2020 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 251 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 21 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 16 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 21V301000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower ball jointOct 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.
A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V721000 on NHTSA.gov
Wheels, lugs/nuts/bolts/studsOct 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.
A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V720000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
47 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Apr 19, 2023
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
Power train, Apr 17, 2023
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.
Power train, Service brakes, Apr 13, 2023
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.
Power train, Feb 23, 2023
Loud knocking noise coming from engine. Car unable to be driven. No recall for my particular make and model per Hyundai dealer. Extra consumption of oil and loss of power during acceleration. No warning lights or other messages. 79, 500 miles. Problem inspected by certified auto mechanic.
Power train, Engine, Aug 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that he attempted to start the vehicle and felt the vehicle shaking. The contact then stated that he attempted to start the vehicle again when the engine revved and misfired. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that cylinder #2, engine, and powertrain control module (PCM) needed to be replaced. Additionally, the ECU and TCU needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer was unable to repair the vehicle because the recalls were originated from Puerto Rico. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall could not be honored and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 31, 2022
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.
Power train, Mar 25, 2022
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.
Power train, Jun 20, 2021
Everytime when I driving around 20 minutes The transmission start failed on the first gear...every time when I stop at the traffic light and then go forward car loose the power in the first gear even sport mode or smart mode or normal mode he do that.... that's to dangerous cause if I have to crossing a way that only have a stop sign might can get an accident.
Power train, Apr 29, 2021
INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI OF JEFFERSON CITY (3215 MISSOURI BLVD, JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65109) WHERE THE RANGE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SOLD THE VEHICLE THE DAY AFTER THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Apr 2, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLES TACHOMETER STARTED OSCILLATING SLIGHTLY, JUMPING UP AND DOWN. THE NEXT SYMPTOMS WAS THE CAR AT TIMES FELT LIKE IT HAD A BUCKING/JERKING SENSATION. THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY JUMPED UP TO AROUND 5000 RPM. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, DANGEROUSLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HITTING/REAR ENDING ME FROM BEHIND WITH THIS SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I FOUND I COULD NOW NOT DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 20 MILES/HR. AS I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE TACHOMETER JUST INCREASED IN RPM, WITH NO TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER 2020 AND IT NOW HAS 3700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE EVENT HAPPENING AS I STARTED VIDEOING WHEN THE CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 28, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR LOST POWER DROPPING DOWN TO 10-20 MILES PER HOUR. APPEARS CAR STUCK IN LOW GEAR AND WON'T GO FORWARD OVER 10MPH WITH RPM REVINNING
Power train, Feb 16, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, BUT FAST, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER. IT WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Power train, Jan 14, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, BUT FAST, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOARD ISSUE, AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE SERVICED SOON. IT WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Power train, Dec 11, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HYUNDAI (675 STATE AVENUE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,440. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 10, 2020
I BAUGHT THIS CAR SEPT 1ST 2020, ON OCTOBER 3RD 2020 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR PN MY WAY TO WORK ON THE HYWAY THE TRANSMITION SLIPED AND STOPPED SHIFTING AND WOULDNT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR AMD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WAS QUICK TO PUT THE HAZARD ON AVOIDING COLLISION FROM BEHIND I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD NEED A FULL TRANSMITION REPLACEMENT DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WITH GDPR THE TRANSMITION TO COME SO I'LL HAVE THIS LONER CAR FOR THE NEXT 2-6 WEEKS.
Power train, Oct 7, 2020
COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER 2,800 MILES ON THE CAR. HELD 5TH GEAR ONLY AND LIMPED TO VICTORVILLE HYUNDAI WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. EXTREME LOSS OF POWER, DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF GEARS AND POWER. IN MOTION, HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 MPH.
Power train, Sep 25, 2020
ON JUNE 4,2020, MY 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAR HAD ONLY 8,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ON HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS, AND THE CAR WOULD STALL AT LIGHTS AND NOT ACCELERATE. THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DID NOT KNOW THAT WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, MY CAR MAY OR MAY NOT MOVE. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED THAT DAY, AND HYUNDAI IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DANGER THEY PUT ME IN. I WAS NOT SAFE IN THAT VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT I STILL COULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SEVERELY INJURED THAT DAY. HYUNDAI SUSSMAN IN WILLOW GROVE HAS ALL THE DETAILS. WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE DEALER THAT DAY, AFTER STALLING REPEATEDLY ON THE ROAD, THEY COULD NOT EVEN START THE VEHICLE. I CALLED TWO HYUNDAI DEALERS ASKING FOR HELP. ONE TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE OTHER DEALER WOULD NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE.
Power train, Mar 18, 2020
2020 HYUNDAI ELENTRA <5,000 MILES CITY/URBAN DRIVING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM STOP; TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10-20 MPH ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY THE NEXT DRIVER ACCELERATING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT. I HAVE IT SINCE AFTER THANKSGIVING 2019
Power train, Engine, Feb 23, 2020
2/20/2020 - I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2020 ELANTRA (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT) AND I NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. THE RPM NEEDLE WAS REVVING ABNORMALLY WHENEVER I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS FROM A DEAD STOP THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER BEFORE ACCELERATING. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE SAME DAY I WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES BUT AS I MERGED (TURNING) ONTO A HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING ALL TOGETHER AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO MORE THAN 10-20 MPH. SINCE IT WAS AT A MERGE THERE WAS ALMOST A COLLISION, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENED. 2/21/2020- THE NEXT DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK MY HUSBAND TRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER. HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SERVICE WORKERS HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE BAY TO BE LOOKED AT. THE EMPLOYEE TOLD US THIS WAS ABOUT THE 15TH 2020 ELANTRA THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR DURING EITHER INCIDENTS. SINCE NO LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THE INCIDENT, I WAS VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN.
Power train, Jan 1, 2020
THIS IS BRAND NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED 35 DAYS AGO THAT NOW HAS 1295 MILES ON IT. I ENTERED THE STREET FROM A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME SO I DID NEED TO EXCELLERATE RAPIDLY WHEN I PULLED OUT. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE I WAS IN THE ROAD THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE ENGINE RPM WAS INCREASING BUT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. CARS WERE ON MY BUMPER BLASTING THEIR HORNS AND I CAN'T BLAME THEM, I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HELPS BUT IT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND I WAS SLOWING PICKING UP SPEED. I HAD TO CALL HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TOW THE CAR.
Power train, Engine, Oct 30, 2019
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .