Sixth generation (AD)
2018 Hyundai Elantra
The most reported problem on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra is stalling, with 78 complaints, usually around 62,000 miles.
- 282owner complaints
- 0recalls
- 12involved a crash
- 44,500median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Elantra doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has 282 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 1.6 times the median of 177 for 2018 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Elantra model years since 2014, it has the 4th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017 and 2019
- At 31 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs well under the 2017 (77) and close to the 2019 (31).
- Top problem
- Stalling leads with 78 of the 282 complaints (28%), ahead of engine failure at 53. A quarter of the 32 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 12,000 miles, and half by about 62,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 20 of the 282 complaints (7%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 12 reports mention a crash, 7 mention a fire and 6 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 6 of 12, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- There's no recall on file for this model year, so the problems above are owner complaints with no campaign behind them.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 50 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 36. So far in 2026, 24 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 78 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
282 complaints is about the median for a 2018 model on this site and 1.6 times the median 2018 sedan. Among the 9 Elantra model years here it ranks 4th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai filed 121 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Hyundai Elantra. 13 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 78 complaints
If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.
Check engine light or misfire 4 bulletins · 43 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Hyundai is conducting a Service Campaign related to an Electronic Control Module (ECM) software update to include cylinder imbalance learning logic optimization for Malfunction Indicator Light illumination.
2 more on this problem
If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a complaint of ?Check Engine Light on? and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 15 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a (Check Engine Light on) and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the input/output speed sensor and oil pressure harness.
Engine misfire 1 bulletin · 13 complaints
This bulletin provides information related to the Engine Control Module (ECM) software update for 2018 - 2019MY Elantra (AD/ADA) vehicles equipped with 2.0L engine.
Paint peels or body rusts 1 bulletin · 12 complaints
Certain 2017-2018MY Elantra (ADa), Sonata (LFa), and Santa Fe Sport (AN) vehicles manufactured by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (âHMMAâ) may exhibit peeling or bubbling of the white paint in various areas of the vehicle, most commonly on or around ...
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 1 bulletin · 12 complaints
This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the âTire Balance Data Sheetâ must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) ...
Headlights too dim or fail 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
Certain 2019-2020MY Santa Fe and 2018-2020MY Elantra equipped with front camera/multi-function camera may exhibit a series of Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Front Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), and ...
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 3 bulletins · 6 complaints
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 3.
1 more on this problem
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
Complaints filed by year
50 complaints came in 2022, 1.9 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2018 Hyundai Elantra
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
No recalls on file for this model year.
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
Stalling, with 78 of the 282 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 62,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Hyundai Elantra problems start?
Of the 123 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 13,000 miles and half by about 44,000.
Is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra better or worse than the 2017 and 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has fewer complaints than the 2017 and about as many complaints as the 2019: 31 a year against 77 and 31.
How many 2018 Hyundai Elantra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
20 of them (7%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
No recall on file for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.