Is the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA reliable?

The 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA has 323 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Top problems: ENGINE (103 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (45 complaints, avg repair $500); LIGHTING (27 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): ENGINE, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. Contact any Hyundai dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA?

The 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA gets 32 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1500. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA often stolen?

The Hyundai ELANTRA was the #1 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 21,732 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: very-high. Pre-2022 models are affected by the Kia Boys challenge — verify your VIN has the manufacturer security update.

How much does it cost to insure a 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA is approximately $1,953/year (sedan-compact class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2020 Hyundai ELANTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA has 323 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 386. The most common issue is engine problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: while driving 70 mph on ohio turnpike the transmission slipped out of gear and would not allow the car to shift into any gears. after pulling over and restarting the car the fastest it would go was 10 mph .. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 17 crash reports 11 injuries

323

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

103 complaints

32%

• WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .
• TL* THE CONTACT DROVE A 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LOANER VEHICLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE REVVED TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SON COASTED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND STARTED THE VE
• 2/20/2020 - I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2020 ELANTRA (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT) AND I NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. THE RPM NEEDLE WAS REVVING ABNORMALLY WHENEVER I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS FROM A DEAD STOP THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER BEFORE ACCELERATING. ON MY WAY HOME FRO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA

Based on 94 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 8K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 27K mi · 30 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 23 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 8K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 70K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

ENGINE28/04/2021

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.

Very high theft risk

#1 most stolen in 2025

The Hyundai ELANTRA was the #1 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 21,732 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,500

Per month

$125

Per mile

12.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,847/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,171/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2020 Hyundai ELANTRA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,953

Full coverage / month

$163

Liability only / year

$589

vs US avg

+17%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-compact)0.93x

× theft risk1.28x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1953

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai ELANTRA Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2020 ELANTRA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 323 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON OHIO TURNPIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 10 MPH .
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM HAVE A BLACK LINE ACROSS AND ONLY ABOUT 25 YARD VISIBILITY, ON HIGH BEAM THEY ARE A VERY DULL YELLOW AND THE VISIBILITY OUT IS ABOUT 50 TO 75 YARDS. THE LEVEL OF LIGHT IS SO LOW THAT YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY. THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CALLED THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I STARTED TO HEAR A GRIDDING NOISE THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING LOUDER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, FAST OR SLOW, HIGHWAY OR STREET, DOES NOT MATTER. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A WEEK WHILE REPLACING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COLUMN (NOT 100% SURE ON EXACT NAMES OF P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)