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2020 Hyundai Nexo Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Aug 16, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Nexo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Fuel system545.5%
  • Engine218.2%
  • Powertrain (other)218.2%
  • Driver assistance19.1%
  • Electrical19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Hyundai sells Nexo Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles with known Fuel Cell stack issues, leading to severe safety issues from sudden power loss when driving, especially when overtaking and driving on highways and/or uphill. The power loss issue was diagnosed to originate from a fuel-cell stack failure, one of the Nexo’s main power-train components. This is a known power-train issue to Hyundai, debated online since 2021 by consumers experiencing the same power loss, across various Hyundai web-logs. Other affected consumers filed a class action lawsuit this year against Hyundai Motor America Inc, for the same and other reasons. The lawsuit accuses Hyundai of selling Nexo vehicles equipped with defective systems that fail to perform as promised. Plaintiffs argue that these defects compromise the vehicle’s performance, including the core hydrogen fuel cell stack, leading to reduced reliability and substantial safety concerns. There is no warning light indicating this issue when driving the Nexo under power loss conditions. One only realizes it when pressing the accelerator pedal and the power suddenly cuts out. In May 2025 I dropped off our 2020 Nexo Limited (~37,000 miles) at the hydrogen-certified Hyundai Dealer for a different and unrelated recall and for service, and mentioned the power loss issue. After some weeks of diagnosis the dealership called me back and verbally stated that they would not fix the car, nor would they give it ever back to me due to safety issues. Our car is still at the dealership, unresolved. No other dealers can repair Hyundai Nexo’s, because it is new hydrogen technology, very high pressures and special procedures, which no other repair shop would touch, so one must stick with Hyundai to get the problem addressed. Hyundai’s Original Manufacturer Warranty for Nexo Power Trains lists on page 15: Original Owner 10 Years/100,000 Miles, Subsequent Owner(s) 5 Years/60,000 Miles. So far I'm not aware of an existing recall for Fuel-Cell Power Loss.

NHTSA ID 11681115 · filed Aug 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Nexo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V761000000 (Fuel system, Other, Fuel/Propulsion System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the only dealer capable of performing the recall repair on the vehicle was in California. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the issue. The contact had not experienced an issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID 11670304 · filed Jun 30, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Hyundai sells Nexo Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles with known Fuel Cell stack issues, leading to severe safety issues from sudden power loss when driving, especially when overtaking and driving on highways and/or uphill. The power loss issue was diagnosed to originate from a fuel-cell stack failure, one of the Nexo’s main power-train components. This is a known power-train issue to Hyundai, debated online since 2021 by consumers experiencing the same power loss, across various Hyundai web-logs. Other affected consumers filed a class action lawsuit this year against Hyundai Motor America Inc, for the same and other reasons. The lawsuit accuses Hyundai of selling Nexo vehicles equipped with defective systems that fail to perform as promised. Plaintiffs argue that these defects compromise the vehicle’s performance, including the core hydrogen fuel cell stack, leading to reduced reliability and substantial safety concerns. There is no warning light indicating this issue when driving the Nexo under power loss conditions. One only realizes it when pressing the accelerator pedal and the power suddenly cuts out. In May 2025 I dropped off our 2020 Nexo Limited (~37,000 miles) at the hydrogen-certified Hyundai Dealer for a different and unrelated recall and for service, and mentioned the power loss issue. After some weeks of diagnosis the dealership called me back and verbally stated that they would not fix the car, nor would they give it ever back to me due to safety issues. Our car is still at the dealership, unresolved. No other dealers can repair Hyundai Nexo’s, because it is new hydrogen technology, very high pressures and special procedures, which no other repair shop would touch, so one must stick with Hyundai to get the problem addressed. Hyundai’s Original Manufacturer Warranty for Nexo Power Trains lists on page 15: Original Owner 10 Years/100,000 Miles, Subsequent Owner(s) 5 Years/60,000 Miles. So far I'm not aware of an existing recall for Fuel-Cell Power Loss.

NHTSA ID 11681115 · filed Aug 16, 2025

I received a safety recall on this car via mail. I brought it to the dealership service center in van nuys, ca, to which they said no recall currently exists on this car. A month later, I’m now experiencing a sensor of the fuel cell system failure. In addition, the CarPlay function on my car has not been working for 2 years and both Tustin and van nuys Hyundai dealership fail to fix it

NHTSA ID 11476967 · filed Aug 1, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Hyundai sells Nexo Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles with known Fuel Cell stack issues, leading to severe safety issues from sudden power loss when driving, especially when overtaking and driving on highways and/or uphill. The power loss issue was diagnosed to originate from a fuel-cell stack failure, one of the Nexo’s main power-train components. This is a known power-train issue to Hyundai, debated online since 2021 by consumers experiencing the same power loss, across various Hyundai web-logs. Other affected consumers filed a class action lawsuit this year against Hyundai Motor America Inc, for the same and other reasons. The lawsuit accuses Hyundai of selling Nexo vehicles equipped with defective systems that fail to perform as promised. Plaintiffs argue that these defects compromise the vehicle’s performance, including the core hydrogen fuel cell stack, leading to reduced reliability and substantial safety concerns. There is no warning light indicating this issue when driving the Nexo under power loss conditions. One only realizes it when pressing the accelerator pedal and the power suddenly cuts out. In May 2025 I dropped off our 2020 Nexo Limited (~37,000 miles) at the hydrogen-certified Hyundai Dealer for a different and unrelated recall and for service, and mentioned the power loss issue. After some weeks of diagnosis the dealership called me back and verbally stated that they would not fix the car, nor would they give it ever back to me due to safety issues. Our car is still at the dealership, unresolved. No other dealers can repair Hyundai Nexo’s, because it is new hydrogen technology, very high pressures and special procedures, which no other repair shop would touch, so one must stick with Hyundai to get the problem addressed. Hyundai’s Original Manufacturer Warranty for Nexo Power Trains lists on page 15: Original Owner 10 Years/100,000 Miles, Subsequent Owner(s) 5 Years/60,000 Miles. So far I'm not aware of an existing recall for Fuel-Cell Power Loss.

NHTSA ID 11681115 · filed Aug 16, 2025

PLEASE SEE ATTACH FOR DETAILS 1. Component or System Involved The Fuel Cell System and Accelerator Pedal Control System are suspected to have malfunctioned. The issue is characterized by the vehicle's failure to respond to input from the accelerator pedal, particularly at speeds between 45-65 mph, which may be linked to increased power demand from the fuel cell system. The system is available for inspection upon request, as the issue is ongoing. 2. Safety Risks The malfunction poses a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and other road users. Sudden and unexpected loss of acceleration while driving, overtaking, or climbing inclines creates a high risk of collisions, especially on highways where traffic moves at high speeds. Other drivers may not have sufficient time to react, leading to rear-end collisions or side-impact crashes. 3. Problem Reproduction and Confirmation The problem occurs consistently after driving for a short period (less than five minutes) and has not been resolved. The issue has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center because Hyundai service centers in the Los Angeles area are unable to schedule an appointment until April 2025 due to a shortage of technicians. 4. Inspection by Manufacturer, Police, Insurance, or Others The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Attempts to seek inspection by Hyundai have been unsuccessful due to a lack of available appointments. 5. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Symptoms There were no warning indicators prior to the malfunction. Once the issue occurs, the following appear: "CHECK FCEV SYSTEM" message on the LCD display "FCEV Service Warning" light on the dashboard These messages activate during the loss of acceleration and persist until the vehicle is turned off. Following the manufacturer's recommended procedure (turning the car off and restarting it) does not resolve the issue.

NHTSA ID 11629708 · filed Dec 9, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PLEASE SEE ATTACH FOR DETAILS 1. Component or System Involved The Fuel Cell System and Accelerator Pedal Control System are suspected to have malfunctioned. The issue is characterized by the vehicle's failure to respond to input from the accelerator pedal, particularly at speeds between 45-65 mph, which may be linked to increased power demand from the fuel cell system. The system is available for inspection upon request, as the issue is ongoing. 2. Safety Risks The malfunction poses a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and other road users. Sudden and unexpected loss of acceleration while driving, overtaking, or climbing inclines creates a high risk of collisions, especially on highways where traffic moves at high speeds. Other drivers may not have sufficient time to react, leading to rear-end collisions or side-impact crashes. 3. Problem Reproduction and Confirmation The problem occurs consistently after driving for a short period (less than five minutes) and has not been resolved. The issue has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center because Hyundai service centers in the Los Angeles area are unable to schedule an appointment until April 2025 due to a shortage of technicians. 4. Inspection by Manufacturer, Police, Insurance, or Others The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Attempts to seek inspection by Hyundai have been unsuccessful due to a lack of available appointments. 5. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Symptoms There were no warning indicators prior to the malfunction. Once the issue occurs, the following appear: "CHECK FCEV SYSTEM" message on the LCD display "FCEV Service Warning" light on the dashboard These messages activate during the loss of acceleration and persist until the vehicle is turned off. Following the manufacturer's recommended procedure (turning the car off and restarting it) does not resolve the issue.

NHTSA ID 11629708 · filed Dec 9, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Nexo. The contact stated while driving at various speeds going uphill, the vehicle would lose power and lose speed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the fuel cells replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and offered to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was 7,438.

NHTSA ID 11452561 · filed Feb 17, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .