2020 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
248 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
9,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 103 of 248 complaints (41.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 16.9% |
| Engine operation | 31 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 103 |
| Power Train | 45 |
| Exterior Lighting | 27 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
Engine: 103; Power Train: 45; Exterior Lighting: 27; Electrical System: 25; Unknown Or Other: 24; Steering: 20; Service Brakes: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 48 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 173 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 39 |
| 2026 | 43 |
2019: 4; 2020: 28; 2021: 48; 2022: 16; 2023: 35; 2024: 35; 2025: 39; 2026: 43
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 42 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11277049 · 2019-10-30 (October 30, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .
Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301990 · 2020-02-05 (February 5, 2020)
2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN CAUSE HIGHER RPMS TO MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. THIS CAN CAUSE EXTRA WEAR ON THE MOTOR AND DECREASED GAS MILEAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE NEW VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION.*JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11301990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289328 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT DROVE A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LOANER VEHICLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE REVVED TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON COASTED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER. THE CONTACT CALLED BURDICK HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 7820 HOGAN DRIVE S, CICERO, NY 13039, [phone removed]). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361116 · 2020-09-25 (September 25, 2020)
ON JUNE 4,2020, MY 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAR HAD ONLY 8,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ON HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS, AND THE CAR WOULD STALL AT LIGHTS AND NOT ACCELERATE. THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DID NOT KNOW THAT WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, MY CAR MAY OR MAY NOT MOVE. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED THAT DAY, AND HYUNDAI IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DANGER THEY PUT ME IN. I WAS NOT SAFE IN THAT VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT I STILL COULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SEVERELY INJURED THAT DAY. HYUNDAI SUSSMAN IN WILLOW G…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286542 · 2019-12-03 (December 3, 2019)
WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND BEGAN INCREASING SPEED (10-15 MPH), I FELT LIKE MY FRONT TIRES MAY HAVE NEEDED AIR. I CHECKED MY DASH AND CONFIRMED THAT ALL THE SENSORS FOR TIRE PRESSURE WERE ON AND WORKING AND THE AIR PRESSURE SEEMED TO BE FINE. I BEGAN TO INCREASE SPEED AND BY THIS TIME WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND AT APROX. 55 MPH ON THE HWY, WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE SUDDENLY FELT LOOSE. I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS MY TIRE OR THE ROAD ITSELF BUT BEFORE I COULD EVEN SWITCH LANES MY TIRE SEEMED TO JERK ME OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300931 · 2020-02-03 (February 3, 2020)
2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SPED UP PAST THE SET SPEED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 1.5 INCHES. THE DEALER TURNED THE SENSITIVITY LEVEL ON THE LANE ASSIST. ALSO, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT A METAL SCREEN OVER THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE HEATER. THIS COULD ALLOW RODENTS TO ENTER INTO THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11300931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310064 · 2020-02-19 (February 19, 2020)
A CAR DARTED INTO MY LANE AT 90 DEGREES. MY RENTAL CAR RIGHT CORNER ENDED UP AGAINST THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT FENDER. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT DID START TO INFLATE. A LOT OF DARK GRAY SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THE BAG STARTED TO DEPLOY. THE BAG COVER APPEARED TO EXTEND ABOUT 6" FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SIDES LOOKED PLEATED, LIKE AN ACCORDION BELLOWS. ALSO SOMETHING HAPPENED UNDER THE DASH AROUND THE PEDALS. I SAW A RECTANGULAR LIGHT COLORED AREA 4-9' TALL AND 10-20" WIDE AS IF A PANEL HAD B…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374238 · 2020-11-12 (November 12, 2020)
I BELIEVE SOMEONE ELSE HAS LINKED INTO MY CAR USING AN APP, AND HAS ACCESS TO OPEN IT AND ALSO TAKE CONTROL OF THE BRAKES, ETC...
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11374238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319425 · 2020-03-27 (March 27, 2020)
I STARTED TO HEAR A GRIDDING NOISE THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING LOUDER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, FAST OR SLOW, HIGHWAY OR STREET, DOES NOT MATTER. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A WEEK WHILE REPLACING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COLUMN (NOT 100% SURE ON EXACT NAMES OF PARTS REPLACED). I GET THE CAR BACK AND THE STEERING PROBLEMS ARE WORSE. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING AROUND WHILE DRIVING. THAT LEVER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT WORK. I CALL HYUNDAI AND AM TOLD THEY ARE BOOKED AND CAN N…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383011 · 2020-12-11 (December 11, 2020)
AT APPROXIMATELY 16,000 ' 17,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED HAVING TECHNICAL AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THERE SEEMED TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM SETTING. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, THE GLOVE BOX LIGHT, THE OVERHEAD READING LIGHT, AND THE CHARGING PORT FOR CAR ADAPTERS ALL STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTER THOSE THINGS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE, WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WE WERE DRIVING FROM MISSOURI TO CALIFORNIA AND WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY THROUGH KANSAS, THE CAR UNEXPLAINABLY JOLTED TO THE LEFT INTO THE OPPOSITE …
Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11670335 · 2025-06-30 (June 30, 2025)
Fuel pump keeps on failing I replaced it 3 time.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11670335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11729565 · 2026-04-06 (April 6, 2026)
Within a matter of a few days my car has been stopping by itself. The car was smoking and stopping in the middle of the highway, my dealership is proving me with a new engine but is trying to have me come out of pocket for an fuel injector, please help !
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11729565 at NHTSA ↗