The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 159,285 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE21V3010002021-04-28158,493 affected
Defect
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
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.
WHEELS19V7200002019-10-0948 affected
Defect
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
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.
SUSPENSION19V7210002019-10-09744 affected
Defect
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
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
100
2crashes4fires2injuries
POWER TRAIN
43
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
26
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23
1fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
23
5crashes2fires6injuries2deaths
STEERING
19
5crashes1fires2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
13
3crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
1crashes1fires1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
9
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
7
1crashes
Total complaints324
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized…”
“This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized…”
“This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized…”
“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…”
“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…”
“The contact owns a 2020 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic camshaft sensor failure. The camshaft sensors were replaced;…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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