2018 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
281 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
26,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 140 of 281 complaints (49.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 46 | 16.4% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
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 | 140 |
| Unknown Or Other | 54 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Steering | 15 |
Engine: 140; Unknown Or Other: 54; Electrical System: 41; Power Train: 24; Fuel/Propulsion System: 19; Exterior Lighting: 15; Service Brakes: 15; Steering: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 190 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 | 25 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2018: 25; 2019: 21; 2020: 20; 2021: 27; 2022: 50; 2023: 39; 2024: 40; 2025: 36; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 46 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 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 11060983 · 2018-01-07 (January 7, 2018)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064085 · 2018-01-22 (January 22, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (EMPIRE HYUNDAI INC, 428 PLEASANT ST, FALL RIVER, MA 02721, [phone removed]) MORE THAN TWICE, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE DUE TO NO DTC. IN ADDITION, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE TO DETERMINE A …
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078426 · 2018-03-09 (March 9, 2018)
THESE NEW CARS DO NOT HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE FOR THE TRUNK ANYMORE - MAKING THEM EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS BY RELEASING THE LEVEL ON THE VERY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OR YOU MUST HAVE THE KEYS IN YOUR HAND. SO THE CAR IS PARKED AND MY SON GOES OUT WITH A FRIEND TO GET A POSTER OUT OF THE TRUNK AND SHUTS THE DOOR ON HIS HAND BY ACCIDENT. - OR SHOULD I SAY THE TRUNK CAME DOWN ON HIS HAND AND LOCKED HIS HAND INSIDE! AND NOW HE CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK DOOR - AND NEITHER CAN HIS FRIENDS BECAUSE THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE ANYMOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090893 · 2018-04-29 (April 29, 2018)
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 27 2018 THE CAR WON'T NEVER CHARGE UP MY PHONE. WHEN I USE MY CHARGER TO CHARGE MY PHONE. MY DAUGHTER HAS A GENESIS AND IT DOES THE SAME THING AND HER CHARGE IN CAR BLEW OUT MY PHONE I'M SCARE THIS ELANTRA GOING TO DO THE SAME IT WILL NOT CHARGE UNLESS THE PHONE IS OFF. WHEN MY PHONE IS ON IT KEEPS MAKING FLICKERING SOUND. THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF ON MY LIGHTER ADAPTER AND MY PHONE WILL NOT CHARGE. SO I THINK IT'S ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE TRY DIFFERENT PHONES BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO STIVERS. [XXX] THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11090893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093798 · 2018-05-14 (May 14, 2018)
CAR HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. WILL GO INTO A FAIL SAFE MODE, WONT ACCELERATE PAST 40-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE CALL ON MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE FACT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. MY CAR LOST POWER AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CAR DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096645 · 2018-05-18 (May 18, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN THE "ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED" WARNING CAME ON, AFTER WHICH I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A LOCAL ROAD NEAR BEFORE THE CAR STALLED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI CENTER THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND THEY FIXED THE ISSUE. TODAY, LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I WAS DRIVING AND ABOUT TO GO ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE "ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED" WARNING CAME ON AGAIN. I FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN CASE THE CAR STALLS AGAIN AT NIGHT ON A FREEWAY, AND AM WAITI…
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097408 · 2018-05-23 (May 23, 2018)
2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING FUNCTION. *LD *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11097408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102189 · 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)
WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY UPON PURCHASE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND GOT IT UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FLOATS, OR SWAYS LEFT AND RIGHT LIKE ITS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. HYUNDAI HAS TOLD ME UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE RIDES, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU ADD WIND IN THE EQUATION IT IS A CONSTANT FIGHT THE KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT OR IN ITS LANE. DROVE 650 MILES PLUS TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MET. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SWAY AND FLO…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102189 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.