Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has 334 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most for engine at 171, followed by electrical system at 47. Its combined EPA rating is 25 to 35 mpg on gasoline, with a 5-year fuel cost of $9,280 to $12,990 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it an overall rating of 4 stars. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign that may apply, covering electrical system and windows, mirrors and wipers.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
25–35 mpgcombined; city 22–32, highway 29–40; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,280–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $8,290–$11,610 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 Elantra. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 334 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Elantra. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
171
3
7
1
Unknown or other
61
3
0
2
Electrical system
47
2
3
1
Power train
29
0
1
1
Fuel/propulsion system
23
1
0
1
Exterior lighting
19
0
0
0
Service brakes
19
1
1
0
Steering
17
0
0
0
Structure
15
0
1
0
Vehicle speed control
15
0
0
0
Air bags
12
6
0
3
Wheels
11
0
0
0
12 more parts
Lane departure
6
0
0
0
Suspension
6
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
5
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
4
0
0
0
Seat belts
4
0
0
0
Tires
4
0
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Elantra over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT vehicles. The panoramic sunroof motor may be incorrectly programmed, preventing the sunroof from detecting an obstacle while closing.
Risk: If the sunroof does not detect an obstacle while closing and then retract, there could be an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the panoramic sunroof, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 179.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 156 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Elantra, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (57), engine and engine cooling (33), equipment (30), power train (17), steering (14).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 Elantra.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data