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2020 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 175 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 31, 2022
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

Approximetly 8 months after purchase car stalled while sitting at RR tracks and traffic light. Replaced battery after stranded due to dead battery. After putting twenty dollars of gas car engine sputtered very loud as if it was running out of fuel this continues to occur. At departure engine stalls restarts and stalls repeats h…

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Approximetly 8 months after purchase car stalled while sitting at RR tracks and traffic light. Replaced battery after stranded due to dead battery. After putting twenty dollars of gas car engine sputtered very loud as if it was running out of fuel this continues to occur. At departure engine stalls restarts and stalls repeats hyndai unavailable for at least 30 days and would not provide loaner or alternative for car with under 60k miles disabled. Enterprise car sales would not assist in trade or repair. Engine light appears then disappears. Headlights feature stopped working it is manual operation only. Collision warning activated on an empty roadway. Tire light illuminated Replaced 1 of 4 older mismatched tires. Car is unsafe due to early occurances of electrical, mechanical, engine and computer fail without warning. Enterprise car sales will not take car as trade in, Hyndai service appointments booked 30 to 45 day waiting period with no alternative repair or loaner car I have been affected financially and loan is defaulted since I am unable to work. Excessive time spent trying to trade in car, find repair facility, roadside. Car towed due to stalled unable to drive unsure about using car with no warning disabling issues.

NHTSA ODI #11466818

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2022
Power Train

2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED AT 2,200 MILES. THE CONSUMER ALO STATED, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE RPMS RISE ABOUT 500 RPMS WHILE MAINTAINING A STEADY SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI #11458295

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2021
Power Train

Everytime when I driving around 20 minutes The transmission start failed on the first gear...every time when I stop at the traffic light and then go forward car loose the power in the first gear even sport mode or smart mode or normal mode he do that.... that's to dangerous cause if I have to crossing a way that only have a stop…

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Everytime when I driving around 20 minutes The transmission start failed on the first gear...every time when I stop at the traffic light and then go forward car loose the power in the first gear even sport mode or smart mode or normal mode he do that.... that's to dangerous cause if I have to crossing a way that only have a stop sign might can get an accident.

NHTSA ODI #11421564

5,200 miles · Apr 29, 2021
Power Train

INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #11414532

2,000 miles · Apr 14, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI OF JEFFERSON CITY (3215 MISSOURI BLVD, JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65109) WHERE THE RANGE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI OF JEFFERSON CITY (3215 MISSOURI BLVD, JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65109) WHERE THE RANGE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SOLD THE VEHICLE THE DAY AFTER THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11408131

3,700 miles · Apr 2, 2021
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLES TACHOMETER STARTED OSCILLATING SLIGHTLY, JUMPING UP AND DOWN. THE NEXT SYMPTOMS WAS THE CAR AT TIMES FELT LIKE IT HAD A BUCKING/JERKING SENSATION. THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY JUMPED UP TO AROUND 5000 RPM. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WHIL…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLES TACHOMETER STARTED OSCILLATING SLIGHTLY, JUMPING UP AND DOWN. THE NEXT SYMPTOMS WAS THE CAR AT TIMES FELT LIKE IT HAD A BUCKING/JERKING SENSATION. THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY JUMPED UP TO AROUND 5000 RPM. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, DANGEROUSLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HITTING/REAR ENDING ME FROM BEHIND WITH THIS SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I FOUND I COULD NOW NOT DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 20 MILES/HR. AS I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE TACHOMETER JUST INCREASED IN RPM, WITH NO TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER 2020 AND IT NOW HAS 3700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE EVENT HAPPENING AS I STARTED VIDEOING WHEN THE CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11406056

4,200 miles · Feb 28, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR LOST POWER DROPPING DOWN TO 10-20 MILES PER HOUR. APPEARS CAR STUCK IN LOW GEAR AND WON'T GO FORWARD OVER 10MPH WITH RPM REVINNING

NHTSA ODI #11398257

5,000 miles · Feb 16, 2021
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, BUT FAST, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER. IT WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11396396

2,600 miles · Jan 14, 2021
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, BUT FAST, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOARD ISSUE, AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE SERVICED SOO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, BUT FAST, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOARD ISSUE, AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE SERVICED SOON. IT WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11388100

2,440 miles · Dec 11, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HYUNDAI (675 STATE AVENUE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,440. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11383008

Official recalls

3

21V301000 · Engine

Apr 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 & remedy

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.

19V720000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

19V721000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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