Home · 2020 Hyundai Elantra Gt · Complaints

What 190 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra Gt

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (190)Crash / fire / injury (21)Engine (78)Transmission & drivetrain (38)Lights (20)Electrical system (17)Steering (16)Speed control (11)Brakes (9)Fuel system (7)Body & structure (5)Driver assistance (5)

20 of 190 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Jul 30, 2025Electrical systemLights

Both headlights bulbs needed to be replaced several times. Passenger replacement bulb 3 times. Drivers side twice. I have sent Hyundai several emails and have not heard back from them. case # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11677141

Jul 24, 2025Electrical systemLights

NO INCIDENT - HIGH BEAMS INOP.

NHTSA ODI 11676006

Mar 11, 2025Electrical systemLights

driver side brake light went out I did have it repaired right away since I knew it was a safety hazard for anyone behind me. And sometimes I do see the same model on the road with the same issue. I don't think the running light is a safety issue but also have a problem with that going out also.

NHTSA ODI 11647678

Feb 7, 2025Lights

The highbeam is not working, also lowbeam is poor. Also I can not use the car in the night. The Hyundai Customer services is can not help. I said they have campaign to fix the highbeam. TSB number is 20-01-011H

NHTSA ODI 11641249

Jan 13, 2025Lights

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH at night, the high beam headlight became inoperable. The contact stated that the high beam on the sign was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed that the high beam headlights had failed due to a shutter in the headlight housing that opened and closed while needed. The contact was informed that the headlamp housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20-BE-004H Headlamp Replacement (Exterior Lighting). The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11635606

Dec 5, 2024Lights

The high beam shutter that switches from high to low is not working. The car has 68,000 and I don't think this is something that should not work at that low mileage considering it is not in use all the time. I just dont see how it stops working all of a sudden when most of the time drivers do not use their high beams everyday. I just got inspected because its required in our state and both mechanics confirmed this problem. We bought a new bulb and that is when we found out the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11629052

Sep 1, 2024Lights

The high beams failed and Hyundai will only say that my VIN isn’t part of the recall. Service Campaign T5G covers the exact same symptoms that my car is experiencing. Since Hyundai refuses to acknowledge that the safety issue in this campaign affects more than what they’ve previously admitted, myself and other owners are left to repair the defect at our own expense. A Google search brings up more than a few posts of owners that were also denied the recall because Hyundai says that their 2020 Elantra VIN isn’t included in the recall. This shows that Hyundai refuses to acknowledge the full scope of the vehicles that have defect. Proper headlight function is absolutely necessary. High beams not working even cause state inspections to fail. Hyundai needs to be forced to fix this major defect in a safety critical lighting system, as it is clear that they have no desire to keep the owners of their 2020 Elantras safe.

NHTSA ODI 11611988

Aug 26, 2024LightsBrakesEngine

It makes noise when driving a mph

NHTSA ODI 11610920

Aug 21, 2024Electrical systemLightsEngineFire

A fire started in the passenger headlight assembly. The car had only been running for about 7 minutes directly prior to the fire being noticed. At the time of the fire it was parked & turned off. No injuries. It burned thru/melted part of the bumper & damaged something with the windshield washer fluid. Several people were at risk due to there being a fire! The car was parked at a gas station when the fire broke out. I don't think they have done a thorough investigation yet. It is current at Hyundai of Metairie in Metairie LA. According to the service technician my car is not the only one they have there that had the same thing happen. No warning signs, sounds, or anything else.

NHTSA ODI 11610088

Jan 2, 2024Lights

hIGH BEAM HEAdlights do not work. Stays on low beam.

NHTSA ODI 11563002

Dec 21, 2023Lights

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the driver’s side front headlight had failed to illuminate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer system for the headlight had failed causing the headlights to not function as needed. The contact was informed that the headlight unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,581.

NHTSA ODI 11561258

Dec 7, 2023Lights

I keep replacing the lights the daytime and the headlights and they’re constantly going out . Many of people have this ongoing problem.

NHTSA ODI 11558960

Nov 21, 2023Lights

Daytime running lights faulty from manufacture. Had to replace headlights once already and now out again. Hyundai has made this headlight assembly non repairable and charges over 1k for a replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11556339

Nov 21, 2023Lights

My high beam lights have been replaced but still arent working

NHTSA ODI 11556364

Sep 28, 2023Lights

No difference between high and low beems

NHTSA ODI 11547101

Apr 30, 2023Lights

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

NHTSA ODI 11519642

Mar 24, 2023Lights

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

NHTSA ODI 11513622

Feb 13, 2023Lights

High beams are not functioning,lighting same on high or low beam setting.

NHTSA ODI 11507085

Apr 3, 2021Lights

THE NORMAL BEAM BRIGHTNESS FOR THE FRONT HEADLAMPS IS ABOUT 50% OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT ON THE LOW-BEAM SETTING. WITH THE HIGH BEAM SETTING, VISIBILITY IS ABOUT AS IT SHOULD BE FOR THE NORMAL SETTING.

NHTSA ODI 11406211

Sep 18, 2020Lights

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 DEALERSHIP PARTS AND SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD TRY CHANGING THE FACTORY BULB.

NHTSA ODI 11359809

Working with the data? Download all 190 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2020 Hyundai Elantra Gt verdict →