Home · 2018 Hyundai Elantra · Complaints

What 274 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Elantra

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (274)Crash / fire / injury (20)Engine (135)Electrical system (42)Transmission & drivetrain (24)Fuel system (23)Lights (16)Brakes (15)Steering (15)Body & structure (14)Speed control (13)Airbags (11)

14 of 274 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Mar 19, 2026Body & structure

The paint is chipping and cracking and just falling off. It started on the hood now it’s going to around the windows seals and part of the roof.

NHTSA ODI 11725671

May 10, 2025Body & structure

This isn’t a safety concern but it is a concern per the vehicle. My hood on my Hyundai Elantra (silver) has bad paint and is starting to chip. My car isn’t the only one I see Hyundais with paint chipping everywhere on them.

NHTSA ODI 11660150

May 4, 2024Body & structure

The white paint on the vehicle is peeling and bubbling in various areas of the vehicle around the hood, fender and roof

NHTSA ODI 11586953

Mar 20, 2024Body & structure

Paint fell off from the vehicle's body, specifically from the front of hood cover and the roof in large patches for no reason. After doing some research, I found I am not thr only one experiecing this problem, this actually has been a wide spread know issue among the 2017 - 2018 Hyundai Elantra models. Although it does not pose any immediate risk, the potential safety threat is obvious due to the rusting bodies caused by the paint patches fallen off. The manufacturer only provided an extended body warranty from 3 years to 5 years, though, without notifying the imapcted customers. Quite a lot of customers like myself were not aware of such as warranty extention until now and could not get the issue fixed within the warranty period. The issue is so wide spread and the quality of the painting is so poor, the manufacturer should not get away just providing such a program quietly. A recall to address this issue for all the impacted vehicles is a must.

NHTSA ODI 11578555

Feb 20, 2024Body & structure

The Hyundai Electra 2018 interior door handle is peeling.I have experienced peeling paint issues, also has many legal problems in other countries.

NHTSA ODI 11573021

Jun 17, 2023Electrical systemBody & structureEngine

First, the plastic around wheel wells began to come out, then other parts of underneath near the skid area at the front of car begin to drag. Eventually a lot of the plastic pulled away underneath the car taking some of the front bumper. Then the car ran hot and had zero fluid in the radiator even though I regularly have oil changed and fluids topped off. Now the air conditioner throws out hot air when it on. I’ve regularly had oil changed. After only 3500 miles of having oil changed my oil light would come and car stalls when I’m turning. This could get me hit and killed. I bought car from car max and took it back as I have Extended Warranty that I’m paying for. They told me I had to have an appointment nearly a month out. I told them car needed to be seen now, that engine is probably going to go. CarMax refused to see my car and I now have an appointment at the Huyandi dealership . CarMax stated that Hyundai would replace my engine for free. I would like to state that I used car fax and found out car was a rental car and driven in three states. Also according to the vin number the oil in my Hyundai was changed for the first time At 18,000 miles. I still owe three years and I’m not going to have a car because it may blow the engine before I can get it into dealership. I NEVER would have bought the car had I known it was a rental, but CarMax kept telling me it was a one car owner. The car had 36,000 miles on it and I should have known. Yes, it was a one car owner by the Car rental agency and driven by hundreds of people, who didn’t care because it was a rental. Also, the check engine light is on and I can’t get car inspected or renew my tag. I had to replace calipers on both sides of car and I’ve had to have it aligned three times. It also makes a thumping sound on right front tire while I’m driving it. Feels very unsafe. Replaced brakes tires and it still makes noise. There needs to be a way to protect the consumer!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11527520

Jan 18, 2023Body & structure

Paint is peeling off the hood in 2 very large, growing spots. Nothing has struck the hood, the paint is lifting and flaking off all on its own. The color is Pearl White.

NHTSA ODI 11502534

Jul 31, 2022Body & structure

Car paint delamination (roof), Pearl White color. Car is 4 years old, 51,000 miles, garage kept. Paint peeling off of roof down to car metal. This delamination should not be occuring at all with a 4 year old car. Have contacted Hyundai Corporate with pictures. Claim number issued. Contacted local dealership where I purchased car new in April 2018. They have taken pictures, sent information , pictures to Hyundai Corporation. Waiting to hear what action Hyundai Corporation will take to correct issue

NHTSA ODI 11476792

Jul 4, 2022Body & structure

Paint is peeling from hood and top of car and continues to spread. This has been happening for the past 2 years

NHTSA ODI 11472266

Nov 27, 2021Body & structure

White paint peeling in less than 3 years of ownership. Jenkins Hyundai of Leesburg said they would put in a claim, but they have been non-responsive after saying they would put in a claim. No action from the dealership. The manufacturer, Hyundai, who painted the car, has also not taken any action, and have deferred the problem to the dealership. The paint should have been covered under warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11441837

Apr 28, 2021Body & structureEngine

1. CAR EATS UP OIL SO FAST AND THERE SEEM TO BE NO VALID REASON. - CAUSING ENGINE MISFIRE. 2. THE ACCELERATION ON THE CAR IS DELAYED OR STALLED AT TIMES WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD 3. THERE IS I RINGING/ RATTLE INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I BROUGHT THE VEH BRAND NEW IN 2017 4. THE CUTE TRIM ON THE CAR STARTED TO PEEL OFF AFTER ONE MONTH

NHTSA ODI 11414344

Jan 12, 2021Body & structure

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE-UP, CRACK AND PEEL OFF. THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS HIT THE HOOD AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WASHED WITH HIGH PRESSURE.

NHTSA ODI 11387655

Jul 16, 2020Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

ON JUNE 29,2020 MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH ONLY 40,000 HAD A ENGINE FIRE AND TOTALED MY ENTIRE CAR THAT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF INSIDE OF MY GARAGE

NHTSA ODI 11339703

Aug 4, 2019Body & structure

I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EAST ON STATE ROAD 64 IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS WERE UP , WITH MY SON I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MOSQUITOS FLYING AROUND AND ROLLED THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ,AT 55 MPH THE FRONT WINDOW REMAINED UP ..WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN I THOUGHT THE WIND TURBULENCE WOULD EXPLODE THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE ,THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND LOOKED AS THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BLOW COMPLETELY OUT....BOTH ME AND MY SON SAID WHAT IN THE F@CK JUST HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11241568

Working with the data? Download all 274 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Hyundai Elantra verdict →