Are there open safety recalls?
None
No open recalls, but there’s an open government investigation — check nhtsa.gov.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has no open NHTSA safety recalls on file, 281 owner complaints, and gets about 29 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2018 Hyundai Elantra
- Engine 4-cyl 1.6L
- Drive Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Regular
- Body Midsize Cars
Should you worry?
Be careful
Serious flags in the public record. Read the details below before you buy.
What do owners report?
1 death reported
Out of 281 owner reports. Read the Owners section before you buy.
How did it score in crash tests?
4 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2018.
- 20162recalls
- 20174recalls
- 2018 · this car0recalls
- 20191recall
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 27, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 4 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 5 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane-departure warning
- Optional
Tested as: 2018 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD
Open safety recalls
A recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
No open safety recalls on file for this year and model.
The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 27, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2018.
- 2016290reports
- 2017763reports
- 2018 · this car281reports
- 2019247reports
281 owner reports on file
12 crash mentions 7 fire mentions 6 injury mentions 1 death mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 281 total reports.
- ENGINE 88 of 281
After the car was started, I drove 3 houses over when there was a loud knocking sound and the car just shut off. When trying to restart it wouldn't and the check engine, battery, and oil lights came on. After pushing it out of the road we c
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38 of 281
This vehicle lacks an engine immobilizer, a defect that has made 2011-2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles unusually susceptible to theft via a method widely publicized on social media as the "Kia Challenge." My vehicle was stolen using this metho
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38 of 281
My daughter was in a parking lot and put her car in park, removed her keys and exited the vehicle. She walked around the vehicle and was removing her school bag and the car came out of park and rolled into another vehicle.
- POWER TRAIN 23 of 281
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The car began stalling and started to become unresponsive while I was driving to work. While I was not 100% sure of what component was malfun
- STEERING 15 of 281
My car's steering wheel is making a weird rubbing noise after driving for a short time on wet roads. It sounds like rubber is being turned against something (ie not metallic-sounding) This occurs whether I am in park, drive, reverse, and
- STRUCTURE 13 of 281
The factory paint on the hood, roof, and front fenders is delaminating, with the largest defect being on the hood. These are available for inspection upon request. As this is progressing, structural pieces may begin to rust, but this also
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 27, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Sold in 3 versions
They range from 28 to 33 mpg combined. Figures below are the base version. Pick yours to see its own numbers.
Combined MPG · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2018.
- 201631mpg
- 201735mpg
- 2018 · this car29mpg
- 201935mpg
$2,100
estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles
Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.
City driving 26 mpg
Highway driving 33 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 29 mpg
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to save about $500 on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
- Passenger space
- 96 cubic feet
- Cargo space
- 14 cubic feet
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 27, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Engine
4-cyl 1.6L
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (AM7)
Fuel
Regular
See all factory details (7)
- Engine
- 4-cyl 1.6L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 1.6 L
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM7)
- Body
- Midsize Cars
- Fuel
- Regular
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 27, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Have a mechanic check the engine
Owners report problems with the engine more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
-
Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2018 Hyundai Elantra listings
Quick answers
Are there any recalls on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra? +
No open NHTSA safety recalls are on file for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra. Recalls can be issued at any time, so confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Hyundai Elantra get? +
The EPA rates the 2018 Hyundai Elantra at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 33 highway), about $2,100 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2018 Hyundai Elantra 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra? +
Owners have filed 281 complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra, including 12 involving a crash. The most-reported area is engine.
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