2020 Hyundai Elantra problems and complaints
Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The most-reported areas: Engine (109), Power Train (47), Exterior Lighting (28).
Key takeaways
- 254 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 | 109 | 43% |
| Power Train | 47 | 19% |
| Exterior Lighting | 28 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 27 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 | 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 2026-10-15
The car went into 'limp mode' after rpm fluxuation. It's in the shop. Blake, a service manager at Temecula Hyundai, tells me it has "piston slap," which AI says is related to a piston ring recall for this car. Blake went on to say it has 2 power train issues (and needs a catalytic converter). NHTSA shows no recall, bu...
Unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-10-07
2020 Hyundai Elantra, VIN [XXX], ~79,239 mi. On or about [XXX], while entering a parking lot at low speed on an incline, I pressed the accelerator but the car had severe power loss and then stalled. It would not move in reverse. All dashboard lights came on only after the stall. I restarted it; the lights cleared. It w...
Engine - filed 2026-09-29
Back in early July, I noticed a ticking sound coming from my engine so when I took it in to a Hyundai dealership, they told me the only way I could pursue any help further was by completing a oil consumption test, which I complied and paid for out-of-pocket very soon after within 48 hours my check engine light came on ...
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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.