2020 Hyundai Elantra Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The car went into 'limp mode' after rpm fluxuation. It's in the shop. Blake, a service manager at Temecula Hyundai, tells me it has "piston slap," which AI says is related to a piston ring recall for this car. Blake went on to say it has 2 power train issues (and needs a catalytic converter). NHTSA shows no recall, but whether engine or…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Back in early July, I noticed a ticking sound coming from my engine so when I took it in to a Hyundai dealership, they told me the only way I could pursue any help further was by completing a oil consumption test, which I complied and paid for out-of-pocket very soon after within 48 hours my check engine light came on and was flashing.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am reporting a serious transmission problem with my 2020 Hyundai Elantra, which has approximately 66,000 miles I purchased this vehicle from a private seller approximately two months ago. At the time of purchase, the vehicle drove great, and I noticed no mechanical issues or unusual noises. After only two months of ownership, I began…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My 2020 Hyundai Elantra SEL experienced a total transmission/IVT failure at 81,185 miles. I paid $4,804.14 out of pocket to have the vehicle repaired at a certified Hyundai dealership, Dick Smith Hyundai Genesis of Greenville, now known as Hyundai of Greenville. The transmission was replaced with a new replacement unit. The replacement…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Unknown and about 4 months ago my headlights stopped working one would go out I’d replace the bulb then the other goes out then a different bulb in my headlight would go out I’d replace it and it would go out again then the connectors were unresponsive then my height beams won’t engage leaving me with little to no light in order to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The manufacturer's Executive Case Management has ceased communication after verifying a total headlight failure. Despite providing evidence that the vehicle is grounded 150+ miles from home during a snowstorm, Hyundai is refusing to authorize the remedy outlined in TSB 20-BE-004H. This non-responsiveness to a verified safety hazard…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Headlight high beam do not work after 2 years. Regular lights work but when turning on the high beam the sign comes on but the high beam does not come onOwner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Lane Assist safety feature failed to function as intended. The messages “Forward Collision Avoidance”, and “Lane Assist Camera Disabled” were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 110,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Steering wheel has been making whining noises when turning. Previously replaced worm shaft on steering while under warranty due to malfunction when first purchased. Issue has resurfaced but no longer covered under warranty. Dealer quoted nearly $800.00 to replace worm shaft.Owner complaint, filed 2026

On January 1, 2025, I discovered my vehicle had been stolen after finding broken glass in my driveway and immediately reported the incident to the police, who arrived within approximately 20 minutes; neighbors later provided camera footage of the theft, and I also observed other nearby vehicles with similar damage, including a broken…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles. Parts named most: Warnings (9).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The stated that the backup camera was inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 19,100 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 26,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am submitting this complaint to document ongoing brake related concerns on my 2020 Hyundai Elantra that may affect vehicle safety. Since April 2024, I have experienced repeated brake rotor warpage that causes vibration during braking, reduced braking consistency, and a noticeable change in stopping behavior. These symptoms raise…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and turning right during rainy weather conditions, the brake pedal was lightly depressed however the wheels locked. The vehicle drove over a pothole and the contact lost control causing the vehicle to skid 50 feet. The contact crashed into the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 64,520 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Conditions: while driving on a flat road surface/terrain, maintaining a consistent speed, and consistent pedal application. If you set cruise control, the rpms will jump by 500 or more. The jump in engine speed is maintained, not temporary. The sustained increase in engine speed will reduce fuel economy and increase mechanical wear on…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 9,450 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 300 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The soldering of the end cap in the engine fuel rail failed and allowed gas under pressure to leak out. Fuel sprayed out in the engine compartment and the smell was evident inside and outside of the vehicle while in operation. Not sure how it did not start an engine fire. Repairing was a simple task that I handled as this is the only…Owner complaint, filed 2024

I just bought/ financed my new 2020 hyundai elentra on 11/15/2020 and recently in past couple of days I have experienced trouble with the gas/ throttle/ power of driving my new car. The rpm in my video jumps up & down with no power really pushing to drive. I almost got into 1 bad accident with a semi-truck. Also the tire pressure sensor…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 1,561 miles

Parts named most: Body (5).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

A few weeks ago, I was driving home on a 3-Lane local state route here in NJ from a family outing on a rainy dark evening when a large portion of the body paint from the hood flaked / peeled off and somehow got stuck under the drivers side windshield wiper as they were on during the rain at highway speed. It was a large enough piece (at…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Driving on a road trip, 2.5 hours in. All doors were locked. Drove over a road change from tunnel to bridge, small bump, and dashboard started beeping and flashing that a door opened. Driver side back door (where my child was sitting) opened, air was rushing in. We had to brake ( on a highway bridge to pull over) and unlock door to get…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

No warning lamps. Incident reported to tire manufacturer; no liability acknowledged. While parking at very low speed, sidewall contacted smooth metal curb at a slight angle and blew out. IMO, tire should have withstood the typical parking process and not destroyed the sidewall and burst under the conditions.Owner complaint, filed 2021

It was noticed on my nexen tire that a bubble had occurred on the exterior/side of the tire. When I brought my car to the hyundai dealership to look at it, they told me that the bubble occurs when going over a bump in the road, and the cables on the inside of the tire push out to create the bubble in the tire. It is a safety hazard while…Owner complaint, filed 2020

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

On [XXX] at about 1:40 p.m. I was driving to work, and got distracted and had a front-end collision with a tree that was about 1-3 feet next to the side of the road. Extensive damage to the vehicle, and personal injuries occurred (mild concussion, stress fracture of left forearm, bruising/abrasion on ride side torso, sprained left thumb…Owner complaint, filed 2024

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.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20, 25 MPH uphill and going around a corner, the contact heard a snap and the traction control immediately activated. The contact then lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unsure if the she had…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 45,000 miles

Hello, I have a 2020 Hyundai Elantra [XXX] Vin. The car has a major problem with the steering and suspension at speeds over 45 mph. I am talking with [XXX] at this time after dialing [XXX] at Hyundai cust care (case #[XXX]). She told me she is on the West Side location. I asked where is that and she stated she is unable to let me know…Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Since I have bought my Elantra, I have had problems with the seatbelt alarm going off, when nobody or, maybe just a purse or wallet in the seat on occasions. Either way I shouldn't have to utilize passenger seatbelt to keep from beeping; when there is no passenger riding at the time of warning beeps.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Car emitted carbon monoxide into car cabin, causing driver to lose consciousness and crash on highway and burst into flamesOwner complaint, filed 2021