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)

11 of 190 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters

Nov 25, 2024Speed controlEngine

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH in stop-and-go traffic, the engine light illuminated. While driving, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at 35-45 MPH three days later, the engine light illuminated again, and the vehicle started to decelerate. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, who performed a combustion test. The dealer requested permission for a mechanic to take the vehicle to the residence for a road test. The contact declined the request. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact requested a buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11627291

Sep 11, 2024SteeringSpeed controlCrashFire1 injury

The contact called on behalf of their son who owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while their son was decelerating, speed was unknown, and coming to a stop sign. The next thing their son was able to recall was that the vehicle had suddenly turned right crashing into an electrical pole nearby. The air bags deployed. The driver had lost consciousness during the crash making it difficult to recall all that occurred. The vehicle was towed but they had not yet received any confirmation if the vehicle had been totaled. The electrical pole had fallen and began to catch fire. The fire department had put out the fire. The contact was not completely sure of the damage done to the vehicle. The driver lost consciousness and received an injury on their right arm. Medical attention was needed. The contact could only assume a police report had been filed but had not heard from the police department to confirm. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11613933

Jun 28, 2024Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

Car is almost stalling Randomly on the highway . The rpm’s go up and car won’t speed up slows down . Stalls very randomly I am terrified to drive it , I used to have so much confidence on a newer Hyundai .

NHTSA ODI 11597478

Mar 11, 2024Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

Engine seized while going 55-60mph with warning lights only 15 seconds before my vehicle completely stopped on the highway [XXX] ) The engine was replaced by Hyundai along with the manifold and catalytic converter. Vehicle lost all control and power and started excessively knocking while I tried to get to the shoulder but only made it to the right lane. The safety of others and myself were out at risk due to no control of the vehicle. Repair order attached INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11576749

Sep 12, 2022Speed control

When cruise control is activated the rpm increases 700 to 1000 rpm regardless of the speed

NHTSA ODI 11484125

Apr 20, 2021Speed controlDriver assistance

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE RPM AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES BY ABOUT 700 RPM. AT 75 MPH, THE ENGINE RPM IS 2300. WHEN CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, ENGINE RPM INCREASES TO 3000 RPM AND REMAINS THERE. THIS DECREASES GAS MILESGE AND INCREASES WEAR ON ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11413015

Oct 23, 2020Speed control

CONDITIONS: WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD SURFACE/TERRAIN, MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT SPEED, AND CONSISTENT PEDAL APPLICATION. IF YOU SET CRUISE CONTROL, THE RPMS WILL JUMP BY 500 OR MORE. THE JUMP IN ENGINE SPEED IS MAINTAINED, NOT TEMPORARY. THE SUSTAINED INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WILL REDUCE FUEL ECONOMY AND INCREASE MECHANICAL WEAR ON THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I DO HAVE A VIDEO BUT THE 5 MB FILE SIZE LIMIT PREVENTS ME FROM UPLOADING.

NHTSA ODI 11365872

Oct 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

I BAUGHT THIS CAR SEPT 1ST 2020, ON OCTOBER 3RD 2020 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR PN MY WAY TO WORK ON THE HYWAY THE TRANSMITION SLIPED AND STOPPED SHIFTING AND WOULDNT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR AMD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WAS QUICK TO PUT THE HAZARD ON AVOIDING COLLISION FROM BEHIND I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD NEED A FULL TRANSMITION REPLACEMENT DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WITH GDPR THE TRANSMITION TO COME SO I'LL HAVE THIS LONER CAR FOR THE NEXT 2-6 WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 11363680

Feb 28, 2020Speed control

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. TO MY SURPRISE THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED BY 500-700 RPM. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (IVT) SHOULD OPERATE OR ANY TRANSMISSION SHOULD OPERATE. THE RESULT IS THAT GAS MILEAGE WILL DECREASE AND ENGINE WEAR INCREASE AS A RESULT OF HIGHER RPM THAN NECESSARY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL BY HYUNDAI TO CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OWNERS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY, IN TURN, CONTACTED HYUNDAI. I HAVE ALSO CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INDICATION FROM HYUNDAI THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS AND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I'M HOPING YOU CAN REQUIRE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11312174

Feb 5, 2020Speed control

2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN CAUSE HIGHER RPMS TO MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED. THIS CAN CAUSE EXTRA WEAR ON THE MOTOR AND DECREASED GAS MILEAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE NEW VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11301990

Feb 3, 2020Body & structureSpeed controlLane Departure

2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SPED UP PAST THE SET SPEED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 1.5 INCHES. THE DEALER TURNED THE SENSITIVITY LEVEL ON THE LANE ASSIST. ALSO, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT A METAL SCREEN OVER THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE HEATER. THIS COULD ALLOW RODENTS TO ENTER INTO THE CAB. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11300931

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 →