Complaint volume
236 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Hyundai Elantra Complaints
236 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, grouped by component category.
236 Total complaints
20 Crash reports
6 Fire reports
11 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, power train, exterior lighting. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 20 crash reports, 6 fire reports, 11 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 69 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 30,137 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, power train, exterior lighting?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Hyundai Elantra?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Hyundai Elantra
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Hyundai Elantra complaints?
20 Crash
6 Fire
11 Injury
1 Fatality
20 Towed
9 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Elantra complaint categories?
ENGINE 70
POWER TRAIN 26
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13
STEERING 10
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 9
SERVICE BRAKES 7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5
236 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2020 | STEERING | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 800 |
| Feb 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 2/20/2020 - I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2020 ELANTRA (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT) AND I NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. THE RPM NEEDLE WAS REVVING ABNORMALLY WHENEVER I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS FROM A DEAD STOP THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER BEFORE ACCELERATING. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE SAME DAY I WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES BUT AS I MERGED (TURNING) ONTO A HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING ALL TOGETHER AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO MORE THAN 10-20 MPH. SINCE IT WAS AT A MERGE THERE WAS ALMOST A COLLISION, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENED. 2/21/2020- THE NEXT DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK MY HUSBAND TRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER. HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SERVICE WORKERS HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE BAY TO BE LOOKED AT. THE EMPLOYEE TOLD US THIS WAS ABOUT THE 15TH 2020 ELANTRA THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR DURING EITHER INCIDENTS. SINCE NO LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THE INCIDENT, I WAS VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,700 |
| Feb 2020 | AIR BAGS | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed | 7,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN CAUSE HIGHER RPMS TO MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. THIS CAN CAUSE EXTRA WEAR ON THE MOTOR AND DECREASED GAS MILEAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE NEW VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION.*JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,LANE DEPARTURE | 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SPED UP PAST THE SET SPEED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 1.5 INCHES. THE DEALER TURNED THE SENSITIVITY LEVEL ON THE LANE ASSIST. ALSO, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT A METAL SCREEN OVER THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE HEATER. THIS COULD ALLOW RODENTS TO ENTER INTO THE CAB. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 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 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Jan 2020 | POWER TRAIN | THIS IS BRAND NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED 35 DAYS AGO THAT NOW HAS 1295 MILES ON IT. I ENTERED THE STREET FROM A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME SO I DID NEED TO EXCELLERATE RAPIDLY WHEN I PULLED OUT. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE I WAS IN THE ROAD THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE ENGINE RPM WAS INCREASING BUT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. CARS WERE ON MY BUMPER BLASTING THEIR HORNS AND I CAN'T BLAME THEM, I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HELPS BUT IT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND I WAS SLOWING PICKING UP SPEED. I HAD TO CALL HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TOW THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,295 |
| Dec 2019 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT DROVE A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LOANER VEHICLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE REVVED TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON COASTED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER. THE CONTACT CALLED BURDICK HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 7820 HOGAN DRIVE S, CICERO, NY 13039, 315-452-7000). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *LN *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING,WHEELS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) |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| Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 5,400 |
| Oct 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH . | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,900 |
| Sep 2019 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FAILED TO WARN OF AN ICE BUCKET IN THE ROADWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE ICE BUCKET, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE ICE BUCKET WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTIC HYUNDAI (193 SUNRISE HWY NORTH SERVICE RD, WEST ISLIP, NY 11795, (631) 587-0700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR*JB *DT *DL | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 500 |