Representative model. Photo: SsmIntrigue, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2020 Hyundai Elantra recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2020 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 261
Latest campaign: Apr 28, 2021

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Engine	1	Apr 28, 2021	21V301000
Wheels	1	Oct 9, 2019	19V720000
Suspension	1	Oct 9, 2019	19V721000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Apr 28, 2021Latest campaign


Apr 28, 202121V301000	Engine A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V301000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 21V301000 · Apr 28, 2021
Oct 9, 201919V720000	Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V720000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V720000 · Oct 9, 2019
Oct 9, 201919V721000	Suspension: front control arm A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V721000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V721000 · Oct 9, 2019

Apr 28, 202121V301000

Engine

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V301000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 21V301000 · Apr 28, 2021

Oct 9, 201919V720000

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V720000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V720000 · Oct 9, 2019

Oct 9, 201919V721000

Suspension: front control arm

A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V721000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V721000 · Oct 9, 2019

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Hyundai recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component261

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

261Complaints filed

21Involving a crash

6Involving a fire

16Injuries reported · 2 deaths

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	114	44	3	4	3
Power train	48	18	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	28	11	0	1	0
Unknown or other	27	10	6	2	7
Electrical system	27	10	1	1	1
Steering	20	8	5	1	2
Forward collision avoidance	14	5	2	0	0
Vehicle speed control	14	5	1	1	1
Service brakes	14	5	3	0	2
Fuel/propulsion system	9	3	0	0	0
Structure	7	3	1	0	0
Lane departure	5	2	1	0	0
Air bags	5	2	5	0	4
Wheels	5	2	1	0	1
Engine and engine cooling	3	1	1	0	0

10 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Elantra, Elantra GT.

Latest reports

Engine
“The car went into 'limp mode' after rpm fluxuation. It's in the shop. Blake, a service manager at Temecula Hyundai, tells me it has "piston slap," which AI says is related to a piston ring recall for this car.”
Filed 10/15/2026 · ODI 11771334
Unknown or other
“2020 Hyundai Elantra, VIN [XXX], ~79,239 mi. On or about [XXX], while entering a parking lot at low speed on an incline, I pressed the accelerator but the car had severe power loss and then stalled.”
Filed 10/07/2026 · ODI 11769728
Engine
“Back in early July, I noticed a ticking sound coming from my engine so when I took it in to a Hyundai dealership, they told me the only way I could pursue any help further was by completing a oil consumption test, which…”
Filed 09/29/2026 · ODI 11767885

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

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2020 Hyundai Elantra recall questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The most recent, 21V301000 (reported April 28, 2021), concerns engine. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 114 complaints out of 261 filed with NHTSA (44%). Across all complaints, owners reported 21 crashs and 6 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2020 Hyundai Elantra?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Hyundai recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Hyundai dealer.

Check a specific Hyundai by VIN

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