2018 Hyundai Elantra Electrical Problems

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 method, driven approximately 30-40 miles, and abandoned. It was found stripped of parts, including the catalytic converter. This defect is already the subject of a nationwide class-action settlement (hyundaitheftsettlement.com) and a multistate Attorney General settlement. I am filing this report to ensure my vehicle/incident is included in NHTSA's records on this ongoing safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11751074

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

Alarming rate of oil consumption causes sudden loss of power / acceleration which definitely increases probably of causing an accident. Local repair shop confirmed extremely low oil level with no evidence of where oil went shortly after oil change and annual safety inspection. All the dashboard warning lights came on when it happened but low oil warning light came on prior to event. No warning whatsoever, just sudden loss of power and completely lit up dashboard.

NHTSA ID

11742999

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

I am writing to formally report a safety concern regarding my 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle has experienced a failure of the heater hose/pipe, which appears to be made of plastic and connected to a metal component. This failure has resulted in a coolant leak, creating a serious risk of engine overheating. This issue is not only inconvenient but also dangerous. A sudden loss of coolant while driving can cause the engine to overheat without warning, potentially leading to engine failure, loss of vehicle control, or leaving the driver stranded in unsafe conditions. This is especially concerning while driving on busy roads or highways. Based on my experience and discussions with repair professionals, this appears to be a known issue with this model, as the part is not widely available outside of Hyundai/Kia and may indicate a design flaw. A critical cooling system component should not fail prematurely under normal driving conditions. Given the safety risks associated with this defect, I believe this issue warrants further investigation and consideration for a recall or extended warranty coverage. Consumers should not be responsible for costly repairs caused by a potentially defective design. I respectfully request that Hyundai review this issue and provide assistance with the repair, as well as take appropriate action to ensure the safety and reliability of affected vehicles. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11726258

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

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 malfunctioning at the time, I suspected that it might be a timing chain problem because I had this same exact issue happen to to this car back in January 2025. I did not expect this issue to occur again because at the time of the previous problem, the dealership confirmed that issue was the timing chain and the VVT system, and replaced those components with new parts. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car started stalling and sputtering, then became unresponsive while I was driving. If I were in a high-traffic area, I'm not confident that I would have been able to accelerate, stop, or safely pull over to the side of the road without putting myself and/or someone else in harms way. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the car is currently at the dealership and they confirmed that the issue is the timing chain and the VVT system. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, the car is currently at the dealership and they confirmed that the issue is the timing chain and the VVT system. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, there were absolutely no warning lights, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11705305

Incident

Dec 11, 2025

Initial Fault Code: P0303 Replaced all 4 spark plugs and all 4 ignition coils. The check engine light extinguished momentarily but returned, logging P0303 and a new P0301 Replaced all 4 fuel injectors. CEL extinguished momentarily and then returned, logging P0303. Replaced the entire engine electrical harness. Concurrently, all related electrical components and connectors were meticulously cleaned with professional contact cleaner. CEL extinguished for significantly longer period of time, and then returned, re-logging P0303 and P0301. Thid suggested the ECU was "handshaking" with new components but re-logging the fault upon detecting the persistent core issue. A full compression test was performed. All cylinders reported results within specification. Using a borescope I inspected cylinder walls in piston tops. There was significant carbon residue buildup but nothing out of the ordinary for similar GDI engines. I still performed a PEA GDI specific chemical cleaning. It was a a little smoother afterwards, but the misfire persisted and CEL remained on. I also removed, cleaned, and tested common sensor faults, with no result. Also p0128 code and no start / electrical drain, and engine light started flashing numerous occasions had to stop the vehicle. I tried swapping the coils, but all that proved was that the coil was good, I did a power and ground test, it passed the connector had 12 plus volt power and a perfect resistance to static ground. The signal wire from the coil connector had perfect continuity to the ECU but had OL to chassis ground showing there was no short. A test light was used to see if anything was coming from the signal wire to the ignition coil and that test failed, there was no signal pulse. The diagnostic process has definitively proven a component-level failure inside the engine control unit. See attached file for more detailed information.

NHTSA ID

11699689

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

We were heading back to Ohio at Mile marker 8 75N Kentucky when we heard a boom. Then we saw smoke as my husband was pulling over. We jump out to get our child out of the car seat and at the same time a pickup truck pulls up with two guys. They yell that our cars on fire and began putting the fire out with a fire extinguisher. We had an oil change before we left Ohio by Valvoline. This area of the hwy isn't really patrolled and only has a volunteer fire department. A constable just happened to pass by US on the way to Indiana.

NHTSA ID

11695220

Incident

Oct 21, 2025

My husband filed a complaint about the lighting on his Hyundai sonata and I have a Hyundai Elantra that is doing the same thing. Twice now while I’ve been driving at night, my headlights have gone off an and come back on by themselves. They were off about 15 seconds each time. Then this week I had my back break light (the one close to the windshield) and the passenger side headlights go out suddenly. My car is a 2018 Elantra with 70k miles on it. I just got through replacing both headlights about a year ago when my car had 60k miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11611717

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

This has happened a couple of times where in the middle of driving, my car automatically shuts off, I can not turn my steering wheel I can not push the brakes, everything stops working. I have to wait till my car comes to a complete stop on its own, put the car in park, turn off the ignition, turn my keys and start my car again. Then it sometimes acts like there is no power to accelerate when I'm at a full stop. RPMs go crazy, but acceleration doesn't occur. No warnings have ever come up. I received an notice about a recall, but it's for 2019 Elantra and up. Mine is a 2018, but the issues for that recall is the same thing that is happening with my car. This is DANGEROUS and can lead to serious repercussions or even death. Something needs to be done to fix this. I don't not have thousands of dollars to pay for an issue with the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11604764

Incident

Jun 20, 2024

CAR DOESNT REGISTER MAPS WELL FREEZES DASHBOARD GPS LIGHTS FLICKER. KEEPS MAKING NOISE BEEPING REQUESTING PASSENGER PUTS SELT BELT ON WHEN THERES NO ONE THERE.

NHTSA ID

11580773

Incident

Mar 19, 2024

ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH TRIED TO SPEED UP AND SWITCH LANES AS I PRESSED THE GAS YOU CAN HEAR THE ACCERATION BUT THE CAR DIDNT INCREASE IN SPEED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK (BLACK). CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. ITS VERY DANGEROUS THAT THE CAR FALFUCTIONS IN CRITICAL CONDITIONS LIKE BEING ON THE FREEWAY. YES I HAVE TOOKEN IT TO HYUNDAI AND THEY NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALSO AT TIMES THE CAR WONT EVEN TURN ON. NO TYPE OF WARING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

11580771

Incident

Mar 12, 2024

MY 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WENT FROM 50 MPH TO 0 IN SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON . CAR DIDNT TURN OVER AFTER THAT GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND ONCE THERE CHECKD THE OIL AND THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. RECEIVED MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON 1/31/2024 STILL HAD MILES LEFT OVER BEFORE GETTING ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SIGNAL NOTIFYING OF OIL LOW OR ANYTHING AFTER SPEAKING WITH SERVICE MECHANINC THEY MENTIONED THE ENGINE BEING SHOT. THERE IS NOT EVEN 100,000 MILES ON THIS ENGINE AND IT NEEDS A NEW ONE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY ADDING ANOTHER COMPLAINT CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING SO THERE CAN BE A INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID

11576026

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

So my 2018 Hyundai elantra has had the ignition/starter coils go bad now for the third time, the first 2 times the car was under warranty, I thought the second time it was odd to have the same problem, the car shakes violently, stalls out, and or refuses to start. But my warranty just ran out in 2023 and now of course the same problem is happening again, I took it to the dealer and they repaired it, it was very expensive, but I really thought since it was the same problem that they or Hyundai would cover this repair, of course they laughed at me so of course I paid it and hoped that Hyundai USA or the dealer, Ron Marhoffer Hyundai in Akron, Ohio would cover it after the fact but they both refuse simply stating that this problem happened after the 5 year warranty. I totally disagree , especially since this is the same problem happening again and again, it clearly was never fixed properly or has remained defective over the lifespan of the vehicle. I did some research and was shocked at the thousands of reports of other American consumers with the same issue and again the company laughing at us all. I am hoping for some consumer protection here for parts on a vehicle that are clearly defective and should be recalled and replaced properly. I guess we will just have to wait for someone to stall out while driving and wreck and die for something to be done unfortunately . I am assuming its probably already happened. When it happens to me again, which it will, I will hope and pray for the best. Please help.

NHTSA ID

11573775

Incident

Jan 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while a friend was driving the vehicle at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was restarted without any service being performed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11563608

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

Mileage

60,000 mi

Car isn’t starting just changed the started two years ago after it failed now it’s not starting we have gas in it and it won’t start

NHTSA ID

11555142

Incident

Nov 8, 2023

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A LOUD POP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FLASHED THEN WENT OUT. A PASSER BY COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STOPPED AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ON THE GROUNG UNDERNEITH MY CAR. THEN OPENED THE HOOD WHERE THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE BEHIND THE ENGINE. ANOTHER TRUCK PASSING BY HAD A FIRE ESTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD. CALLED A WRECKER SERVICE TO COME AND PICK IT UP. UPON DELIVERY OF MY VEHICLE, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE WRECKER. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD SOMEONE COME BY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I COULD OF BEEN IN THE CAR AND BEEN BURNED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN OUT AND DONE A FULL REPORT ON IT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON DETECTING ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11547127

Incident

Aug 3, 2023

MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATING PROBLEMS, STALLING PROBLEMS FRESH FROM THE LOT EVEN BEFORE 5,000 MILES WITH MY HYUNDAI NOT ACCELERATING TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT 5 YEARS AGO. IT STILL CONTINUES TO STALL ON ME! IT BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN TWO DAYS IN A ROW. ONE ON 8/8 AND 8/9! COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR OTHERS IF I TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BREAK TO REV UP THE ENGINE AT THE SAME TIME WHILE TURNING! COULD HAVE KILLED US! I AM SITTING IN A LEMON! IT IS NOT SAFE ON THE ROAD AT ALL!! I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO TRY AND GET A RENTAL. HYUNDAI WON'T LET ME GET A LOANER CAR! I CANNOT AFFORD UBER ALL THE TIME. ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TOO AND AIRBAG LIGHT. MY TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING TOO AND THE DOUBLE CLUTCH. CRANK AND CAM SHAFT PROBLEMS! HEADLIGHTW ARE VERY DIM TOO. AIRBAG WEIGHT FRONT SEAT SENSOR IS TURNING ON. ENGINE IS STALLING. SLOWS DOWN! WILL NOT ACCELERATE AFTER 60MPH GOES SUPER SLOW DOWN TO 55 MPH UP HILL. I WANT HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER TO PAY OR I AM GETTING A LEMON LAWYER AND CONTACTING THE BBB AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

NHTSA ID

11538511

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

The car was stolen from an apartment parking lot due to no immobilizer being installed, making the car very easy to steal.

NHTSA ID

11538372

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

UNKNOWN- intermittently - multiple times a day for the last month the car starts making clicking noises like a card in the spokes of a bicycle. Mechanic could not find the cause. UNKNOWN- two times in 2 weeks- while making a turn my car stalled in the middle of an intersection, all the lights on the dash went on, and wouldn't start up again for a couple minutes. Then car starts and runs fine besides the intermittent clicking

NHTSA ID

11535939

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

My right rear brake has a short in the wire. It goes on and off where I hit bumps in the road. I have tried replacing and nothing works. My car was broke into and steering column was busted. They person who broke into my car was able to put a USB port onto the ignition and start my car.

NHTSA ID

11535125

Incident

May 30, 2023

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 ID

11527520

Incident

Jun 17, 2023

I just started my drive and my car seems to have rebooted while I was driving. The whole ordeal only lasted a few seconds. Things I noticed: 1) The steering locked (Guessing the electronic controls were down) 2) A few telltales were triggered and then the instrument cluster went blank 3) A the same time, the infotainment system went blank. Both the instrument cluster and the Infotainment came back after a few seconds 4) The engine revved up a bit at some point This has never happened to me before. I suspect it may be because of a new build software that was flashed to fix a security issue with Hyundai cars but I'm not sure.

NHTSA ID

11517313

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

Passenger seatbelt alarm will sound randomly even when nobody is in the passenger seat.

NHTSA ID

11503355

Incident

Jan 24, 2023

My car was stolen because of how easy it is to start it without a key.

NHTSA ID

11496585

Incident

Dec 2, 2022

The engine suddenly started stalling at stop sign or red lights at random times and the engine immobilizer light came on along with check engine and oil light. This was dangerous when turning left at an intersection. Car would be fine after restarting the car. Other times the ESC malfunction light would show while driving and the engine would not accelerate properly on the highway and the engine would also start jerking at times. Dealer said they could not fix it as this was an intermittent issues and they could not reproduce the issue when given for repair. Dealer and company did not agree to do a complete check and replace sensors, etc.

NHTSA ID

11492952

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

My Elantra was taken by theft. Rear driver side door broken. Ignition harness torn apart and the car was driven away from my senior living home parking lot on July 23rd at 3 P.M. Police were called but car was taken off the lot before they arrived. I received call from police on July 27th that the car was in an impound lot in St. Paul. Drivers side front tire blown out, wheel severly damaged. Some body scratched in left rear. Front passenger seat badly stained. Other damage unknown. Vehicle been at Walser Hyundai since about August 1st. Shop waiting for parts for repairs.

NHTSA ID

11490273

Incident

Jul 23, 2022