2018 Hyundai ELANTRA GT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
6,883 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 49 complaints (57.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 12.2% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 10.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
Engine: 28; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2018: 6; 2019: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 10; 2023: 4; 2024: 6; 2025: 7; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11091992 · 2018-05-04 (May 4, 2018)
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, THERE IS VERY A DISTINCT SHADOW IN FRONT OF CAR. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092018 · 2018-05-05 (May 5, 2018)
THE LIGHTING AREA OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS MUCH TOO LOW. YOU CAN NOT SEE VERY WELL THE AREA IN FRONT OF YOU. SEE THE ATTACHED IMAGE OF A GROUP OF GIRLS ON THE SIDEWALK. YOU CAN BARELY SEE THEM FROM THE WAIST OR KNEES DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115819 · 2018-08-05 (August 5, 2018)
GAS TANK INDICATOR ARROW ON DASH POINTS TO WRONG SIDE OF CAR. POINTS TO PASSENGER SIDE, SHOULD POINT TO DRIVER SIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121875 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
MY CAR, WITH LESS THAN 4K, HAS A "SPONTANEOUS" WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT IS LARGE, LONG AND TRAVELS ACROSS MY LINE OF VISION WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, IT IS PARKED IS LOCKED GARAGE AND I DID NOT DRIVE OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, HIT A POTHOLE, DRIVE UNDER ANY BRIDGES OR PARK UNDER A TREE. I DIDN'T DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY EITHER. I JUST GOT IN MY CAR AND THERE IT WAS! THIS CRACK IS GROWING IN LENGTH AND I HAVE NOTICED SOME BLACK, FOAM TRIM CURLING UP ALONG THE EDGE OF WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MEETS THE HOOD. THERE IS NO VISIBLE POINT OF CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,765 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130331 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY RANDOMLY STARTED SHAKING. ALL LIGHTS TURNED ON CHECK ENGINE,MOTOR OIL LIGHT BATTERY LIGHT. CAR SHUT OFF TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T ACCELERATE. SO IMAGINE BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR CAR SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE YOUR IN MOTION AND CANT ACCELERATE TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THIS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP LESS THEN 800 MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131771 · 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
WHILE ON HIGHWAY CAR MOTOR STOPPED WORKING COULD NOT GET CAR TO TURN BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER 8 DAYS IN DEALERSHIP SO FAR RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THE CARS FUEL PUMP MAY BE THE PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176420 · 2019-02-11 (February 11, 2019)
THE AEB SYSTEM DOES NOT SHOW ANY WARNINGS OR ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. I DO NOT DRIVE AROUND TRYING TO MAKE THIS FEATURE WORK BUT AFTER GETTING THE NEW CAR I DID REALIZE IT WAS NOT DETECTING ANYTHING WHILE MY OTHER CAR DETECTS AND STOPS FINE IN THE SAME SCENARIO. I HAVE GONE TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT THIS AS WELL AS SUBMITTED A CASE WITH HYUNDAI CORPORATE. CORPORATE RESPONSE WAS: GO BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER AGAIN AND TELL THEM WHAT MY CONCERN IS (AGAIN). SO, I DID. HYUNDAI SAYS THEY WILL NOT TEST THE I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11176420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185997 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)
I BOUGHT A 2018 HYUNDAI GT SPORT 3 MONTHS AGO. SINCE DAY ONE CAR HAS BEEN STALLING AND HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 75MPH AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF NO WARNING. I CALLED THE DEALER IN MY AREA LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE STARTING ISSUES AND THE STALLING ISSUES WITH THE CAR I TOOK IT IN TO THEM FEW DAYS LATER. THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS AND TOLD ME SORRY WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU. TOOK IT HOME AND THAT DAY THE CAR STALLED ON MY WAY HOME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FOR 23 DAYS AND REPLACED THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 87 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185997 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V891000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | Electrical System
Reported: 2018-12-14 (December 14, 2018)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT vehicles. The panoramic sunroof motor may be incorrectly programmed, preventing the sunroof from detecting an obstacle while closing.
Consequence: If the sunroof does not detect an obstacle while closing and then retract, there could be an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the panoramic sunroof, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 179.
NHTSA campaign record ↗