AI Damage2020 Hyundai Elantra: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra filed 254 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 94 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 254
- involving a crash
- 21
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 94
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 43% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 6% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 109 complaints (43% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Powertrain: 47 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Exterior lighting: 28 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 27 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 47.
- Steering: 20 complaints (8% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 5 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVTnamed in 2 complaints
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 254 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 109 | 3 | 6 |
| Powertrain | 47 | 0 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 28 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 1 | 47 |
| Steering | 20 | 5 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 3 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 1 | 12 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During owning the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, a deer it the side of my vehicle and knocked me into the center of the road while I was driving. No airbags had come out, nor was any sensor activated. About 6-8 months later, I was driving down the same road and a deer had run across the road.
Both the driver and passenger airbags did not deploy which contributed to me almost flying through the windshield. The emergency responders and tow truck operator were very surprised I wasn't in critical condition or dead and noted that the airbags failing was a serious issue and I was lucky.
The electrical pole had fallen and began to catch fire. The fire department had put out the fire. The contact was not completely sure of the damage done to the vehicle. The driver lost consciousness and received an injury on their right arm. Medical attention was needed.
No warning light illuminated. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was undriveable and towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the driver's side control arm, the front tire suspension, the tire and rim, the front bumper, and the grill needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired.
There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unsure if the she had encountered a patch of ice on the roadway. The contact stated that she turned the steering wheel to the left to avoid hitting a sign pole with the driver’s side of the vehicle; however, the passenger’s side front bumper and wheel well area…
Car emitted carbon monoxide into car cabin, causing driver to lose consciousness and crash on highway and burst into flames
Additionally, the lane departure system would erroneously activate. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle pulled to the right. The contact also stated that the exhaust pipe was rusted. The cause of the failures was not yet determined.
On May 2, 2021 I was involved in a hit and run accident. An individual in a pickup ran a red light and t-boned my car on the driver side. No air bags deployed. I was taken to the hospital with a severe concussion.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 255 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Elantra has 124 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 254, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- Hyundai has become aware that your Hyundai Elantra equipped with a 2.0 ATK engine may have been…
Hyundai has become aware that your Hyundai Elantra equipped with a 2.0 ATK engine may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software intended only for Korean-built Elantra vehicles…
- Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System…
Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software that can set DTC P132700; this software was intended only for Korean-built Elantra (AD) vehicles. In…
- Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System…
Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software that can set DTC P132700; this software was intended only for Korean-built Elantra (AD) vehicles…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather
This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
- Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service…
Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front…
- In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc…
In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade is being made available to customers upon request. This…
- This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector…
This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows.
- In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method…
In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023…
NHTSA lists 94 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 254. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (25%), stalls while driving (12%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA lists 94 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Hyundai Elantra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.