What Hyundai Kona owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Hyundai Kona safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| 2024 | 67 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30 |
| 2023 | 74 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 |
| 2022 | 128 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 69 |
| 2021 | 143 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 67 |
| 2020 | 187 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 81 |
| 2019 | 247 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 91 |
| 2018 | 75 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 94 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Hyundai Kona complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
I purchased this 2022 Hyundai Kona used in May 2025 with approximately 55,000 miles. Within about one to two months of purchase, in June 2025, the transmission began to malfunction. When I pressed the accelerator, the speedometer and engine speed would climb but the vehicle would not accelerate, resulting in a sudden loss of acceleration while driving. This happened in traffic on a public road, which put me at serious risk of being rear-ended and left me unable to safely merge, cross intersections, or maintain speed. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership service center, which diagnosed a transmission failure and performed a transmission repair in August 2025. In October 2026, abou…
My 2021 Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo is consuming oil so rapidly that the Low Oil Pressure light has activated on the highway, creating a sudden risk of stalling and engine failure, that the dealership and Hyundai are declining service. According to research, when your oil pressure light flashes, your engine is moments away from locking up. If that happens at 65 mph on a highway, it is a catastrophic safety risk. I am the original owner of 2021 Kona Limited under warranty. The dealership refused to help me after my car lost oil, citing one missed service from over three years ago. That gap was due to a severe family medical emergency where my partner was hospitalized off and on for over three …
On September 11, 2026, while driving my 2019 Hyundai Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. The engine began vibrating violently, lost power significantly, and a strong chemical burning smell entered the cabin. I was forced to pull over immediately in traffic to avoid a catastrophic fire or highway collision. The vehicle had to be towed to McGrath Hyundai. The official dealership inspection (RO# 949326) confirmed severe internal manufacturing defects: cylinder wall scoring on cylinders 2, 3, and 4 due to premature piston ring wear, which caused massive oil fouling on the spark plugs and total ignition failure. This defect creat…
COMPONENT THAT FAILED: The engine short block piston rings (related to NHTSA recall 203) failed, causing severe cylinder wall scoring. The vehicle is currently located at an authorized Hyundai dealership and is available for manufacturer or NHTSA inspection. SAFETY RISK; The defective piston rings caused severe internal oil consumption, resulting in hydraulic oil starvation. This creates a high risk of sudden engine stalling, catastrophic engine seizure, and complete loss of motive power while driving in traffic. CONFIRMATION AND INSPECTION: Yes, the defect has been confirmed. The current Hyundai dealership performed a boroscope inspection, which physically confirmed severe vertical meta…
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, the contact was informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired under recall. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 â 35 MPH, and releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE). The failure mileage was 90,000.
Today, my Kona tried to kill me. I was traveling on a freeway in a construction zone. Road conditions were clear: no fog, precipitation, potholes or obstructions. Traffic slowed down to 30 mph as the rightmost lane becomes an exit only lane (and people exchanged between the middle and right lane). Traffic continued to flow freely around 50 mph in the left lane. I was in the middle lane, and after passing the off ramp my lane was clear for at least an eighth of a mile ahead (all visible traffic in front of me had taken the exit). I began to accelerate back up to freeway speeds when the "Automatic Emergency Braking" engaged for no reason. There was a curved driving path on the display (whic…
I was fortunate to check my daughter's oil and noticed that it was almost empty. I alerted the dealer because I recently got an oil change and thought there was a leak, but no oil was on the driveway. The dealer performed an oil consumption test. They said it was 1 quart per 1,000 miles and this is acceptable. There are other models that are on the recall list, but mine is not. The dealer and Hyundai said that they will not pay for repairs because it is out of warranty. The bigger issue here is that Hyundai is aware of this issue (oil burning fast in these vehicles) and they are not warning owners to check their oil. This is a cute car and it is driven by college age girls who do not think …
sitting at a light, pressing the accelerator, the engine remaining on but the vehicle not accelerating.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Hyundai has become aware that certain Kona vehicles equipped with 1.6T-GDI engines may not meet engine-out NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and Particulate Matter (PM) emission standards.
Hyundai has determined that certain Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric vehicles are eligible for a BMS software update. This update to the BMS software improves the systemâs diagnostic capability.
Certain Kona (OS) vehicles equipped with the 1.6T-GDI engine may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions that may not meet engine-out NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and Particulate Matter (PM) emission standards.
Certain Kona (OS) vehicles equipped with the 1.6T-GDI engine may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions that may not meet engine-out NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and Particulate Matter (PM) emission standards. This bulletin provides the instructions to update the emission logic within the Engine Control Module (ECM) to improve engine-out NOx and PM emissions within permissible specifications.
Certain Kona Electric (OS EV) and Ioniq Electric (AE EV) vehicles are eligible for a Battery Management System (BMS) software update. This update to the BMS software improves the system's diagnostic capability. Follow Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-01-065H to complete the BMS software update.
Certain Kona Electric (OS EV) and Ioniq Electric (AE EV) vehicles are eligible for a Battery Management System (BMS) software update. This update to the BMS software improves the systemâs diagnostic capability. Follow this bulletin to complete the BMS software update.
Certain Kona Electric (OS EV) and Ioniq Electric (AE EV) vehicles are eligible for a Battery Management System (BMS) software update. This update to the BMS software improves the systemâs diagnostic capability.
Some Kona (SX2) vehicles equipped with the 1.6L TâGDI engine may exhibit false âengine left idlingâ notifications in the MyHyundai app, even when the engine is not running, due to a logic error associated with the front oxygen (Oâ) sensor. This condition may also illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and set DTC P223700 (Oâ Sensor Pumping Current Circuit/Open [Bank 1 Sensor 1]). This bulletin provides instructions to perform an ECU software update to correct the Oâ sensor logic and resolve the condition.
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Certain 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise, drivability concerns may occur. This service procedure should be performed prior to any 8WDCT replacements done for drivability
This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.
Certain 2021-2023 model year Kona, 2021-2023 model year Kona Electric, and 2022-2023 model year Kona N vehicles may experience an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the horn assembly replacement has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever occurs first) and is valid for original and subsequent owners.
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2018–2026, owners most often name: engine, electrical system, unknown or other. 959 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
