2020 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra is listed in the auction records as “CERT OF SALVAGE > 75% DAMAGE,” with “FRONT END” recorded as the primary damage. The visible evidence supports the FRONT END damage classification: the vehicle has extensive front-end collision damage. However, exterior evidence cannot confirm the claimed greater-than-75-percent damage threshold. The front-left corner is severely damaged. The hood is crushed and folded, particularly at the left-front section, with a large uneven gap above the grille and headlamp. The front bumper cover and associated fascia are missing or extensively broken, and the grille, lower fascia, and other exterior trim are absent or displaced. A large lower front panel is hanging below the vehicle. The front-left headlamp and its mounting area are broken or missing. The front-left fender is crushed and torn around the wheel opening, with exposed inner wheel-well components. Radiator-area components, wiring, brackets, and other internal front-end parts are visible. The bumper reinforcement area behind the front bumper also appears displaced. These findings indicate that the extent of damage to components behind the visible body panels requires thorough physical inspection. Inside the vehicle, both the driver and passenger airbags are deployed. Steering-column trim is missing, leaving wiring and internal components exposed. The front-left exterior door handle is also absent. According to the VIN decode, this is a front-wheel-drive sedan equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and continuously variable transmission. The vehicle was manufactured by Hyundai in South Korea. Three NHTSA safety recalls are associated with this make, model, and year. Recall 21V301000 concerns improperly heat-treated piston oil rings on vehicles with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine, which may cause engine damage, stalling, or an oil-related fire; the remedy involves inspection or engine replacement as necessary and installation of software. Recall 19V720000 concerns insufficiently tightened right-rear wheel lug nuts, which could allow the wheel to detach. Recall 19V721000 concerns insufficiently tightened front lower-control-arm ball-joint fasteners, which could allow the ball joint to detach and result in loss of control. The completion status of these recalls for this vehicle should be verified with Hyundai or an authorized dealer. The vehicle should be treated as a severely collision-damaged salvage vehicle. A complete inspection should cover the front-end structure, bumper reinforcement, cooling system, lighting, wiring, steering and suspension, wheel alignment, restraint-system components, engine and transmission operation, and all related electronic fault codes before purchase or repair.