2020 Hyundai Nexo
Hydrogen fuel cell Compact SUV
The 2020 Hyundai Nexo is sold in the U.S. as a hydrogen fuel cell compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Nexo Blue, is EPA-rated at 61 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 7 complaints, most often about fuel/propulsion system.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nexo Blue | Hydrogen fuel cell | FWD | 120 kW IPMSM | 65 | 58 | 61 | — |
| Nexo | Hydrogen fuel cell | FWD | 120 kW IPMSM | 59 | 54 | 57 | — |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (4)
Fuel System, Other
criticalProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Nexo vehicles. The thermally activated pressure relief device (TPRD) may break and cause a hydrogen gas leak, which can result in a fire while parked.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the TPRD, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 8, 2024. Final owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, beginning January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Service at 800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 269.
Fuel System, Other
criticalProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Nexo vehicles. The hydrogen gas detection sensors may fail to detect leaks in the hydrogen gas delivery system.
Risk: A hydrogen gas leak can increase the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the hydrogen gas detection sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 225.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
minorProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.
Risk: Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.
Electrical System
minorProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
Owner complaints
7 complaints filed
0 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2021: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2
Most-cited components
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 5
- Engine — 2
- Power Train — 2
- Electrical System — 1
- Unknown Or Other — 1
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Other Nexo model years
2026 Nexo
0 recalls · 0 complaints
A2025 Nexo
0 recalls · 0 complaints
B2024 Nexo
1 recalls · 0 complaints
B2023 Nexo
1 recalls · 6 complaints
B2022 Nexo
1 recalls · 1 complaints
C2021 Nexo
2 recalls · 5 complaints
F2019 Nexo
4 recalls · 3 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 47537, 47536). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.