2020 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 32,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (8% of reports).
- 109engine complaints
- 32,500median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 9 of 109 complaints (8%)
- Engine failed: mentioned in 6 of 109 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 109 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury.
Hyundai Elantra engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Elantra | 3 | 14% | 4,000 |
| 2024 Elantra | 8 | 15% | 43,000 |
| 2023 Elantra | 19 | 19% | 7,645 |
| 2022 Elantra | 11 | 11% | 28,913 |
| 2021 Elantra | 13 | 10% | 71,250 |
| 2020 Elantra | 109 | 43% | 32,500 |
| 2019 Elantra | 133 | 53% | 76,000 |
| 2018 Elantra | 141 | 50% | 38,000 |
| 2017 Elantra | 290 | 38% | 49,000 |
| 2016 Elantra | 111 | 38% | 73,000 |
| 2015 Elantra | 92 | 35% | 73,500 |
| 2014 Elantra | 166 | 43% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Elantra | 233 | 18% | 65,000 |
| 2012 Elantra | 139 | 21% | 68,585 |
| 2011 Elantra | 92 | 21% | 81,000 |
| 2010 Elantra | 15 | 4% | 91,250 |
| 2009 Elantra | 13 | 5% | 86,500 |
| 2008 Elantra | 24 | 8% | 112,283 |
| 2007 Elantra | 12 | 4% | 140,000 |
| 2006 Elantra | 2 | 1% | 80,540 |
| 2005 Elantra | 4 | 3% | 104,250 |
| 2004 Elantra | 5 | 3% | 99,597 |
| 2003 Elantra | 1 | 0% | 3,500 |
| 2002 Elantra | 2 | 1% | 80,300 |
| 2001 Elantra | 4 | 1% | 126,100 |
| 2000 Elantra | 6 | 3% | 30,750 |
| 1999 Elantra | 2 | 2% | 150,000 |
| 1997 Elantra | 1 | 1% | 189,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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. Blake went on to say it has 2 power train issues (and needs a catalytic converter). NHTSA…
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. It would not move in reverse. All dashboard lights came on only after the stall. I restarted it; the…
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 I complied and paid for out-of-pocket very soon after within 48 hours my check…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 Hyundai Elantras have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 109 owner complaints about engine for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra (43% of the 254 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2020 Hyundai Elantra engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 32,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 9 of 109 complaints, followed by “engine failed” (6).
See all 2020 Hyundai Elantra problems or engine problems across all Elantra years.