Your vehicle report
2020 Hyundai Elantra
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 254
- Received Sep 2019 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine stalls and loses power while driving30 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night24 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Transmission fails or loses power while driving21 complaints · 8.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V301000Hyundai 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.
- Recall #19V720000Hyundai 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Headlights dim or fail at nightFirst signal: Apr 2023
- Transmission fails or loses power while drivingFirst signal: Sep 2020
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 21 crashes, 6 fires, 16 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 18 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 39 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 49 |
| Total | 254 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 30 | 12% | 10.2× | NHTSA recall #21V301000 |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 24 | 9.4% | 9.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.7% |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 21 | 8.3% | 4.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.0% |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 13 | 5.1% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 13 | 5.1% | 7.1× | NHTSA recall #21V301000 |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 11 | 4.3% | 2.4× | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 9 | 3.5% | 2.4× | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 7 | 2.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.4% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 5 | 2.0% | 1.5× | |
| Cruise control fails to disengage | 5 | 2.0% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 5 | 2.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 3 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V301000April 28, 2021158,493 vehicles affected
engine
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.
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 recall #19V720000October 9, 201948 vehicles affected
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
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.
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 recall #19V721000October 9, 2019744 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN