Complaint volume
271 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
271 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
271 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, air bags. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 11 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 6 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 90 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 41,237 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
271 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2019 | SUSPENSION | SINCE MY CAR HAD 7,000 MILES, I AM EXPERIENCING A CREAKING SOUND AROUND FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEED, MORE SO WHEN ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Oct 2019 | ENGINE | CAR CONTINUOUSLY SAYS IT OVERHEATING. FIRST TRIP TO DEALERSHIP COULD REPLICATE THE ISSUE. SECOND TRIP A MONTH LATER. REPLACED HEAD GASKET DUE TO LEAK AND EXHAUST PIPE. CURRENTLY SITTING IN IT WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. STILL OVERHEATING NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER ALSO NOW PUTTERS AND SHAKES WHEN I TRY TO START IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Oct 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | I DRIVE A LOT DUE TO COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY DUE TO RAPID CHANGE IN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAD A NEAR MISS. I WAS 5 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. I HAD STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AS FAR DOWN AND HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD TO SWERVE AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THEM. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK AND I FELT AS IF I WASN'T SLOWING DOWN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED OF 30 MPH. I BROKE AGAIN HARD AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 52,000 |
| Sep 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | I HAVE MID 26K MILES I CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID AND PADS THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. THE BRAKES FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS ROUGHLY 15K MILES (I DRIVE 5K MILES A MONTH) HAVE BEEN SPONGY AND SOFT. UNLESS I HIT THE BRAKES HARD THEY BARELY WORK. SOMETIMES I HAVE. TO PUMP MY BRAKES 2 OR 3 TIMES TO HAVE THEM FEEL NORMAL. I'M GOING TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LOOK OVER THE ABS SYSTEM AND BRAKING SYSTEM SINCE IT SEEMS VERY UNSAFE AND I HAVE A NEWBORN. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR ONLY DOES IT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 OR 30MPH | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,600 |
| Aug 2019 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 59,000 |
| Aug 2019 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EAST ON STATE ROAD 64 IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS WERE UP , WITH MY SON I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MOSQUITOS FLYING AROUND AND ROLLED THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ,AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WINDOW REMAINED UP ..WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN I THOUGHT THE WIND TURBULENCE WOULD EXPLODE THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE ,THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND LOOKED AS THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BLOW COMPLETELY OUT....BOTH ME AND MY SON SAID WHAT IN THE F@CK JUST HAPPENED | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,330 |
| Jul 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE BRAKE GOT STUCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALSO RELEASED A GAS/OIL ODOR WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING. THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS TO START NEED TO ATTEMPT TO TURN ON VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE IT ACTUALLY STARTS. BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Jul 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHES AND WARNING SOUND INDICATES SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED WHEN NOBODY IS IN THE SEAT. WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE ARE MULTIPLE HESITATIONS WHERE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS, THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING NORMALLY | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,900 |
| Jun 2019 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS LOOSE AND DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEARNY MESA HYUNDAI (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,086. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,086 |
| Jun 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTERS WHEN I PRESS IT TO STOP GIVING OFF A LOUD NOISE AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO BRAKE AT TIMES. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAY NO ISSUES HAVE BEEN FOUND. WHAT CAN I DO. I'M CONCERNED THE PRIOR RECALL ON THE THE 2017. HERE IS THE LINK. HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/RECALL-ALERT-2017-HYUNDAI-ELANTRA-1420693395015/. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SEEMED TO STALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| May 2019 | POWER TRAIN | I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP THE CAR SHUDDERS LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WHEN YOU DON'T GIVE IT ENOUGH GAS. ALSO THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION WHICH I AM FAMILIAR BUT THESE ARE NOT NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION | Crash: No Fire: No | 82,000 |
| May 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | AFTER A FULL STOP AND YOU PRESS ON THE GAS TO MOVE, AT TIMES THERE IS A PAUSE OF PERHAPS 5 SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN START TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,500 |
| May 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS | THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY TIRE PRESSURE WAS DISPLAYED AS 14 PSI ON MY BACK LEFT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE TIRE AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LOW. I PLUGGED MY PORTABLE TIRE AIR PUMP IN AND ATTACHED IT TO THE TIRE, AND THE GAUGE ON THE PUMP SAID 36PSI, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AT. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING, AND THE CAR SAID THE PSI WAS BACK TO 36PSI. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. I EVEN TOOK PICTURE OF THE WARNING WHEN IT CAME ON FOR PROOF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| May 2019 | VISIBILITY | 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELDS ON BOTH VEHICLES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO EASILY SCRATCHED BY AN ICE SCRAPER DURING WINTER. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2019 | AIR BAGS | VEHICLE HAD THE RIGHT AWAY AND WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ROLLED A STOP AND BOTH CARS INTERSECTED. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 15,500 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE GLASS SUN ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SUN ROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD NEVER BEEN OPENED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A WARNING MESSAGE SOMETIMES DISPLAYED ERRONEOUSLY, INDICATING THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS OPEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,928. THE VIN WAS INVALID. | Crash: No Fire: No | 57,928 |
| Apr 2019 | SUSPENSION | WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO ITS FAR RIGHT EXTREME, THE FRONT SUSPENSION EMITS A LOUD CREAKING NOISE WHEN THERE IS AN INCLINE, SUCH AS ENTERING A PARKING LOT ENTRANCE OR DRIVEWAY. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I HEAR THE CREAKING NOISE. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE NOISE INDICATES A FAILING OR FAULTY SUSPENSION COMPONENT, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL SHOULD THE FAULTY PART FAIL WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Apr 2019 | ENGINE | WHEN ACCELERATING WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY THROTTLE INPUT, THE ENGINE EMITS EXCESSIVE PINGING AND RATTLES NOISES. IT SOUNDS LIKE "SPARK KNOCK". NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OF FUEL OR OCTANE I RUN THE CAR ON, THE ENGINE MAKES THESE PINGING AND RATTLING NOISES. I'VE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. TWICE SO FAR TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN. I WAS INFORMED THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HEAR THE NOISE, BUT CANNOT DIAGNOSE IT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T ILLUMINATED. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THEY TOLD ME IT IS A NORMAL NOISE FOR THE CAR. HAVING OWNED A HANDFUL OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, THIS NOISE IS INDICATIVE OF SPARK KNOCK. IF THE PROBLEM IS INDEED EXCESSIVE SPARK KNOCK, THIS CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL POWER. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER OWNERS, IT IS APPARENT TO ME THAT IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEDAN. I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND COME UP WITH A FIX. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE BRAND-NEW OFF THE DEALER LOT. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 380 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD RAINBOW STREAKS ON 45 PERCENT OF THE GLASS. THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL WERE REFLECTED ON THE GLASS, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,012.*BF . CONSUMER STATED REFLECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW AND IS NOT SAFE.*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 179,012 |
| Mar 2019 | ENGINE | I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW WITH 20 MILES. I AM THE ONLY OWNER. WHEN I BOUGHT I NOTICED THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. I INFORMED THE DEALER 10 DAYS OWNING IT THERE IS AN ISSUE ON THE ACCELERATION. I PRESS GAS I CAN HEAR THE NOISE ON ENGINE AS IF I WAS PRESSING GAS AND THE CAR IS ON PARK. IT HAPPENED AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST MAINTENANCE. THEY ASSURED ME THEY CHECKED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WAS RECENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING BUT I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. WHEN SPEED PICKED UP I TRIED TO PICK UP SPEED AND AGAIN HIT THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE CAR WAS'NT MOVING | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Jan 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2018 | POWER TRAIN | I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. AND TODAY I EXPERIENCED THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING INTO SALISBURY, MD THAT THE CAR WOULDNT SPEED UP. AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE DOWN SHIFTED A COUPLE GEARS DUE TO THE RPMS GOING FROM 4600ISH RPM DOWN TO 2000 RPMS AND THAN THE CAR WENT BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN I HAD GOTTEN INTO SALISBURY AND HAD TO STOP IT BRAKED JUST FINE BUT WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN IT START TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS STALLING AND IT'S BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR THE WHOLE DAY. AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL WHICH I'M 99% CERTAIN IS THE CLUTCH. I HAVE WORKED THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS. I HAVE A DCT TRANSMISSIONS 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SPORT TECH PACKAGE. I WENT IN THE FORUM ON FACEBOOK AND SOME ELSE HAS POSTED THE SAME ISSUES. AND MANY OTHER COMMENTS. I WILL BE TAKING MINE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CHRISTMAS IS OVER. BUT I'LL LIST SCREENSHOTS BELOW | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,800 |
| Dec 2018 | WHEELS | TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS AND/OR TPMS MODULE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FROM SAN TAN HYUNDAI, GILBERT, AZ 86297 IN LATE MARCH 2018. THE TIRE PRESSURE IN EACH OF THE 4 TIRES WAS 36 PSI, THE COLD TIRE PRESSURE FOR THIS AUTO.IN THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST 2018 THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON . I CHECKED THE THE TIRE PRESSURE IN EACH OF THE 4 TIRES WITH A ANALOG AND DIGITAL TIRE PRESSURE METER AND THE PRESSURE IN EACH TIRE WAS ABOUT 32 PSI. I RE- INFLATED EACH TIRE UP TO 36 PSI (SPEC REQUIREMENT) BUT THE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. I NOTIFIED HYUNDAI HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND SUGGESTED I TAKE THE NEW AUTO WITH ONLY ABOUT 1500 MILES ON ODOMETER TO SAN TAN HYUNDAI. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 2 WEEKS FOR A OCT.18,2018 APPOINTMENT. THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT TURNED OFF JUST BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT, SO I CANCELED THE APPOINTMENT. ON 12-18-2018 THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER THE 4 TIRES WERE RE-INFLATED AGAIN FROM 32 PSI UP TO 39 PSI. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HYUNDAI'S INDIVIDUAL TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR AND/OR TPMS MODULE ON MY NEW 2018 HYUNDAI ENTRANT. WHEN EACH OF THE 4 TIRES ARE RE-INFLATED TO 36 PSI,THE DASHBOARD TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOULD TURN OFF. I HAVE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH SAN TAN HYUNDAI BUT WHAT I HERE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE IS: IT MAY COST YOU DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF INDICATING THAT IT IS COVERED UNDER MY NEW CAR WARRANTY. THIS IS WHY I AM REPORTING MY PROBLEM TO NHTSA. ON LINE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THIS MAY ALSO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER HYUNDAI ELANTRA VEHICLES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Nov 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | CAR SPUTTERS AT IDLE, ACTING LIKE IT'S GOING TO CUT OFF. DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. ONE DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD SPUTTER AT LIGHTS. DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO ADVANCE TO GET THE ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED; NOTHING CAME UP. STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT DROVE FINE, LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. FINALLY, AFTER LETTING IT IDLE AWHILE, WERE ABLE TO GET A CODE ON THE COILS. REPLACED THEM ALL. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AFTER THAT. THE SPUTTERING AT IDLE HAS NOW STARTED AGAIN.....LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 35,000 |
| Nov 2018 | ENGINE | DOES NOT HEAT UP QUICKLY ENOUGH IN COLD TEMPS. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES AT 38 DEG FAHRENHEIT, CITY DRIVING BEFORE THE TEMP GAGE SHOWED NORMAL OPERATION TEMP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,800 |