YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 16 steering complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra, 6% of its 282 total complaints for the year. No steering recalls are tied to this model year, and no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported. Median mileage at failure was 5,200.

Steering complaints
16
6% of 282
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
5,200 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the car swaying or swerving left and right at highway speeds, often described as feeling out of alignment even after new tires or alignment work.
  • Some drivers report the steering wheel becoming hard to turn or seizing briefly at low speeds, with the power steering warning light illuminated before the system resets after a restart.
  • A few complaints describe the steering wheel locking up intermittently, with owners pointing to a bushing at the bottom of the steering column as the suspected cause.
  • One owner reported the steering wheel vibrating when turned left or right along with intermittent stalling and hesitation to accelerate.
  • Reports describe the swerving or swaying getting worse on wet roads or on pavement with grooved lines.

When 2018 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 15, 2018, latest Sep 19, 2026.

2018 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2018Nov 2018May 2021May 2022Jul 2023Nov 2023Oct 2024
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2018 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010195 (51%)
  2. 201174 (17%)
  3. 201288 (13%)
  4. 2013271 (21%)
  5. 201428 (7%)
  6. 201526 (10%)
  7. 201619 (7%)
  8. 201771 (9%)
  9. 201816 (6%)
  10. 20199 (4%)
  11. 202020 (8%)
  12. 20215 (4%)
  13. 20222 (2%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 20247 (13%)
  16. 20251 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2018 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 16 steering complaints for the 2018 Elantra, which is 6% of the 282 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for steering on the 2018 Elantra.
Did the steering problems cause any crashes or injuries?
No. NHTSA records 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries among the reported steering complaints for the 2018 Elantra.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 5,200 miles.
What kind of steering problems do owners describe?
Owners describe swaying or swerving at highway speed, the steering wheel becoming hard to turn or seizing, and intermittent lock-ups sometimes linked to a steering column bushing.

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.