The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2023 2023
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
While driving on highway car lost power dropping down to 10-20 miles per hour. Appears car stuck in low gear and won't go forward over 10mph with rpm revinning
2020 Hyundai Elantra owner · NHTSA complaint
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 .
2020 Hyundai Elantra owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Hyundai Elantra years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Hyundai Elantra years are 2020, 2008, 2010.
What are common Hyundai Elantra transmission problems?
Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, slipping.
Which Hyundai Elantra years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Hyundai Elantra years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2019, 2021, 2014.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Hyundai Elantra reliability by year. How we count