2020 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11257932 · 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FAILED TO WARN OF AN ICE BUCKET IN THE ROADWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE ICE BUCKET, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE ICE BUCKET WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTIC HYUNDAI (193 SUNRISE HWY NORTH SERVICE RD, WEST ISLIP, NY 11795,…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257932 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 11292460 · 2020-01-01 (January 1, 2020)
THIS IS BRAND NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED 35 DAYS AGO THAT NOW HAS 1295 MILES ON IT. I ENTERED THE STREET FROM A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME SO I DID NEED TO EXCELLERATE RAPIDLY WHEN I PULLED OUT. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE I WAS IN THE ROAD THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE ENGINE RPM WAS INCREASING BUT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. CARS WERE ON MY BUMPER BLASTING THEIR HORNS AND I CAN'T BLAME THEM, I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HELPS BUT IT WOULD NOT CHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,295 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292460 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 11301897 · 2020-01-26 (January 26, 2020)
WINDSHIELDS SAFETY DEFECT ' HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2020 GREETINGS, I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF MY PURCHASE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAND-NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO ON JANUARY 06, 2020, FROM BOB BAKER HYUNDAI IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED A HAZINESS TO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. I WAS TOLD BY A HYUNDAI SALESMAN, [XXX] THAT THIS HAZINESS MIGHT BE DIRT AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD WASH THE CAR BEFORE I TOOK IT HOME THUS TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. LATER, AFTER A CAREFUL EXAMINATION…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301897 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V720000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 2019-10-09 (October 9, 2019)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Ioniq Hybrid and 2020 Elantra vehicles. The right-side rear wheel lug nuts may have been insufficiently tightened, allowing the wheel to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, tighten the lug nuts, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-251-0871. Hyundai's number for this recall is 184.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V721000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2019-10-09 (October 9, 2019)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Elantra vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint fasteners may have been insufficiently tightened allowing the ball joint to detach from the lower control arm.
Consequence: A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the ball joint fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 185.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V301000 · Engine
Reported: 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA campaign record ↗