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2020 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 175 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2023
Visibility/wiper

leak without windshield

NHTSA ODI #11530184

100 miles · Jan 26, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELDS SAFETY DEFECT ' HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2020 GREETINGS, I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF MY PURCHASE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAND-NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO ON JANUARY 06, 2020, FROM BOB BAKER HYUNDAI IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED A HAZINESS TO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY…

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WINDSHIELDS SAFETY DEFECT ' HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2020 GREETINGS, I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF MY PURCHASE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAND-NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO ON JANUARY 06, 2020, FROM BOB BAKER HYUNDAI IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED A HAZINESS TO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. I WAS TOLD BY A HYUNDAI SALESMAN, [XXX] THAT THIS HAZINESS MIGHT BE DIRT AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD WASH THE CAR BEFORE I TOOK IT HOME THUS TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. LATER, AFTER A CAREFUL EXAMINATION, I OBSERVED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD A SPECKLE DEFECT CAUSING MASSIVE SCATTERING AND HAZINESS OF MY FIELD OF VISION WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN, A FREQUENT DRIVING CONDITION HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I ALSO OBSERVED THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS IN ALL SIX CAR WINDOWS (FRONT WINDSHIELD, FOUR SIDE WINDOWS AND BACK WINDSHIELD). THIS DEFECT IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE SINCE I COMMUTE EARLY MORNINGS AND EVENINGS, TIMES WHEN THE SUN IS LOW AND DIRECTLY IN MY FIELD OF VISION. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IMPAIRS THE DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR AND IS A CONSIDERABLE RISK TO MY PERSONAL SAFETY. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO DETERMINE IF THIS DEFECT MIGHT NOT ALSO BE CAUSING A MECHANICAL DEGRADATION OF THE WINDSHIELD'S STRENGTH. ON JANUARY 24, 2020, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MET WITH [XXX], THE SALES MANAGER. DURING THIS MEETING THE HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE EASILY DETECTED AND CONFIRMED THE WINDOWS' DEFECT. THIS REPRESENTATIVE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD REPORTED THIS ISSUE I ALSO LEARNED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER THAT HAS HAD THIS COMPLAINT AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS KNOWINGLY SOLD TO ME IN THIS CONDITION. I'M ATTACHING FIVE (5) IMAGES THAT DEMONSTRATE THIS DEFECT. BEST REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11301897

Official recalls

3

21V301000 · Engine

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Oct 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Oct 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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