2020 Hyundai Elantra: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2020 / hyundai / elantra
known issues	7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-20)
complaints	250 on file (2019-09-25 → 2026-09-10)
recalls	3
investigations	0
fars	115 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Automatic transmission failure and harsh shiftingPOWER TRAIN22 complaints2021-04 → 2026-06elantra-2020-transmission-failure

11739852 This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane
11743760 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
11573198 Started noticing my 2020 Elantra was "jerking", "lurching" while in motion of driving. RPM would shoot up. A handful of times I would be losing power and almost not make to where I was headed

Ignition and steering column vulnerable to theftSTEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 complaints2021-08 → 2026-04elantra-2020-ignition-theft-vulnerability

11474015 Tens of thousands of Hyundai's and Kia's are being stolen in under 2 minutes due to a design flaw Hyundai and Kia engineers failed to address. With a quick removal of steering column cover and a USB male end, thieves can steal your vehicle
11542515 Hyundai updated my car with the “anti-thief” software a few months ago. It clearly did nothing because my car was still stolen. They need to install immobilizers for free to really try to fix the problem!
11549998 I’ve had my car for about 5/6 months and it’s been broken into twice and was recently stolen. I haven’t been notified from Hyundai dealership about any recalls

Increased brake pedal effort and grinding noiseSERVICE BRAKES5 complaints2022-03 → 2026-05elantra-2020-brake-pedal-effort-grinding

11735866 I am submitting this complaint to document ongoing brake related concerns on my 2020 Hyundai Elantra that may affect vehicle safety
11531788 NORMAL DRIVING, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN AND STOP AND VERY FORTUNATE TO STOP AT ALL, NOW HAS HAPPENED TWICE. (WHAT TO DO?) SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE!
11458660 The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes. The failure had been experienced on several occasions

Engine stalling and oil consumption from piston ringsENGINE94 complaints2021-05 → 2026-08elantra-2020-engine-oil-piston-ring

11719235 The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE). While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road
11692251 The vehicle is burning the engine oil. I get regular oil changes on time. I was told by the service center I had low oil at an oil change. It was changed and then again it a few months later I burned through the oil again. I checked it and there was very little oil
11663120 Engine timing chains are failing in a direct result from recall campaign ID 21V301000 Piston ring noise sensing system which contaminated my oil accelerating wear on my engine chain and sprockets

High-beam headlight failureEXTERIOR LIGHTING23 complaints2023-02 → 2026-04elantra-2020-headlight-high-beam-failure

11713154 The vehicle suffered a total, simultaneous failure of both low-beam and high-beam headlights due to a known manufacturer defect involving internal wiring and melted pigtail sockets
11635606 The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH at night, the high beam headlight became inoperable. The contact stated that the high beam on the sign was illuminated on the instrument panel
11611988 The high beams failed and Hyundai will only say that my VIN isn’t part of the recall. Service Campaign T5G covers the exact same symptoms that my car is experiencing

Steering column grinding or rubbing noise at low speedSTEERING8 complaints2021-08 → 2025-12elantra-2020-steering-column-grinding-noise

11704783 There is a grinding in my steering column, worse at lower speeds. I have spoke to Hyundai about this and several other shops and they said this is a common recall for Elantras and there is a barring that is in the recall. However, my VIN is not in this common recall
11552544 There has been a noise coming from my steering column. Its sounds a like rubbing or whirring noise. It only happens at low or stationary speeds. I took the vehicle to a local shop in my area
11450013 Noise coming from steering wheel column when turning wheel, especially at low speeds. After research, seems it is an issue that is common for these cars. If the electric steering fails during driving it can seriously injure the driver & passengers, it will cause wrecks to happen

Forward collision system unexpected braking activationFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE6 complaints2021-06 → 2026-05elantra-2020-forward-collision-phantom-braking

11511636 This vehicle has what is now known as "Phantom Braking" since day of delivery over two years ago and was reported to NHTSA previously by me and Hyundai which has not or will not try to correct this Safety Hazard. Last incident this occurred on 3/11/2023 for at least the 6th time
11577287 The forward collision or emergency braking system gets activated by direct sunlight. Almost every day I drive with the sun directly in front of me in the morning and the car can activate this system with no need when going 30 to 75 mph on the 405, an extremely busy highway
11420844 The forward accident avoidance system repeatedly cuts off the gas and prevents the car from moving even when there is nothing that could be considered a hazard in front of the car. It leaves me stranded half way through a turn in an intersection or the entrance to a parking lot

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
250	2019-09-25	2026-09-10	21	6	ENGINE:105; POWER TRAIN:47; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:28; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:27; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:25

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
21V301000	28/04/2021	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.	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.
19V720000	09/10/2019	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.	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.
19V721000	09/10/2019	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.	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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	115	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2020 Hyundai Elantra vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/hyundai/elantra

@misc{wrenchpro_2020_hyundai_elantra_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2020 Hyundai Elantra},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/hyundai/elantra}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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