2018 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

We purchased the car 4 or 5 months for my son who works for his God Mom as her assistant at a nonprofit. The car ran great until without no warning lights from instrument panel just left him sit in the middle of a busy road. The mechanic found a camshaft pin stuck in the camshaft & the timing jump 2 teeth. Repairs= Oxygen Sensor, Timing Component & Exhaust Camshaft total $3,557. Some 2018 are being recalled for the same issue but not his VIN.

I have a 2018 Hyundai Elantra with about 155k miles. It has been consuming oil excessively and has developed serious drivability issues. If I try to accelerate even slightly harder than normal—especially above 2,000 RPM—it makes a metallic, chain-type rattling noise, loses power, and produces heavy smoke from the exhaust. The smoke sometimes continues even after shutting the engine off and restarting. Because of this, I’ve been avoiding rapid acceleration and slowly working up to highway speeds. The car also periodically shakes at idle, idles higher than normal at times, and the RPMs will occasionally rise on their own. In the past it has stalled randomly, and sometimes it feels like the transmission is “stuck” and won’t shift properly. Despite all this, there are currently no check-engine codes. This is terrible and clearly there’s been lawsuits and other recalls regarding the same issue and same engine but nothing for mine? I am out of warranty and had no clue the amount of issues the car was going to have until last year and I’m screwed now, insurance doesn’t cover issues with the engine or transmission. Neither will Hyundai?! Last year Hyundai performed a CVVT repair that cost about $6,000, which temporarily improved things, but the symptoms returned shortly afterward. When I brought it back, they said they couldn’t recreate the issue. The car is now out of warranty. Separately, the car was stolen two months ago due to the immobilization fault and TIk TOKs videos and the police said it has been hundreds of these Elantras stolen and destroyd and the ignition and wiper control switch/harness were damaged, which still hasn’t been repaired.

Oil leaking from pistons in engine just like the recalled engines

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after an oil change was performed at Jiffy Lube, the engine seized while driving. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the highway and parked. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the tow truck driver informed the contact that an unknown engine part had detached on the road and there was no oil in the engine. Jiffy Lube inspected the vehicle at the residence and informed the contact that they were not responsible for the engine failure, which was caused by a lack of oil changes after 10,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,151.

Burning oil. Multiple misfires. Replacing spark plugs more often than should have to. Engine knocking.

Oil consumption will cut off while driving

It is showing signs of excessive oil consumption. 200 miles before my next scheduled oil change there was no oil in the car, causing overheating issues. It uses the same engine as other recalled years for the same issue. However they never issued a recall for the 2018. The only update I've ever received was a surprise notice from Valvoline, mid oil change, that if I didn't use the more expensive oil change option, which I couldn't afford in the moment, that I would void any warranty from Hyundai. There was no prior notice or contact from Hyundai informing me of this "New" (the valvoline tech's words not mine) policy. So not only is my car experiencing an issue known to affect this engine, they get to absolve themselves from responsibility by surprising someone with a greater expense than they are expecting, by not giving notice to their customers? This doesn't seem fair and needs to be addressed. Since that first visit I have followed their recommended oil change specs and still have excessive consumption. The date I'm giving is the approximate date of that first visit to valvoline when my car had no oil and I was told mid change about the new policy.

My engine blew in September 2024. I had it replaced. When I replaced it I got a one year warranty and unlimited mile warranty. It now blew in July 2025. I have had it hyundai of mankato which they didnt want to wait on hyundai of America to do anything to fix it and told my mechanics to have my car get offline their lot. My mechanics towed my car to Happy Hyundai of Rochester. HYUNDAI of America will not accept my warranty now and just pay for the new motor, tear down, and the time they have in it. Hyundai of America told my mechanics if they took it from Hyundai of Mankato and brought it to another dealership that they approve of that they would accept my warranty and pay for all parts and everything. Hyundai of America picked Happy Hyundai of Rochester. Where my car is.

The engine of my 2018 Hyundai Elantra has a rod bearing defect covered under a safety recall. The vehicle has not been repaired yet, and the issue prevents the car from being safely operated. I have incurred towing expenses due to the inability to use the vehicle, and I am concerned about potential engine failure or safety hazards if the defect is not addressed promptly.

I started my vehicle and it was running sluggish and low idle. I had an engine light and when I tried to drive there was a clanking sound. When I had the engine light tested I received the following codes: P0017 - Crankshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor B, P0303 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected, P0302 - Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected, P0301, P0014 - Exhaust Camshaft Position Timing - Over Advanced (Bank 1), P0030 H02S Heater Control Circuit (Bank 1, Sensor 1) I had it towed to my nearest Hyundai dealer in Tacoma, WA. After they did a diagnostic they said that they would have to replace the engine due to a shearing of a pin, leading to the belt jumping and causing issues. I am the only owner of the vehicle, I have had all my oil changes on time and my vehicle is 137,000 miles. This should not be happening in a vehicle with such low mileage. In reading online, this is an issue that Hyundai is aware of but not concerned with. There was no warning beforehand. This could have led to my engine stalling on the the freeway at freeway speeds and thus could have caused a great accident and bodily harm to myself and others. Hyundai has denied responsibility but knows this is an ongoing issue with it's poorly manufactured engines. I was not informed of all the problems of Hyundai vehicles before I purchased mine. I have yet to receive help from Hyundai Customer Service or the Hyundai Dealer.

I am filing this Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire (VOQ) regarding critical safety defects in my 2018 Hyundai Elantra related to: - Recurrent ignition coil pack failures (3 replacements since 10/2018) - Engine stalling at low speeds (6 incidents since 10/2018) - Dealer refusal to apply TSB 20-01-008H ECM update despite matching symptoms Technical Background: Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin 20-01-008H (February 2020) specifically addresses: - Misfire detection logic flaws in 2018-2019 Elantra 2.0L engines - Required ECM software update (ROM ID AD8SP2AS673D) - Updated ignition coils (P/N 27300-2E601) Safety Incidents: 2025: Stalling event at 25 mph approaching traffic light (no crash) 2021, 2023, 2024: Multiple misfire codes (P0300-P0304) with check engine light Dealer Interactions: - Round Rock Hyundai refused ECM update on 05/2025 claiming "VIN not in campaign" - Round Rock Hyundai refused coil replacements on 05/2025 claiming not under warranty - Service advisor acknowledged stalling/coil failure pattern matches TSB criteria Formal Requests: - Investigate Hyundai's VIN filtering for TSB 20-01-008H applicability Require Hyundai to: - Perform ECM software update per TSB specifications - Replace all coils with updated P/N 27300-2E601 - Reimburse previous coil replacement costs $1700 (6 coils over 7 years) - Open recall investigation for 2018 Elantra ignition systems Attachments available upon request. I authorize NHTSA to share my contact information with Hyundai Motor America. This defect creates unreasonable safety risks through sudden power loss and compromised vehicle control.

I purchased a 2018 Hyundai Elantra on April 3, 2024, from CarMax. At the time of purchase, I was not told about any recalls. Later, I discovered that my vehicle is covered by Hyundai Service Campaign 993 (Anti-Theft Software Upgrade), issued February 13, 2023, which addressed the lack of an immobilizer in 2011–2022 Hyundai vehicles. On May 29, 2025, my vehicle was stolen due to this defect. When it was recovered, it had a blown engine and was completely inoperable. Hyundai acknowledges that my VIN is included in the recall, but they have only offered to install the software update now. That does not remedy the damages caused by the theft and resulting engine failure. CarMax has denied responsibility, claiming they were not aware of the recall. I am now left with a financed vehicle that is not drivable and has lost significant value due to Hyundai’s defective design.

Check engine light came on , car was sluggish and stalled on highway , was able to glide over to the side . Would not start . This is the 4th time this happened to this vehicle , in the past I was able to put in neutral and restart . They fixed it 3 times but they are now Hyundai is now saying it needs a new engine.

The crankshaft needed replacement The oil pump broke at 107,000 miles

Check engine light came on, took to mechanic. Diagnostics showed pistons performing at half of the required psi. Engine replacement required at a cost of nearly $9,000. The vehicle only has 74k miles.

Burning oil internally. Adding 1 quart about every 1000 miles.

Formal Complaint: Engine Failure in 2018 Hyundai Elantra To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a severe and unresolved issue with my 2018 Hyundai Elantra, which has been problematic since the time of purchase and has now suffered a complete engine failure. Despite regular maintenance and responsible use, the vehicle has proven to be unreliable and unsafe. 1. Nature of the Problem The most recent and critical issue involves total engine failure. On May 12, 2025, I brought the vehicle to North Freeway Hyundai due to the car not starting. Their official diagnostic report revealed that the engine needs to be replaced. Additionally, the inspection showed issues with the transmission cooler coolant lines leaking, EFI system, camshaft exhaust, radiator hoses, and the battery. These problems affect essential systems that are critical to both the performance and safety of the vehicle. 2. History of the Problem From the beginning, the vehicle experienced a series of mechanical issues. These included engine stalling, warning indicator lights, rough idling, and decreased fuel efficiency. I consistently took the car in for service and maintenance, yet the problems worsened. In the days leading up to the failure, the vehicle had trouble starting, made abnormal noises, and eventually stopped working entirely. 3. Risk to Safety The failure of the vehicle to start without warning has placed me in unsafe and potentially dangerous situations, including being stranded in public places. The risk of the car stalling during operation could have endangered not only my safety but also the safety of other road users. This is a serious safety concern that should not be ignored. 4. Diagnosis Confirmation The diagnosis by North Freeway Hyundai confirmed that the engine failure is complete and that replacement is necessary. The service notes also included a recall campaign (24-01-009H-1) for anti-theft software and decals. These issues further demonstrate

Engine shuts off suddenly in the middle of road; several times on the way back home while my wife was driving with no warnings. Very unsafe if another car is behind. She cranked over and it went, but it happend again in an intersection after a stop sign, fortunately no cars were coming. No shows WARNING LAMPS, check engine light on or diagnostic trouble codes, but engine next day started making noises like knocking or ticking. Car is only 140k miles. Symptoms appeared 2 days ago 2/23/25

My 2018 Hyundai Elantra had an oil pressure light on and the timing chain was slapping the side of the engine. I changed the timing chain, oil pump, oil sending unit, and oil filter. When I dropped the oil pan, there was paint chips in the pan. Who paints the inside of an oil pan? I removed the oil pick up tube and discovered the inlet screen was covered with these paint chips. I cleaned the inlet and reinstalled the tube and oil pan. I no longer have the low-pressure issue. This is causing engines to have major issues and / or making them seize up. Now, I believe there are a lot of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the junk yards today because of this very issue. Majority of people will not take their engine apart to find out why it stopped working. They ether stop paying on them or junk them. As you can see in the attached photos, you will notice the pain in the pan, inside the oil pick-up tube, how much of the screen was exposed. This is a major fault of the manufacturer and Hyundai and Kia should be held responsible for the repair.

My car lost power on a busy highway which almost caused a tractor trailer to rear end me. I had the car towed and the mechanic said the engine is bad because of issues with this engine losing oil quickly and there is no recall on it but on other years. Now I have no car but still owe money on it and can’t get to work. Luckily i wasn’t hit by the tractor trailer but this should be a recall and i should be able to get it fixed without being out thousands of dollars.