ON THURSDAY AUGUST 20 I HAD ACCIDENT AND THE FAC FAILED TO WORK AND NOW I HAVE INJURIES, THIS ACCIDENT WASNT MY FAULT. THE MAN WAS IN THE LEFT LANE THEN HE DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS MIND AND CAME ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND HE WAS IN FRONT AND SENSORS ON MY CAR SHOULD HAVE ALERTED ME AND DIDNT. THANKS
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
250 reportsAT AROUND 4,000 THE MILES THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINING VERY STIFF AT ALL SPEEDS. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE HANDLING OR SAFE MANEUVERING OF THIS VEHICLE. SOUGHT HELP AT DEALERSHIP THROUGH WARRANTY BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. I AM CONTINUING TO PURSE H…
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AT AROUND 4,000 THE MILES THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINING VERY STIFF AT ALL SPEEDS. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE HANDLING OR SAFE MANEUVERING OF THIS VEHICLE. SOUGHT HELP AT DEALERSHIP THROUGH WARRANTY BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. I AM CONTINUING TO PURSE HELP ON THIS MATTER.
THE CAR HAD MANY SMALL PROBLEMS TO BEGIN WITH. THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER SAT STRAIGHT AND THERE WERE MANY LIGHTS FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH THE PRESSURE WAS FINE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BROKE 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND HANDLE BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL. SUDDENLY THE RPM WENT ALL THE…
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THE CAR HAD MANY SMALL PROBLEMS TO BEGIN WITH. THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER SAT STRAIGHT AND THERE WERE MANY LIGHTS FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH THE PRESSURE WAS FINE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO BROKE 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND HANDLE BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL. SUDDENLY THE RPM WENT ALL THE WAY 8 ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. IF I HAD DRIVEN A LITTLE FURTHER WHERE THERE WAS A MERGE IN THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY LOST MY LIFE. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT, THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT OTHER HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THEY PREDICTED A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I STARTED TO HEAR A GRIDDING NOISE THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING LOUDER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, FAST OR SLOW, HIGHWAY OR STREET, DOES NOT MATTER. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A WEEK WHILE REPLACING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COLUMN (NOT 100% SURE ON EXACT NAMES OF PARTS REPLACED). I GET THE CAR …
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I STARTED TO HEAR A GRIDDING NOISE THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING LOUDER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, FAST OR SLOW, HIGHWAY OR STREET, DOES NOT MATTER. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A WEEK WHILE REPLACING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COLUMN (NOT 100% SURE ON EXACT NAMES OF PARTS REPLACED). I GET THE CAR BACK AND THE STEERING PROBLEMS ARE WORSE. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVING AROUND WHILE DRIVING. THAT LEVER THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT WORK. I CALL HYUNDAI AND AM TOLD THEY ARE BOOKED AND CAN NOT GET MY CAR IN FOR ALMOST A WEEK. IT GETS TO THE POINT THAT DRIVING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SO I DECIDE TO TAKE THE CAR IN A FEW DAYS EARLY. AS I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70MPH THE STEERING WHEEL DROPS AND IS FLOPPING AROUND AND ALL POWER TO THE CAR GOES OFF MAKING STEERING EVEN WORSE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE WORST IT CAN GET. NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR STEERING PROBLEMS AND NOW AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
FIRST THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK HAVING THE STEERING FIXED. A WEEK LATER AND STEERING IS BROKEN AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. MAKES IT FOR A FUN DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I HOPE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS BECAUSE THEN HYUNDAI MIGHT LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS.
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…
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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
MY CAR SOLD TO ME WITH OUT IT BEING DISCLOSED THAT IT WAS CRASHED NOW MY LKA WILL KILL YOU IF USED AND THE FENDER IS OBVIOUSLY REPAINTED MY STEERING IS WEIRD AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NEW PURCHASED AT 6 MILES CRASH REPORTED AT 0 REPAIR COMPLETED 2/10 MY PURCHASE 2/11
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. TO MY SURPRISE THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED BY 500-700 RPM. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (IVT) SHOULD OPERATE OR ANY TRANSMISSION SHOULD OPERATE. THE RESULT IS THAT GAS MILEAGE WILL DECREASE AND ENGINE WEAR INC…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. TO MY SURPRISE THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED BY 500-700 RPM. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (IVT) SHOULD OPERATE OR ANY TRANSMISSION SHOULD OPERATE. THE RESULT IS THAT GAS MILEAGE WILL DECREASE AND ENGINE WEAR INCREASE AS A RESULT OF HIGHER RPM THAN NECESSARY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL BY HYUNDAI TO CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OWNERS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY, IN TURN, CONTACTED HYUNDAI. I HAVE ALSO CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INDICATION FROM HYUNDAI THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS AND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I'M HOPING YOU CAN REQUIRE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT THE SPEED RANGE OF 40-70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL UNDERGOES ABRUPT STIFFNESS CHANGE FROM STIFF TO VERY SOFT CAUSING SUDDEN JOLT OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON THE ROAD CONDITION. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT THIS SPEED RANGE. LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN ALMOST CRASHING INTO A DIVIDE BARRIER. DRIVI…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT THE SPEED RANGE OF 40-70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL UNDERGOES ABRUPT STIFFNESS CHANGE FROM STIFF TO VERY SOFT CAUSING SUDDEN JOLT OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON THE ROAD CONDITION. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT THIS SPEED RANGE. LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN ALMOST CRASHING INTO A DIVIDE BARRIER. DRIVING REQUIRES MAINTAINING THE STEERING WHEEL IN STRONG GRIP AT ALL TIME AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL.
I WAS SOLD TO ME NEW I TOOK IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP AND THE TECH SLIPPED ME A NOTICE OF A ACCIDENT AND REPAIR COMPLETED AT 0-5 MILES OF ITS LIFE I PURCHASED AT ONLY 6 MILES THEY KEEP TELLING ME I'M LYING. INCIDENT DATE 9/1/19 REPAIR DATE 2/10/20 COMPLETED REPAIR 2/11/20 DATE I PURCHASED 2/12/20 I …
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I WAS SOLD TO ME NEW I TOOK IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP AND THE TECH SLIPPED ME A NOTICE OF A ACCIDENT AND REPAIR COMPLETED AT 0-5 MILES OF ITS LIFE I PURCHASED AT ONLY 6 MILES THEY KEEP TELLING ME I'M LYING. INCIDENT DATE 9/1/19 REPAIR DATE 2/10/20 COMPLETED REPAIR 2/11/20 DATE I PURCHASED 2/12/20 I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE LKA KEEP MOVING THE WHEEL RIGHT LEFT OVER N OVER, OVER CORRECTING ITSELF I BELIEVE. VERY SCARY WHEN ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING DETAIL OF THIS REPAIR OR INCIDENT I WAS ONLY GIVEN THIS PAPER AFTER PURCHASE THEY DIDN'T DISCLOSE IT BEFORE PURCHASE. WHEN I LOOK UP THE VIN IT NEVER COMES UP WITH MY CARS MODEL EITHER
Official recalls
321V301000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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