Model year
2020 Hyundai Elantra
NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 254 complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 8 complaints under ELANTRA GT. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (109), POWER TRAIN (45), EXTERIOR LIGHTING (27). NHTSA rated 2 variants 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 26–36 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,850–$2,600, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 197 complaints
- 2001 315 complaints
- 2002 342 complaints
- 2003 234 complaints
- 2004 182 complaints
- 2005 137 complaints
- 2006 155 complaints
- 2007 267 complaints
- 2008 314 complaints
- 2009 254 complaints
- 2010 380 complaints
- 2011 433 complaints
- 2012 654 complaints
- 2013 1,314 complaints
- 2014 386 complaints
- 2015 262 complaints
- 2016 293 complaints
- 2017 769 complaints
- 2018 284 complaints
- 2019 252 complaints
- 2020 254 complaints
- 2021 132 complaints
- 2022 102 complaints
- 2023 101 complaints
- 2024 55 complaints
- 2025 22 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
Recalls
21V301000 · Apr 28, 2021
ENGINE
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.
19V721000 · Oct 9, 2019
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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.
19V720000 · Oct 9, 2019
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
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.
Complaints
254 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 21, fire flag on 6, injury field 16, deaths field 2. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| ELANTRA GT | 0 | 8 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.107 | NHTSA photo |
| GT 5 HB FWD | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.107 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra · 2L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 30 | 40 | 34 | — | — | $1,950 |
| Elantra SE · 2L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 31 | 41 | 35 | — | — | $1,900 |
| Elantra · 1.4L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 33 | 41 | 36 | — | — | $1,850 |
| Elantra · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 | 37 | 30 | — | — | $2,250 |
| Elantra · 1.6L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 | 33 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Elantra GT · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 32 | 27 | — | — | $2,500 |
| Elantra GT · 1.6L · Automatic (AM-S7) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 32 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Elantra GT · 1.6L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 | 30 | 26 | — | — | $2,600 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2020 Hyundai Elantra at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.