2018 Hyundai Elantra GT vs 2018 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT | 2018 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 49 | 230 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 155 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–28 | 25–42 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 44,163 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra GT | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 28 | 129 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 33 |
| Power Train | 5 | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 17 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 14 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 0 | 14 |
| Steering | 1 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 9 | 27 |
| Stalling | 7 | 26 |
| Oil consumption | 7 | 45 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 19 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 13 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT
2018 Kia Optima
Compare all Hyundai Elantra GT vs Kia Optima 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.