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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

What owners actually said

250 reports
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2023
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PDF FILES

NHTSA ODI #11520477

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2023
Exterior Lighting

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

NHTSA ODI #11519642

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

This vehicle has been having engine problems since January 2 023 the engine light is on the car stops running completely while driving. A great danger to me. I have taken it 5 times to the service center at Dealer in Rick Case in Plantation they have kept it for several weeks the last was returned to me on March 23. 2023 I was …

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This vehicle has been having engine problems since January 2 023 the engine light is on the car stops running completely while driving. A great danger to me. I have taken it 5 times to the service center at Dealer in Rick Case in Plantation they have kept it for several weeks the last was returned to me on March 23. 2023 I was told it was fixed on April 22 2023 the engine light went back on the same problem the car keeps stopping I took it in, they did not even look at it. I was told that until June 14 they will not see or diagnose it. I have contacted consumer affairs with no resolution. I wish to file a lemon law on this dealer since obviously it is defective beyond repair. please advise as how to take this action. I need a new reliable car. Thank You.

NHTSA ODI #11519527

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2023
Power Train

While driving home from my family’s house in the next town over. My car decided to have transmission issues I have had the car car for 3 years so far with now issues until two days ago when I heard a loud pop and my car stopped accelerating. Tried to put it manual mode and I watched the gears shift from 1st to 8th gear in second…

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While driving home from my family’s house in the next town over. My car decided to have transmission issues I have had the car car for 3 years so far with now issues until two days ago when I heard a loud pop and my car stopped accelerating. Tried to put it manual mode and I watched the gears shift from 1st to 8th gear in seconds then get stuck in fifth the the check engine light came on. And I was stuck on the interstate for almost 8 hours while I tried to get it to move. The car turned over just fine and revved but no movement like it was stuck in neutral

NHTSA ODI #11517789

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2023
Power Train

I bought the car from the dealer when the car had a total of 12,000 miles on it the transmission would lunge the car forward at speeds around 70 mph. It made driving the car unsafe on the highway as I couldn't tell if it was going to lunge forward and hit the car in front of me, and I got it to the dealer. It was under warrant…

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I bought the car from the dealer when the car had a total of 12,000 miles on it the transmission would lunge the car forward at speeds around 70 mph. It made driving the car unsafe on the highway as I couldn't tell if it was going to lunge forward and hit the car in front of me, and I got it to the dealer. It was under warranty and the dealership tested it and said it needed to be replaced. When I got to 18,000 miles the new transmission had a similar incident and the dealership tested again and said this new transmission needed to be replaced completely. It is still under warranty and they will replace it in 3 weeks. I am going to be on the third transmission with a car under 20,000 miles. The transmission was only inspected by the dealership, and they told me that they do not know what was wrong they just pulled out the bad one and put in another, they did not take it apart to figure out what the problem was on the first one that needed to be replaced. I still have the car and can be inspected before I drop it off at the dealership May 6th. There were no warning messages on the dashboard or any other problems with the car. Information below is on the first incident, the second incident started around February of 2023.

NHTSA ODI #11517456

20,000 miles · Apr 13, 2023
Power TrainService Brakes

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to depress the brake pedal. The contact also stated that on various occasions, the gear shifter seized between gears. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, w…

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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to depress the brake pedal. The contact also stated that on various occasions, the gear shifter seized between gears. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact sought legal advice from the States Attorney General Office and was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was not made of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #11516846

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2023
Engine

The engine is ticking as well as vibrating. Looked on the website to see if there were any recalls for this which every year other than the 2020 was having this issue - spoke with a diagnostic shop and they said have had newer models with the same situation and was able to turn over to Hyundai - which they replaced with no charg…

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The engine is ticking as well as vibrating. Looked on the website to see if there were any recalls for this which every year other than the 2020 was having this issue - spoke with a diagnostic shop and they said have had newer models with the same situation and was able to turn over to Hyundai - which they replaced with no charge to the owner. It happens when it idles as well as when I am on the interstate.

NHTSA ODI #11515192

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2023
Exterior Lighting

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

NHTSA ODI #11513622

16,000 miles · Mar 23, 2023
Engine

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to his destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failu…

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The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to his destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure, but an appointment was unavailable. The contact stated that the Lease on the vehicle ended on January 31, 2023, and the vehicle was returned to the local dealer. The dealer called and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

NHTSA ODI #11513388

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

This vehicle has what is now known as "Phantom Braking" since day of delivery over two years ago and was reported to NHTSA previously by me and Hyundai which has not or will not try to correct this Safety Hazard. Last incident this occurred on 3/11/2023 for at least the 6th time. This has happened with vehicles behind me which…

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This vehicle has what is now known as "Phantom Braking" since day of delivery over two years ago and was reported to NHTSA previously by me and Hyundai which has not or will not try to correct this Safety Hazard. Last incident this occurred on 3/11/2023 for at least the 6th time. This has happened with vehicles behind me which have come close to hitting me.

NHTSA ODI #11511636

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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