The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is a striking vehicle and has grabbed the attention of the segment pretty well. It has already sold more than 200,000 units and sees a comfortable fanbase like many other offerings like Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Kia Forte. Along with happy faces, there has been a lot of criticism as well. People have complained about engine issues happening randomly. There are complaints about the engine stalling while some complainants claim the engine gives out erroneous fault codes. Though there have been no recalls for the sedan, there is a safety warning issued during the crash test. Let’s see what all problems the owners had to go through during their tenure.
2018 Hyundai Elantra Problems
Electrical issues:
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) issues: The TPMS is reported to be malfunctioning frequently. The system gives out erroneous warnings on the instrument cluster. In some cases, the warning resulted in a tire blowout due to lower-than-indicated pressure. That said, there have been cases where there have been chimes despite proper pressure. These chimes cause distractions while driving.
- Infotainment issues: The infotainment system in the Elantra is reported to give out a lot of issues. The system frequently disconnects the smartphones and causes distraction. The infotainment system also gives out issues with the speakers and give out a rattling noise.
- Exterior lighting issues: The headlights on the Elantra are reported to be very low in output. The halogen bulbs are said to be inadequate for low-lit road conditions. The owners living in rural areas have complained about the car being “un-drivable” due to the poor headlights. Apart from this, people have reported the LEDs to burn and require replacement.
Mechanical issues:
- Engine overheating: The Elantra’s engine is reported to overheat under warm conditions. The engine is said to emit smoke from the engine compartment and drop RPMs. The engine loses motive power and stalls. Some people have reported that the car shudders and jerks before coming to a stop. Upon diagnosis, the issue was traced back to the leaking coolant and some other faulty parts.
- Steering issues: People have reported that the steering wheel loses power assistance and makes it very difficult to turn. Sometimes there is a warning illuminated in the cluster while there is no warning. The sudden loss of power assistance also makes it very difficult to maneuver the car.
- Transmission surges: The transmission in the 2018 Elantra is said to surge the RPMs while driving. These surges are random and are usually observed at lower speeds. Some people have complained of unintended acceleration due to these surges at highway speeds. No collisions/crashes have been reported due to this.
- Suspension noises: When driving on an uneven surface, people have reported creaking noises coming from the front suspension. These noises indicate a problem with the suspension but have not resulted in any mishaps yet. Some owners claim the noise goes away automatically. Some others had to get their suspension components replaced at dealerships.
Exterior issues:
- Paint peeling issues: The paint quality used on the 2018 Elantra is frowned upon by owners across the State. There are multiple occasions where people see paint peeling from several areas of the car. This substandard paint quality also allows rust to form on the shell. The issue has been communicated to the manufacturer and a resolution is awaited.
- Door latch issues: The door latch in the Elantra is reported to unlatch while driving, causing the door to open. Although the doors do not swing open, sudden unlatching is a serious safety issue.
Miscellaneous issues:
- Easy to steal: There have been numerous theft reports coming in from across the country. The affected owners criticize the sedan to have substandard safety which makes it an easy target for thieves. The same issue is replicated in certain Kia cars as well, like the Kia Sportage. Many complaints have been drafted to Hyundai America to take the necessary steps but no remedy is issued yet.
2018 Hyundai Elantra Recalls
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra sees no recalls yet.
Should you buy the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is a good option for a no-frills commuter but sees its own flaws. The sedan’s owners have constantly complained about the poor paint quality used by the Korean manufacturer. If that is not the issue, people have got their cars stolen due to poor security measures in the car. The headlights could use some upgrade while the engine needs to be taken care of for overheating. The issues are solvable and might need an additional step or two, but are nothing to deter how well-packaged the car is. If you want to go for a used Elantra, be sure to check out the TPMS and look thoroughly at the maintenance record for any discrepancies.
More from Hyundai:
