engine

On 10/29/2021 I was driving approx 40 miles per hour when my car engine shut off with no warning and almost caused an accident with my kids in the car. I had it towed to hyundai after the care refused to restart. No check engine light anything. Was told my engine failed by the dealership I have 72000 miles on the car. This whole…

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On 10/29/2021 I was driving approx 40 miles per hour when my car engine shut off with no warning and almost caused an accident with my kids in the car. I had it towed to hyundai after the care refused to restart. No check engine light anything. Was told my engine failed by the dealership I have 72000 miles on the car. This whole incident has been a nightmare

NHTSA ODI #11439280

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2021
Unknown Or Other

The vehicle would just randomly shut off while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11438970

83,000 miles · Oct 28, 2021
Steering

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained full functionality. The contact stated that the power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle …

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained full functionality. The contact stated that the power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the steering column to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that they would provide a 60% discount on the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #11438543

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineService BrakesFire

About month ago Sept the car would shut off when driving or stopping and find out it oil I had changed at the tire shop it was changed 2 n half months before that once oil changed running good low tire light ,oil light flash off and on at time well as of 10/12/2021 started do it my again so I check oil there no oil werid where o…

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About month ago Sept the car would shut off when driving or stopping and find out it oil I had changed at the tire shop it was changed 2 n half months before that once oil changed running good low tire light ,oil light flash off and on at time well as of 10/12/2021 started do it my again so I check oil there no oil werid where oil go no leak on ground when I leave wherever I parked well went to Walmart get oil put oil in it and started driving not even more 35 miles bout sudden smoke coming from under engine then smell fire I pull over in parking lot at restaurant ran put fire out and it got worse trying grab my stuff and bf with me fire went inside car and under the car hear siren firemen coming if they hadn't gotten there when they did it almost went to the gas tank could of exploded firemen said look like electrical cause fire . Engine light ,oil and tire light were on now undrivable .

NHTSA ODI #11436659

77,000 miles · Oct 13, 2021
EngineFire

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated the oil and the low tire warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the ignition and drive to an independent mechanic and had oil maintenance completed. The contact stated on 10/31/…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated the oil and the low tire warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the ignition and drive to an independent mechanic and had oil maintenance completed. The contact stated on 10/31/2021 while driving 35 mph, she started to smell smoke and saw smoke exiting the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated the oil, the low tire, and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle near a parking lot. The contact stated her boyfriend was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher from a near restaurant, but the fire continue to expand. The fire department was able to extinguish the rest of the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured nor seek medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ODI #11436605

13,000 miles · Sep 13, 2021
Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact had a remote start system installed on the vehicle; however, the vehicle would inadvertently start. The headlights would also activate independently. The vehicle was taken on four separate occasions to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the remote was sticking. The contac…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact had a remote start system installed on the vehicle; however, the vehicle would inadvertently start. The headlights would also activate independently. The vehicle was taken on four separate occasions to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the remote was sticking. The contact was provided new remotes, remote start module, and the mechanic cleared the codes. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

NHTSA ODI #11432806

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2021
Unknown Or OtherCrash

This vehicle was so easy to steal 4 kids stole it and crashed it in a 45 minute span.

NHTSA ODI #11429259

30,000 miles · Aug 10, 2021
Engine

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 eng…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11428524

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.

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