2020 Hyundai Elantra problems and complaints
Owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The most-reported areas: Engine (105), Power Train (47), Exterior Lighting (28).
Key takeaways
- 250 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 21 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 16 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 105 | 42% |
| Power Train | 47 | 19% |
| Exterior Lighting | 28 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 27 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 | 10% |
| Steering | 20 | 8% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 | 6% |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 4% |
| Structure | 7 | 3% |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-10
The vehicle entered limp mode. The Hyundai dealer diagnosed a camshaft problem, said the repair would be covered, ordered the part, and began the work. After the engine was opened, the dealer noted sludge/varnish and denied coverage, claiming lack of maintenance. This VIN is included in safety recall 21V301 for imprope...
Electrical System,unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-09-09
2020 HYUNDAI [XXX], VIN: [XXX] Incident Description: On XXX I was pulling into a parking spot and had my foot firmly on the brake pedal. When I attempted to shift the vehicle into Park the engine suddenly revved up excessively. The vehicle then accelerated forward on its own and crashed into a building. INFORMATION RED...
Engine - filed 2026-09-02
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted but unexpectedly stalled. The vehicle was taken ...
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More for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.