VehicleVerdict

2018 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has 139 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 35% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

139

Engine complaints

35%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Elantra engine complaints by model year289 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 8 complaints1994: 9 complaints1995: 25 complaints1996: 23 complaints1997: 28 complaints1998: 16 complaints1999: 28 complaints2000: 54 complaints2001: 24 complaints2002: 13 complaints2003: 22 complaints2004: 16 complaints2005: 10 complaints2006: 6 complaints2007: 18 complaints2008: 41 complaints2009: 13 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 97 complaints2012: 140 complaints2013: 236 complaints2014: 163 complaints2015: 92 complaints2016: 110 complaints2017: 289 complaints2018: 139 complaints2019: 126 complaints2020: 103 complaints2021: 16 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 17 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Elantra engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND IT STARTED SMOKING. THE CAR JUST STOPPED AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE CAR DID NOT WARNING OF OVER HEATING OR OF THE CAR NEEDING TO BE SERVICED. I BROUGHT THE CAR USED AND IT WAS TWO MONTHS AFTER I MADE THE PURCHASE THAT THIS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 6, 2020 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2018 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 139 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Elantra engine — 35% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.