TireKick

Problems to check

2020 Hyundai Elantra reported problems

These problems appeared in the records we reviewed. This is not a list of what happens most often, and it does not predict the condition of one car.

What to look for

Airbags owner reports

Moderate severity
Evidence: Limited confidence

Owner reports are bound to model year 2020.

Symptom
3 reviewed owner reports for this model year mention air bags.
Why it matters
The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

What to inspect

  • Ask the inspector to test the named system and note any warning lights, noises, leaks, or stored codes.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Use the inspection and service records to check whether this car shows the reported problem.
Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“A CAR DARTED INTO MY LANE AT 90 DEGREES. MY RENTAL CAR RIGHT CORNER ENDED UP AGAINST THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT FENDER. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT DID START TO INFLATE. A LOT OF DARK GRAY SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THE BAG STARTED TO DEPLOY. THE BAG COVER APPEARED TO EXTEND ABOUT 6" FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SIDES LOOKED PLEATED, LIKE AN ACCORDION BELLOWS. ALSO SOMETHING HAPPENED UNDER THE DASH AROUND THE PEDALS. I SAW A RECTANGULAR LIGHT COLORED AREA 4-9' TALL AND 10-20" WIDE AS IF A PANEL HAD BLOWN OFF A LOWER AIRBAG BUT NO INFLATION OCCURRED THERE AT ALL. JAN. 22, 2020 ON BON AIR RD, KENTFIELD. NOT SURE IF I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. RENTAL COMPANY ASKED THAT THE CAR BE TOWED TO A BODY SHOP.”
NHTSAcomplaintFeb 2020Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“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, and abrasions on head). 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. This was reported to the manufacturer and geico insurance on December 20th, and I am currently awaiting to hear back from both to get the inspections scheduled. The vehicle is currently located at OC's Auto at 598 Armistead Blvd, Holt FL 32564. I have already signed papers giving permission for inspections by the insurance company if they request it, but currently inspections haven't been done yet to determine damage estimates or to investigate the airbags. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
NHTSAcomplaintDec 2024Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“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.”
NHTSAcomplaintJun 2021Open source record

Power Train owner reports

Critical severity
Evidence: Medium confidence

Owner reports are bound to model year 2020.

Symptom
5 reviewed owner reports for this model year mention power train.
Why it matters
The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

Mileage in the reports

In reports that included mileage, this problem showed up around 53,282 to 91,000 miles.

Based on 3 reports that included mileage. This is not a failure rate or a prediction.

What to inspect

  • Ask the inspector to test the named system and note any warning lights, noises, leaks, or stored codes.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Use the inspection and service records to check whether this car shows the reported problem.
Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“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. The Safety aspect is the inability to get you vehicle off the highway.”
NHTSAcomplaintJun 2026Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“Currently, there are 30,564 miles on my vehicle and I am the original owner of the vehicle since early 2021. This is a continuous intermittent problem that can occur at any time when trying to accelerate the vehicle. The vehicle could be moving down the road and you go to accelerate and the RPM's drop dramatically, giving you no power. The same thing has happened when trying to accelerate from a stop. The vehicle would start to accelerate and then all of a sudden the RPM's drop, giving you no power. I have had the vehicle to the dealership for this problem and I am being told that they can't do anything about it because they can't duplicate it. If this happened when it was necessary for me to get out of the way of a vehicle, an accident could occur, resulting in sirius injury or death. Also, there were no warning lights or check engine light that came on at any time when the problem presented itself.”
NHTSAcomplaintJun 2026Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“I bought a 2020 Hyundai Elantra in 2024 with 67k miles on it. After driving 22k miles the check engine light went on and when it was brought in to get it checked the transmission went out. I did not buy a warranty so I understood it would not be covered. The issue I had was it was very hard to get information on the condition of the car that was sold to me. What I found out was that the transmission fluid was likley not changed ever and definetly not checked before the car was sold since the check engine light was not on and the engine sounded fine when I bought it. Which when I did meet with the service manager was informed of. The service manager noted that the IVT transmission has a long history of going out and is a bad design. He stated that most cars are not being made with it anymore and that this is well known problem. My biggest issue is that they knew this when it was sold and since the car was already over 60k when they got it should have at least checked the fluid or put in new fluid due to the history of transmission problems on the car. It is very likely this was not done to the likelihood the fluid was already bad and the transmission would have gone out so they wanted to pass it on to the customer. I know it is on me to know about a car when it is purchased but did not think of checking specifically on what type of transmission was in the car and now always will. I have had two Hyundai and both went over 200k without problem. To have one go 89k and go out was totally unexpected and there were no warnings except a check engine light. The service manager was nice but told me there was nothing that could be done.”
NHTSAcomplaintMay 2026Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed and at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. The RPM increased and decreased without applying the accelerator pedal. The check engine light was illuminated. A mobile mechanic reset the codes but was unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred him to the local dealer. The local dealer was contacted, who stated there was a transmission pressure sensor issue. which prevents the service from being performed under Hyundai Service Campaign 863 T5B Bulletin: 20-01-028H. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.”
NHTSAcomplaintMay 2026Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“The Contact owns a 2020 HYUNDAI Elantra. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, he noticed that his RPM were going back and forth while on cruise control, after removing cruise control the vehicle stayed the same. The vehicle was pulled over and restarted but the vehicle was hesitating to accelerate and noticed a issue with the gears not. The vehicle was towed to a independent mechanic but was not fully diagnosed due to the transmission driving forward when in neutral. The dealer was notified of the failure and a appointment was set for a later date. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.”
NHTSAcomplaintMay 2026Open source record

Wheels recall

High severity
Evidence: High confidence

Official record for model year 2020.

Symptom
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Ioniq Hybrid and 2020 Elantra vehicles.
Why it matters
The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

What to inspect

  • Check the VIN for this recall and ask for the repair receipt if it was completed.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Confirm the VIN-specific recall status and keep the completion receipt.

Fix listed in the records: 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.

Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: High confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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.”
NHTSArecallSep 2019Open source record

Suspension recall

High severity
Evidence: High confidence

Official record for model year 2020.

Symptom
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Elantra vehicles.
Why it matters
The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

Mileage in the reports

In reports that included mileage, this problem showed up around 36,928 to 60,250 miles.

Based on 4 reports that included mileage. This is not a failure rate or a prediction.

What to inspect

  • Check the VIN for this recall and ask for the repair receipt if it was completed.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Confirm the VIN-specific recall status and keep the completion receipt.

Fix listed in the records: 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.

Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: High confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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.”
NHTSArecallSep 2019Open source record

Engine recall

High severity
Evidence: High confidence

Official record covers model years 2019 through 2020.

Symptom
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines.
Why it matters
The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

Mileage in the reports

In reports that included mileage, this problem showed up around 78,500 to 139,250 miles.

Based on 10 reports that included mileage. This is not a failure rate or a prediction.

What to inspect

  • Check the VIN for this recall and ask for the repair receipt if it was completed.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Confirm the VIN-specific recall status and keep the completion receipt.

Fix listed in the records: 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.

Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: High confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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.”
NHTSArecallOpen source record

Manufacturer service campaign

Moderate severity
Evidence: High confidence

Official record for model year 2020.

Symptom
Certain vehicles may experience an illuminated warning light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
Why it matters
The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

Mileage in the reports

In reports that included mileage, this problem showed up around 46,763 to 105,500 miles.

Based on 7 reports that included mileage. This is not a failure rate or a prediction.

What to inspect

  • Ask the inspector to test the named system and record the result.

Ask the inspector to check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

What may help

  • Use the official record to focus the inspection and service-history review.
Sources and limitsShow
Source recordEvidence: High confidence

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Certain vehicles may experience an illuminated warning light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). This service campaign provides information on the procedures to perform the ECU and TCU update, and, if necessary, replace the IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission) to resolve this condition. • TCU DTC Codes: P0730, P0731, P0741, P0867, P1603 • ECU DTC Codes: P0106, P0068, P0101”
NHTSAtsbJun 2020Open source record

The records cannot show the service history, repairs, title, accidents, or condition of the car you found.

Check a 2020 Hyundai Elantra at its mileage