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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 · Jul 14, 2022
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

Tens of thousands of Hyundai's and Kia's are being stolen in under 2 minutes due to a design flaw Hyundai and Kia engineers failed to address. With a quick removal of steering column cover and a USB male end, thieves can steal your vehicle. This puts the public and law enforcement at risk as these thieves flee from police at hig…

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Tens of thousands of Hyundai's and Kia's are being stolen in under 2 minutes due to a design flaw Hyundai and Kia engineers failed to address. With a quick removal of steering column cover and a USB male end, thieves can steal your vehicle. This puts the public and law enforcement at risk as these thieves flee from police at high rates of speed and use these stolen Kia's and Hyundai's to commit other crimes.

NHTSA ODI #11474015

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 · May 27, 2022
Seat Belts

Since I have bought my Elantra, I have had problems with the seatbelt alarm going off, when nobody or, maybe just a purse or wallet in the seat on occasions. Either way I shouldn't have to utilize passenger seatbelt to keep from beeping; when there is no passenger riding at the time of warning beeps.

NHTSA ODI #11466325

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2022
Engine

2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED, AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE THEN LURCH FORWARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,089. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BRAKING WITH THE LEFT FOOT WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONSU…

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2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED, AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE THEN LURCH FORWARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,089. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BRAKING WITH THE LEFT FOOT WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED THIS WAS THE CAUSE, SINCE THE CONSUMER HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN THIS WAY IN OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11463629

26,000 miles · Mar 28, 2022
Service Brakes

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes. The failure had been experienced on several occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able…

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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes. The failure had been experienced on several occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle to residence. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #11458660

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 · Mar 8, 2022
Engine

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine malfunctioned, then failed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I decelerated from 65 mph to exit a freeway. At the end of an offramp, I slowed…

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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine malfunctioned, then failed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I decelerated from 65 mph to exit a freeway. At the end of an offramp, I slowed to a stop sign where the vehicle malfunctioned. It jerked, violently, forward as I attempted to accelerate endangering pedestrians crossing the intersection at the stop sign, other drivers on the offramp, and myself. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? To date, 3/8/2022, the Hyundai dealership has not performed any diagnostic testing or repairs on the vehicle since receipt of the vehicle on 2/18/2022. Hyundai Motor America has also refused to acknowledge that NHTSA Campaign Number 21V301000 (4/28/2021) is associated to the vehicle. To date, I have made three (3), separate, follow-up attempts to communicate with an assigned case manager. The assigned case manager was unresponsive. After that, I made three (3), separate, case manager escalated supervisor requests. The case manager supervisor was unresponsive. My most recent request has been an initial Hyundai management team request (3/7/2022) …I am waiting for a response but am not hopeful that anyone will respond. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle remains at a Hyundai dealership. I received a text message that read, “the technician has had the vehicle, it has been starting and driving normally.” In my opinion, the vehicle is unsafe to drive. I cannot, in good conscience, operate the vehicle until it is safe to drive. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A check engine light presented just before engine failure. The engine did not start after it failed. Remedy for the mechanical concerns is not yet avail

NHTSA ODI #11455773

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2022
Steering

Noise coming from steering wheel column when turning wheel, especially at low speeds. After research, seems it is an issue that is common for these cars. If the electric steering fails during driving it can seriously injure the driver & passengers, it will cause wrecks to happen. My steering is starting to make the same noise pe…

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Noise coming from steering wheel column when turning wheel, especially at low speeds. After research, seems it is an issue that is common for these cars. If the electric steering fails during driving it can seriously injure the driver & passengers, it will cause wrecks to happen. My steering is starting to make the same noise people explain it creates before it goes out.

NHTSA ODI #11450013

45,000 miles · Jan 31, 2022
SuspensionCrashInjury

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 – 25 MPH uphill and going around a corner, the contact heard a snap and the traction control immediately activated. The contact then lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unsure if the she had…

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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 – 25 MPH uphill and going around a corner, the contact heard a snap and the traction control immediately activated. The contact then lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unsure if the she had encountered a patch of ice on the roadway. The contact stated that she turned the steering wheel to the left to avoid hitting a sign pole with the driver’s side of the vehicle; however, the passenger’s side front bumper and wheel well area crashed into a telephone pole. She then heard a snap in her left arm right before she lost consciousness. The contact stated that the air bags had not deploy and she was thankful that they had not deployed. The contact stated that she was not immediately aware that she had fractured the bone in her left arm. The contact regained consciousness and drove the vehicle to her residence. The contact received no medical assistance at the crash scene but sought medical attention from the hospital the following day. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was then taken to an auto body shop to be inspected. The contact was informed that the lower control arm ball joint was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #11449589

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2022
Engine

The power train system:P001 intake camshaft position timing - over advanced bank 1. My car was in good working condition no lights were on in my car up until January 16, 2022, I went to get gas on a regular morning routine before going to work when I turned my car back on after getting gas and I began to pull into traffic and m…

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The power train system:P001 intake camshaft position timing - over advanced bank 1. My car was in good working condition no lights were on in my car up until January 16, 2022, I went to get gas on a regular morning routine before going to work when I turned my car back on after getting gas and I began to pull into traffic and my car stalled and the engine oil pressure light and battery charge warning light came on. My safety could have turned out bad but grace of God my car allowed me to turn it back on and go to the closest location to me and that was auto zone. I got the car towed from there to a hyundai dealer (Preston Hyundai in hurlock, md) is where the car is currently being looked at.

NHTSA ODI #11448554

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.

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems