NHTSA lists 252 complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, 21 of them mention a crash and 6 mention a fire. 12 complaints mention an injury, with 16 injuries and 2 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as HYUNDAI ELANTRA.
At a glance
Complaints
252
With crash
21
With fire
6
With injury (complaints)
12
Injuries
16
Deaths
2
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
158,493
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
97
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE
107
42.5%
POWER TRAIN
47
18.7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
28
11.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
27
10.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
25
9.9%
STEERING
20
7.9%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
14
5.6%
SERVICE BRAKES
13
5.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
13
5.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
9
3.6%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
WARNINGS
9
STRUCTURE
BODY
5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL
3
LANE DEPARTURE
ASSIST
2
BACK OVER PREVENTION
REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTER ASSEMBLY
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
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.
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.
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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
97 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
49
EQUIPMENT
19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12
STEERING
12
POWER TRAIN
10
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
6
ENGINE
4
11037292
Date: 2026-09-11. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE.
Hyundai has become aware that your Hyundai Elantra equipped with a 2.0 ATK engine may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software intended only for Korean-built Elantra vehicles and may not meet specifications.
11036202
Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE.
Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software that can set DTC P132700; this software was intended only for Korean-built Elantra (AD) vehicles. This bulletin provides instructions to perform a software update for the Engine Cont
11036204
Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE.
Certain Elantra (ADA) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software that can set DTC P132700; this software was intended only for Korean-built Elantra (AD) vehicles. In addition, the California Air Resources Board has determined that these vehicles m
11031400
Date: 2026-04-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE.
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
11032522
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit drivera side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prio
11032523
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous drivera s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the ve
In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, wea ve developed a new zinc-reinforced
This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows.
In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade is being made available to customers upon request. This supplemental security measure is to be installed at the ignition switch location and p
Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows. This repair procedure is being provided in addition to the previous Anti-Th
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.