10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,310 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #84

Feb 222024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I got this car like 5 months ago and after driving it for 2 months I had to get a new engine for 4500 dollars. There is no way it can go bad in 2 months. The car only had 52,000 miles on it and it went bad when it reached 54,000 miles. After fixing that it went bad again after 4 months. I was also told that Hyundai Elantras are known for their engine problems. It would be great if there is an engine recall on this car. I am not trying to sell this car but I was this car to be fixed. Thank you!

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #83

Feb 252024

Elantra

  • miles
Our hyundai elantra 2018 car started with a knocking sound while we were driving and it got worse our of nowhere when we accelerated and suddenly did this throttling sound with a pop. The battery light came on, the engine light came on and suddenly our car engine turned off and we were able to go on the side of the street we were on. Fumes were coming out of the hood and oil began to leak. The car was not able to be turned on to move it. We have towed it to our home, our local mechanic told us it was the engine. It has 135,000 miles on it. We got it from the dealership about 5 years ago and had not had issues until suddenly our engine blew!

- Willits, CA, USA

problem #82

Dec 242023

Elantra

  • miles
When I drive my car shuts off in the middle of driving in traffic I almost got into an accident with my kids in the car The dealership doesn-??t know what-??s the problem they fixed a code of p0011 can anybody help because it-??s a safety hazard with me and my family in the car please help feel like I-??m just wasting money

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #81

Jan 052024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was at work when my wife contacted me and informed me that the car has started to make a ticking noise (shared car mind you) upon acceleration and start up. This all started on 1/4/2024. Well I checked the oil level and it was a on the line of being on the low side so I changed the oil as I needed to anyways and topped it off. I went to start to the car and ticking again, well I called around as I'm not going to ignore any sort of noise and was able to get a lcoal mechinic to look at it the next day as my local Hyundai dealership didn't have any opening until Saturday (1/6/2024). The next day I'm on my way to drop the car off to see where the sound could be coming from and the car shuts off. There were no warning lights or anything of that matter until the car shut off. I had to pull off into a street off the road. We get the car towed to the mechanic and he gets back to me the next day and states the car had low oil and that is why the engine failed. Hyundai shame on you all for knowingly putting a terrible engine into your products and for also at least not giving us the time by having poor sensors.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #80

Dec 012023

Elantra

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while a friend was driving the vehicle at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was restarted without any service being performed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Penn Valley, CA, USA

problem #79

Dec 302023

Elantra

  • miles
I was driving on the highway early in the morning and my car would not accelerate and slowed down until stopped running. Then the check engine, check oil, and battery light came on after. I tried to restart the car and it would not do anything. I popped the hood to check the oil and there was no oil in the engine. My car was not due for any oil change until another 1000 miles. No notification for low oil. No sounds, no smoke, nothing I had to tow it to my house.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #78

Jun 012023

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I noticed around 100,000 miles that my car was going through oil when I heard a ticking in the engine. I pulled over and checked and there was no oil on the dipstick. No warning lights or nothing. I just kept adding oil after that and thinking that I will never buy another Hyundai again but never thinking my engine would fail full of oil. In June of 2023 my car lost power just as I got off the freeway. Thankfully it happened just as I got out of rush hour traffic otherwise it could have caused an accident. I had it towed home and the repair shop said my engine failed. I had it towed to a dealer and they confirmed that the engine failed. After many email and phone discussions with the dealership and Hyundai, they said they would cover 50% and then 70% of the repairs. The repair shop in town said this was common in Hyundai's and after checking online I found out that this has been an issue for 6 years before my car was built so Hyundai KNOWINGLY put a defective motor in my car. I have 149,000 miles on it but I still had over a year left to pay on it. just to get it moving I accepted the 70% and 9/27/23 I received an email saying it was done. The same day I received another email saying that they were wrong and it needed another part but should be ready early October. 3 months later I still have no car. I had to use an old truck I have that gets half the mpg. I've been paying insurance and payments on a car I don't have and don't want back. A page on Facebook, Engine Failure Kia/Hyundai describes many people's frustration with the same issue. When most get their car back, the engine fails again. I drive 110 miles a day just for work and its freeway 95% of the drive. If I have to drive in rush hour and my engine fails again, it could be disastrous. I want the dealer to buy my car back with compensation for lost money. I should not be forced to drive something that is a proven hazard on the road. I can mail all pertaining documents if needed. I can't scan them.

- North Branch, MN, USA

problem #77

Aug 032023

Elantra

  • miles
While driving, heard a loud pop then smoke came from the engine. The electrical system flashed then went out. A passer by coming from the opposite direction stopped and told me that my car was on fire. I got out and there was a small fire on the groung underneith my car. Then opened the hood where there was a small fire behind the engine. Another truck passing by had a fire estinguisher and put the fire out. There was oil all over the road. Called a wrecker service to come and pick it up. Upon delivery of my vehicle, there was oil all over the wrecker. I'm very lucky to have had someone come by to put the fire out. I could of been in the car and been burned. The insurance company has been out and done a full report on it. There were no warning light that came on detecting any issues.

- Three Rivers , TX, USA

problem #76

Jul 032023

Elantra

  • miles
Engine completely out of oil. Only owned the car for 9 months. No warning lights no check engine lights just completely stalled on the freeway. Now has a very loud engine knock and needs a new engine

- Sedro Woolley, WA, USA

problem #75

Jul 212023

Elantra

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag was falling out of the air bag enclosure. The vehicle failed to start immediately but was started after several attempts. The air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the battery terminal posts were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who tightened the battery post. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

- Bogalusa, LA, USA

problem #74

Aug 092023

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Hyundai Elantra is a lemon. I have been having accelerating problems, stalling problems fresh from the lot even before 5,000 miles with my Hyundai not accelerating took it to dealer said nothing is wrong with it 5 years ago. It still continues to stall on me! it broke down on me twice in two days in a row. One on 8/8 and 8/9! could have killed me or others if I took it on the highway. My car has been stalling and I had to pump the break to rev up the engine at the same time while turning! could have killed us! I am sitting in a lemon! it is not safe on the road at all!! I lost my job because of this and the time it took me to try and get a rental. Hyundai won't let me get a loaner car! I cannot afford uber all the time. All the lights are on. Check engine light too and airbag light. My transmission seems to be slipping too and the double clutch. Crank and cam shaft problems! headlightw are very dim too. Airbag weight front seat sensor is turning on. Engine is stalling. Slows down! will not accelerate after 60mph goes super slow down to 55 mph up hill. I want Hyundai manufacturer to pay or I am getting a lemon lawyer and contacting the BBB and the state of Arizona.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #73

Jul 022023

Elantra

  • miles
My 2018 Hyundai Elantra shuts off while driving. The engine and oil lights come on and the car will shut off anywhere while I am driving as of April 02, 2023. I had taken my 2018 Hyundai Elantra to the dealer to have the crank sensor replaced and they completed the replacememt today, Wednesday, August 09, 2023. Now my 2018 Hyundai shuts off more often than before. I was told by the Hyundai corporation office to take my vehicle back to the dealer and inform them that my 2018 Hyundai Elantra is shutting off more fequently than before....as of today, Wednesday, August 09, 2023.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #72

Jul 022023

Elantra

  • miles
My 2018 Hyundai Elantra shuts off while driving. The engine and oil lights come on and the car will shut off anywhere while I am driving as of April 02, 2023. I had taken my 2018 Hyundai Elantra to the dealer to have the crank sensor replaced and they completed the replacememt today, Wednesday, August 09, 2023. Now my 2018 Hyundai shuts off more often than before. I was told by the Hyundai corporation office to take my vehicle back to the dealer and inform them that my 2018 Hyundai Elantra is shutting off more fequently than before....as of today, Wednesday, August 09, 2023.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #71

Aug 012023

Elantra

  • miles
UNKNOWN- intermittently - multiple times a day for the last month the car starts making clicking noises like a card in the spokes of a bicycle. Mechanic could not find the cause. UNKNOWN- two times in 2 weeks- while making a turn my car stalled in the middle of an intersection, all the lights on the dash went on, and wouldn't start up again for a couple minutes. Then car starts and runs fine besides the intermittent clicking

- San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

problem #70

Jun 012023

Elantra

  • miles
Knocking coming from the engine, OIL in the engine, Oil pressure light came on. Was looked at by two private mechanics and the dealership and was told the engine was faulty and not to drive it. The engine needed to be replaced. Was denied replacement by corporate since it just passed the warranty and was told to go to the BBB if I didn-??t like it.

- Lacey, WA, USA

problem #69

Jun 172023

Elantra

  • miles
First, the plastic around wheel wells began to come out, then other parts of underneath near the skid area at the front of car begin to drag. Eventually a lot of the plastic pulled away underneath the car taking some of the front bumper. Then the car ran hot and had zero fluid in the radiator even though I regularly have oil changed and fluids topped off. Now the air conditioner throws out hot air when it on. I-??ve regularly had oil changed. After only 3500 miles of having oil changed my oil light would come and car stalls when I-??m turning. This could get me hit and killed. I bought car from car max and took it back as I have Extended Warranty that I-??m paying for. They told me I had to have an appointment nearly a month out. I told them car needed to be seen now, that engine is probably going to go. CarMax refused to see my car and I now have an appointment at the Huyandi dealership. CarMax stated that Hyundai would replace my engine for free. I would like to state that I used car fax and found out car was a rental car and driven in three states. Also according to the vin number the oil in my Hyundai was changed for the first time At 18,000 miles. I still owe three years and I-??m not going to have a car because it may blow the engine before I can get it into dealership. I NEVER would have bought the car had I known it was a rental, but CarMax kept telling me it was a one car owner. The car had 36,000 miles on it and I should have known. Yes, it was a one car owner by the Car rental agency and driven by hundreds of people, who didn-??t care because it was a rental. Also, the check engine light is on and I can-??t get car inspected or renew my tag. I had to replace calipers on both sides of car and I-??ve had to have it aligned three times. It also makes a thumping sound on right front tire while I-??m driving it. Feels very unsafe. Replaced brakes tires and it still makes noise. There needs to be a way to protect the consumer!!!!

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #68

Jul 152022

Elantra

  • miles
I noticed around 97k miles that car just died as I turned left out of a parking lot at low speed. Thought nothing of it at first maybe I hit the keys with my knee. Then it happened again at 101k and recurred consistantly always within 1000 miles of an oil change at the scheduled interval in the manual. Then at 117k it did it again but when I started the car it developed a loud knock. I got the car home and took it to my mechanic and they said that the engine would need replaced. This is incredibly dangerous as it happens while traveling at speed and you lose control of power steering and acceleration.

- Boonville, MO, USA

problem #67

Feb 052023

Elantra

  • miles
I purchased this car as a used car at CarMax in July 2022 and it drove fine for about 10,000 miles, but starting in February 2023, my engine started to misfire. The first misfire happened when I started my car. I was told by my local mechanic that I needed a new engine after a compression test was run. My engine misfired a 2nd time while I was merging on the highway and a third time while I was starting my car. I only have 68,975 original miles on my car. The first 2 misfires illuminated the check engine light and the third misfire illuminated the check engine light, the battery light and oil pressure light, however my mechanic didn't find any codes with my third misfire. My car regularly rough idles and has a delay when I accelerate as well.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #66

Mar 152023

Elantra

  • miles
Engine shut down and inoperable. Possession of car less than 2 years, driven to college, work, etc.

- Navarre, FL, USA

problem #65

Dec 012022

Elantra

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, smoke and an oil leak coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 93,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

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