2020 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

100Engine complaints

41.7%Of all 240 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE100 · 41.7%

POWER TRAIN43 · 17.9%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING26 · 10.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 · 10%

Unspecified / other23 · 9.6%

Share of the 240 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“The contact's wife owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated…”NHTSA complaint 11540570 — filed 08/24/2023

“When I start off I give my car gas but it does not want to speed up. The rpm drops to 2 and does not…”NHTSA complaint 11526419 — filed 06/11/2023

“The engine is ticking as well as vibrating. Looked on the website to see if there were any recalls for this which every year other…”NHTSA complaint 11515192 — filed 04/03/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Hyundai Elantra have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Hyundai Elantra: 100 of 240 complaints on file (41.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

240 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 15 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.