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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 · May 10, 2025
Structure

This isn’t a safety concern but it is a concern per the vehicle. My hood on my Hyundai Elantra (silver) has bad paint and is starting to chip. My car isn’t the only one I see Hyundais with paint chipping everywhere on them.

NHTSA ODI #11660150

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2025
Fuel/propulsion System

Fuel injectors failed at 43,000 miles and 66,000 miles with no warning. Car misfired and left me stranded.

NHTSA ODI #11655704

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2025
Engine

Check engine light came on, took to mechanic. Diagnostics showed pistons performing at half of the required psi. Engine replacement required at a cost of nearly $9,000. The vehicle only has 74k miles.

NHTSA ODI #11655354

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2025
EnginePower Train

While diving the vehicle started to sputter and the ignition turned off. I was able to start it but the vehicle was making loud clunking sounds and max speed of 10mph. I pulled off on the side of the road and called for a tow to a reputable repair clinic. I told them what happened and they stayed they would be required to remove…

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While diving the vehicle started to sputter and the ignition turned off. I was able to start it but the vehicle was making loud clunking sounds and max speed of 10mph. I pulled off on the side of the road and called for a tow to a reputable repair clinic. I told them what happened and they stayed they would be required to remove the engine to determine the issue. $$$ I paid the funds and they informed me the engine was shot. The vehicle has just over 80,000 miles. I contacted Hyundai directly and was told the manufacturer 100,000 mile powertrain warranty was invalid due to me not being the I original owner. I convinced them to take a look and make their determination. After paying out of pocket again for towing and the $175 I initial service fee Hyundai again told me the engine was shot and their was other issues alongside the engine that would need to be fixed. They gave me a quote of over $16,000+ on a vehicle that was less than 6 years old and under 85000 miles. NONE of which they stated was covered under their powertrain warranty. The vehicle is blue booked at about $5,000 and I spent less the what would be required to repair the vehicle. Hyundai has been zero help, they have not supported their product even after I was told by a reputable resalesman that there is a silent recall on this engine for this issue. Im left without a car, still being required to pay the car payment to the loan company and keep full coverage on a car that hasn't driven since early May 2024 and the insurance company isn't helping because the vehicle wasn't in a accident and is an electrical/manufacturing issue, regardless that I have loan lease payoff. I honestly need some advice. Not to mention I am a disabled veteran, Hyundai will not pull any strings. It's sad because I know this is no fault of my own and had taken care of all the vehicles needs when required (oil, tires, spark plugs, alignments ect.. what should I do??

NHTSA ODI #11646133

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2025
Engine

Engine shuts off suddenly in the middle of road; several times on the way back home while my wife was driving with no warnings. Very unsafe if another car is behind. She cranked over and it went, but it happend again in an intersection after a stop sign, fortunately no cars were coming. No shows WARNING LAMPS, check engine light…

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Engine shuts off suddenly in the middle of road; several times on the way back home while my wife was driving with no warnings. Very unsafe if another car is behind. She cranked over and it went, but it happend again in an intersection after a stop sign, fortunately no cars were coming. No shows WARNING LAMPS, check engine light on or diagnostic trouble codes, but engine next day started making noises like knocking or ticking. Car is only 140k miles. Symptoms appeared 2 days ago 2/23/25

NHTSA ODI #11644929

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2025
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

Had to do 3 oil changes in a month had to change ignition coil that had been changed a month ago spark plugs were completely covered in oil was driving and it literally just stopped every time the oil would be checked it wouldn't be any on the dipstick.

NHTSA ODI #11644028

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2025
EnginePower Train

I bought my Hyundai Elantra 2018 in 2022. It started knocking by 2023 and i was told by the dealership it was plastic hitting the tire. I brought it back & had it scanned prior because the knocking never stopped. And another dealership confirmed it was the sealed transmission. There is no dipstick to check the fluid & it says in…

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I bought my Hyundai Elantra 2018 in 2022. It started knocking by 2023 and i was told by the dealership it was plastic hitting the tire. I brought it back & had it scanned prior because the knocking never stopped. And another dealership confirmed it was the sealed transmission. There is no dipstick to check the fluid & it says in the book the fluid is good for the life of the transmission. The dealership i initially bought it from acted like it was my fault so my car sat May until August 2024. Finally, after i found out the unlimited warranty i paid for was never submitted in 2022 it was approved. They then replaced it with a refurbished transmission which i didn't know until i got my car back. I had mentioned an oil leak & lots of play in the engine that November after replacing it. They said there was no leak or play in the engine. Now in January I had died at the four way & almost coasted into the parking lot nearest to me. Mid me picking my daughter up from school. Due to the leak.

NHTSA ODI #11643865

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2025
Engine

My 2018 Hyundai Elantra had an oil pressure light on and the timing chain was slapping the side of the engine. I changed the timing chain, oil pump, oil sending unit, and oil filter. When I dropped the oil pan, there was paint chips in the pan. Who paints the inside of an oil pan? I removed the oil pick up tube and discovered t…

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My 2018 Hyundai Elantra had an oil pressure light on and the timing chain was slapping the side of the engine. I changed the timing chain, oil pump, oil sending unit, and oil filter. When I dropped the oil pan, there was paint chips in the pan. Who paints the inside of an oil pan? I removed the oil pick up tube and discovered the inlet screen was covered with these paint chips. I cleaned the inlet and reinstalled the tube and oil pan. I no longer have the low-pressure issue. This is causing engines to have major issues and / or making them seize up. Now, I believe there are a lot of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the junk yards today because of this very issue. Majority of people will not take their engine apart to find out why it stopped working. They ether stop paying on them or junk them. As you can see in the attached photos, you will notice the pain in the pan, inside the oil pick-up tube, how much of the screen was exposed. This is a major fault of the manufacturer and Hyundai and Kia should be held responsible for the repair.

NHTSA ODI #11641667

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Out of curiosity, after searching up my current car I pulled a vehicle report from a NMVTIS approved site for my former car listed above. Upon searching up the vehicle history i learned i was a victim of odometer fraud. The miles listed for the owner of the car before me was 63,000 miles. However, when I purchased the car it was…

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Out of curiosity, after searching up my current car I pulled a vehicle report from a NMVTIS approved site for my former car listed above. Upon searching up the vehicle history i learned i was a victim of odometer fraud. The miles listed for the owner of the car before me was 63,000 miles. However, when I purchased the car it was somehow listed as 20,518 miles. I am listed as title 4 and I registered the car in Atlanta, Georgia. I will attach the report below. I purchased this vehicle in September of 2021 from Efrid Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Florence, South Carolina.

NHTSA ODI #11637058

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2024
Engine

My car lost power on a busy highway which almost caused a tractor trailer to rear end me. I had the car towed and the mechanic said the engine is bad because of issues with this engine losing oil quickly and there is no recall on it but on other years. Now I have no car but still owe money on it and can’t get to work. Luckily i …

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My car lost power on a busy highway which almost caused a tractor trailer to rear end me. I had the car towed and the mechanic said the engine is bad because of issues with this engine losing oil quickly and there is no recall on it but on other years. Now I have no car but still owe money on it and can’t get to work. Luckily i wasn’t hit by the tractor trailer but this should be a recall and i should be able to get it fixed without being out thousands of dollars.

NHTSA ODI #11627384

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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