2018 Hyundai Elantra vs 2018 Kia Forte
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Hyundai Elantra | 2018 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 280 | 134 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 120 | 100 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–35 | 28–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 35,000 mi | 35,234 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 139 | 57 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 16 |
| Power Train | 24 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 16 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 6 |
| Structure | 15 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 47 | 27 |
| Check engine light | 35 | 16 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 13 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 12 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 12 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 11 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 0 |
2018 Hyundai Elantra
2018 Kia Forte
Compare all Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Forte years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.