19 complaints reported

2020 Hyundai Elantra Exterior Lighting

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
19
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2026

The manufacturer's Executive Case Management has ceased communication after verifying a total headlight failure. Despite providing evidence that the vehicle is grounded 150+ miles from home during a snowstorm, Hyundai is refusing to authorize the remedy outlined in TSB 20-BE-004H. This non-responsiveness to a verified safety hazard (Invoice #XXX) is actively endangering the driver and the public. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2026
Jan 2026

The vehicle suffered a total, simultaneous failure of both low-beam and high-beam headlights due to a known manufacturer defect involving internal wiring and melted pigtail sockets. This matches the failure pattern described in Hyundai TSB 20-BE-004H and Service Campaign T5G (TSB 21-01-004H). ​On January 22, 2026, Robert Woodall Hyundai (Danville, VA) inspected the vehicle and confirmed on Invoice #[XXX] that "BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE INOP". Despite this verification and the presence of technical bulletins for the ADa model line, the dealer refused the repair and refused to submit a Goodwill Authorization request as mandated on Page 2, Note 2 of the TSB. ​The Service Manager (Alan Pyles) claimed in an email that the TSB had "expired," despite the defect being active and documented in more recent campaigns. Releasing a vehicle with documented inoperative headlights creates an immediate safety risk for nighttime operation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2026
Jan 2026

Vehicle has ongoing issues with headlights prior to purchasing, they claim to have repaired & satisfied recall, however, they replaced headlights with the same faulty part the replacement lights are the same, with same issues, no high beams they have a steel rod operating a plastic gear that operates a shutter to dim & operates high beam. The problem is with the heat of halogens the rod gets hot and melts the gear connection rendering the shutter inoperable so as it is , we get a year and a half out of them then they are junk. Dealer cost is 900 dollars each just for 1 light. If dealership installs 2000 dollars. The issue is, they didn't reengineer the unit! Just keep selling faulty parts! There is no way we should have to go through this every year and a half. So we're going around with no high beams ( I'm including all owners) many complaints. Foremost, it's an obvious safety concern! I've been to Bergstrom Hyundai 3 times called corporate HQ no results. In addition, the bulbs constantly burn out. I may get 4 months out of them before replacement is needed 40 dollars each suggesting a electric current surge issue idk for sure. In closing, the manufacturer must redesign the units. They should last the lifetime of the vehicle ( not the bulbs obviously). The high beam operation system. They need a push to motivate them to correct safety concern thank you!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2024
Jul 2025

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2024
Jun 2025

I got this car right at the beginning of 2020, I didn’t even KNOW HOW to use my high beams until 2-3 years in. I used them all of 4-6 times and they magically stopped working. I don’t need them often so I didn’t notice right away. I’ve known for a while now but didn’t know I could submit a form like this. And no way in hell am I paying that much money for something that broke after a few uses. I’ve heard this is very common for my car make and model; I can hear the doors of the light trying to switch open but they’re stuck or something… I’m definitely not the only one having this issue…

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2023
Jan 2025

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2024
May 2024

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2024
Feb 2024

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2024
Jan 2024

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2024
Dec 2023

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2023
Nov 2023

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2023
Nov 2023

My high beam lights have been replaced but still arent working

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 9999 TBD TBD, Manufacturer: ODI Demo Co
Incident: Nov 2023
Sep 2023

No difference between high and low beems

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Jul 2023

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2023
Apr 2023

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Mar 2023

High beams no longer work but low beams still do

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2023
Feb 2023

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2022
Mar 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2021
Sep 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2020

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has 19 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.