2020 Hyundai Elantra Problems

242 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict AVOID 36/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Engine102
Power Train45
Exterior Lighting27
Electrical System25
Unknown Or Other23
Steering19

In the owners’ words

“At 105,000 MI. My car stalled out and the engine stopped. It needs a new cam shaft, timing chain set, cam phaser and timing cover. We also had to replace the Variable valve timing solenoids as the metal melted.”NHTSA complaint, 2020 Hyundai Elantra owner
“Reporting on 2020 Hyundai Elantra. I have owned since 2023, my car is currently at a Hyundai certified dealership for it's 3rd transmission in the three years I have owned it. All 3 transmission were inspected and then replaced by Hyundai certified technicians. The Safety aspect is the inability to get you vehicle off the highway.”NHTSA complaint, 2020 Hyundai Elantra owner
“Around 9 p.m., I was driving home on the XXX highway at about 60 mph. The road was clear, with no obstacles ahead, and it was lightly drizzling in the [XXX] area. Suddenly, the car's emergency braking system activated, then returned to normal. Although it startled me, thankfully there were no cars behind me to avoid a collision. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(”NHTSA complaint, 2020 Hyundai Elantra owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
28/04/2021EngineHyundai 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 r
09/10/2019Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/StudsHyundai 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.
09/10/2019Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointHyundai 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.

Questions owners ask

Is the 2020 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

On the federal record it scores 36/100: 242 owner complaints (40.33 per year on the road) and 3 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 102 of 241 categorised reports.

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The 2020 Hyundai Elantra scored 36/100 on the federal record.

Full 2020 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Elantra yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking