"How reliable is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?"

"Based on 385 NHTSA complaints, the 2018 Hyundai Elantra has a median complaint mileage of 23892 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 385 total complaints filed."

2018 Hyundai Elantra: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 385 complaints

385

Total Complaints

23,892mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

5,475 25th Percentile

23,892 Median Mileage

58,732 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

129

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Power Train

Fuel/Propulsion System

Exterior Lighting

Steering

Service Brakes

Body

Vehicle Speed Control

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE HEADLIGHTS BEAMS HARDLY REACH ACROSS AN INTERSECTION.. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD SIGNS LIKE SPEED LIMIT, AND STREET NAME SIGNS.. ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON RURAL ROADS THAT HAVE DIPS IN THEM UNLESS YOUR SLOW DOWN TO 15MPH (NOT GOOD WHEN THE SPEED LIMIT IS 45 ON THESE ROADS.... THE HEADLIGHTS ..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (EMPIRE HYUNDAI INC, 428 PLEASANT ST, FALL RIVER, MA 02721, (508) 673-7646) MORE THAN TWICE, BUT THEY COULD NOT REP..."

"THESE NEW CARS DO NOT HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE FOR THE TRUNK ANYMORE - MAKING THEM EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS BY RELEASING THE LEVEL ON THE VERY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OR YOU MUST HAVE THE KEYS IN YOUR HAND. SO THE CAR IS PARKED AND MY SON GOES OUT WITH A FRIEND TO GET A POSTE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 129 complaints

25th: 11,500 mi Median: 38,000 mi 75th: 73,500 mi

Unknown Or Other 51 complaints

25th: 3,765 mi Median: 29,800 mi 75th: 63,377 mi

Electrical System 39 complaints

25th: 11,475 mi Median: 26,500 mi 75th: 48,375 mi

Power Train 24 complaints

25th: 16,450 mi Median: 39,625 mi 75th: 53,875 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 19 complaints

25th: 4,912 mi Median: 8,200 mi 75th: 11,925 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 52 FL: 36 TX: 33 PA: 21 IL: 21 NC: 18 NJ: 17 GA: 17 TN: 16 OH: 16

Who Files Complaints?

0.5%

Original Owners

99.5%

Second+ Owners

Hyundai Elantra — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1992	46	-	Automatic Transmission	1
1993	39	-	Engine	2
1994	110	-	Frontal	26
1995	179	-	Frontal	32
1996	138	92,000	Gasoline	11
1997	196	89,000	Automatic Transmission	26
1998	75	72,000	Gasoline	10
1999	183	92,750	Automatic Transmission	24
2000	259	48,000	Frontal	43
2001	445	69,000	Air Bags	100
2002	431	72,000	Air Bags	80
2003	310	65,500	Suspension	59
2004	209	31,000	Air Bags	32
2005	180	51,500	Air Bags	43
2006	209	68,250	Air Bags	37
2007	364	70,530	Visibility/Wiper	26
2008	423	55,409	Steering	57
2009	315	78,000	Steering	39
2010	494	62,000	Steering	67
2011	588	70,000	Engine	29
2012	911	60,000	Engine	72
2013	1839	43,000	Steering	157
2014	540	54,000	Engine	58
2015	344	50,550	Engine	45
2016	378	54,128	Engine	30
2017	1054	41,000	Engine	57
2019	309	43,500	Engine	19
2020	294	6,200	Engine	28
2021	205	15,500	Warnings	11
2022	127	23,500	Seat Belts	5
2023	131	7,000	Unknown Or Other	11
2024	86	7,654	Unknown Or Other	11
2025	23	-	Unknown Or Other	4

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28