Reliable Auto DB

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT holds 50 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 Elantra GT years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Electrical system.

2017 Hyundai Elantra GT
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

50

Per year

4

Recalls

1

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (29 of 50), then Powertrain (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Elantra GT has 25 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 3 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Electrical system 2018-12-14 · NHTSA campaign 18V891000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (50 total)

Engine
29
Powertrain
5
Electrical system
4
Forward collision avoidance
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Service brakes
4
Exterior lighting
3
Lane departure
2
Speed control
2
Tires
2
Back-over prevention
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

62018620196202110202242023620247202552026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am seeking legal assistance regarding an engine failure in my Hyundai and Hyundai’s refusal to cover the replacement. I purchased the vehicle from a used-car dealership in Walpole, Massachusetts, on April 22, 2024. At…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-14
  • "The vehicle is experiencing engine-related excessive oil consumption, which has led to failure of the catalytic converter and emissions system. The root issue appears to be an internal engine defect causing oil to burn…"
    Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2026-04-13
  • "Engine consumes large amount of oil requiring oil refill every week, without turning on check engine and/or engine oil light. Raising the chances to cause accidents due to engine failure while driving, and requiring…"
    Engine · filed 2026-01-16
  • "I've contacted Hyundai to try and do a recall repair on my Hyundai Elantra GT 2018 both through a local dealership (Planet Hyundai in Golden, CO) and Hyundai corporate. The engine is stalling and knocking very bad to…"
    Engine · filed 2026-01-14
  • "I purchased the car on April 7th, 2022 with roughly 115k miles on it and got a blinking CEL shortly after. The engine was listed as a recall and was swapped with 115,610 miles on it directly after the swap. During this,…"
    Engine · filed 2026-01-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Hyundai Elantra Gt 5 HB FWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

AD hatchback, 2017–2020
Body styles Hatchback
Oil 5W-30 (all temps; 1.6L turbo also lists 5W-40; 2.0L also lists 5W-20) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 225/40R18, 225/45R17, 205/55R16, 195/65R15 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-891 covers certain 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT vehicles: the panoramic sunroof motor may be incorrectly programmed, preventing the sunroof from detecting an obstacle while closing, which can increase injury risk. Dealers inspect the panoramic sunroof and replace it as necessary.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Hyundai Elantra GT See every Hyundai Elantra GT model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT holds 50 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 Elantra GT years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Electrical system.

What are common problems with a 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (29 of 50), then Powertrain (5) and Electrical system (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Elantra GT has 25 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 3 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT been recalled?

The 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?

Owners have filed 50 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT with NHTSA.

What oil does a Hyundai Elantra GT take?

5W-30 at all temps; the 1.6L turbo also lists 5W-40 and the 2.0L also lists 5W-20. Confirm the filler-cap grade.

What does recall 18V-891 cover on the Elantra GT?

Certain 2018 Elantra GT vehicles: the panoramic sunroof motor may be incorrectly programmed, preventing the sunroof from detecting an obstacle while closing. Dealers inspect and replace it as necessary.

What years does the AD Elantra GT cover?

2017-2020 on this site.