YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Elantra years

The 2018 Hyundai Elantra ranks 10th out of 16 model years with a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Elantra years. Engine problems dominate at 53% of complaints, with 7 fires reported, but there are no recalls issued for this year.

Complaints
282
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
12 / 7
Injuries / deaths
6 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30.5
27 city / 36.5 hwy

Top 2018 Hyundai Elantra problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine150 (53%)
  2. Other54 (19%)
  3. Electrical System52 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain24 (9%)
  5. Fuel System23 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body17 (6%)
  7. Steering16 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (6%)
  9. Brakes15 (5%)
  10. Airbags12 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the engine stalling or seizing suddenly while driving, sometimes with smoke coming from under the hood.
  • Some owners report an engine fire starting after the vehicle stalled and while parked with the engine off in a garage.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including one collision with a deer and another with an oncoming vehicle.
  • Owners describe brakes not stopping the car despite hard pedal pressure, leading to near-miss situations in traffic.
  • Electrical system complaints include a loud pop followed by smoke and a small fire near the engine bay while driving.
2018 Hyundai Elantra complaints: complaints filed per quarter242018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
391 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q2 (24).

2018 Hyundai Elantra recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2018 Hyundai Elantra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
36.5 MPG
Combined
30.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Elantra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good47292230
2017Avoid87767430.5
2018Good40282030.5
2019Good33250130.5
2020Caution67250334

All Hyundai Elantra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Compared to other Elantra model years, the 2018 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th out of 16 years, earning a "Good" verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 53% of complaints (150 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 38,000 and 7 reported fires.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra.
How does the 2018 Elantra compare to the 2013 Elantra?
The 2013 Elantra has a Complaint Index of 100 and an "Avoid" verdict, far worse than the 2018 Elantra's Complaint Index of 40 and "Good" verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2018 Elantra gets 30.5 mpg combined (27 city / 36.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150 according to the EPA.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.