2019 Hyundai KONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 58 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 129 of 188 complaints (68.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 54 | 28.7% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 129 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Engine: 129; Unknown Or Other: 20; Power Train: 18; Electrical System: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 130 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 33 |
2018: 1; 2019: 8; 2020: 7; 2021: 29; 2022: 22; 2023: 19; 2024: 34; 2025: 35; 2026: 33
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11254395 · 2019-09-10 (September 10, 2019)
LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WHILE IN MOTION. LOSS OF POWER WOULD SUDDENLY OCCUR. TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE NEWLY PURCHASED MAY 31, 2019. FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11339066 · 2020-07-13 (July 13, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIA HYUNDAI ALBANY LOCATED AT (945 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12205) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE A PICTURE WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ATTEMPTING TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11339066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196351 · 2019-04-23 (April 23, 2019)
2019 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO SPEED LIMITS, DOES NOT ALARM, DOES NOT DISPLAY PICTURES, AND DOES NOT APPLY ANY BRAKING FORCE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11196351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11340900 · 2020-07-22 (July 22, 2020)
A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AFTER PURCHASING A NEW KONA, I HAD STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES GOING FROM A DEAD STOP INTO FIRST GEAR .AS THE CAR STARTS TO GO, THIS IS UNDER 5 MPH, THE CAR THEN HESITATES AS IF SOMEONE IS HITTING THE BRAKES. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS. IT IS A SPORADIC ISSUE. I HAVE HAD IT INTO HYUNDAI 3X NOW FOR THIS. ALL 3 X HYUNDAI STATES THEY CAN NOT REPAIR UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE TEST DRIVING . OF COURSE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. SO THEY HAVE " RESET" MY DRIVING COMPUTER 2X HOPING IT WILL STOP. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11340900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11487255 · 2022-09-30 (September 30, 2022)
Check engine light came on, then went away. Check engine light came on 2 months later, then went away. Car completely dead 1 month later without any dashboard lights warning anything. Replaced battery and car died again 1 month after installing new battery. After jumping the car, alternator test read 12 at local repair shop.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11487255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163353 · 2018-12-25 (December 25, 2018)
ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN YOU STEP ON GS PEDAL THE CAR DOES NOT GO FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS,VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC.ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACT OR SOUND FUNNY JUST SEEMS LIKE FUEL SYSTEM DOES NOT KNOW GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN PUSHED.HAPPENS ONLY WHEN YOU STOP TO TURN AND START TO GO AGAIN ON STREET OR HIGHWAY. TOOK IT TO RICK CASE HYUNDAI IN WESTON FLORIDA THEY SAID AJUSTED TRANSMISSION BUT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM,STILL DOING SAME THING EVERY NOW AND THEN. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT CAR 3 WEEKS AGO IN EAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228350 · 2019-06-29 (June 29, 2019)
STARTUP AND DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES BCW WARNING SYSTEM DISABLED RADAR BLOCKED MESSAGE COMES ON, YIELD SIGN WITH EXCLAIMATION POINT COMES ON, AND THE BUTTON THAT TURNS THE SYSTEM ON/OFF LEFT OF STEERING WHEEL GOES OUT ERROR STAYS APPROX 20-25 MINUTES AND THEN RESETS ITSELF PULLING OFF ROAD, AND RESTARTING THE CAR, IT WILL ALSO CLEAR THE ERROR, WE HAVE WIPED AND CLEANED BUMPER AND SENSOR AREAS, HAVE HAD CAR INTO 2 DEALERSHIPS, THEY SAY SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD, CAN NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. THIS ERROR HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,577 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328199 · 2020-06-10 (June 10, 2020)
AT ABOUT 8300 MILES I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. TOOK TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. 1ST VISIT THEY WERE CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE. 2ND TRIP. MECHANIC COULDN'T HEAR NOISE. HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC ALONG. HAD TO PLAY A VIDEO I RECORDED ON MY CELL PHONE. MECHANIC PULLS BACK INTO SHOP. HALF HOUR LATER, I GET TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER A STEERING COLUMN. CAR NOW HAS JUST OVER 8600 MILES. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A BAD BEARING. CAN BE HEARD PARKED AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11623149 · 2024-11-01 (November 1, 2024)
One day after I filled my gas tank, I noticed a strong gasoline smell outside the car. The next morning, I noticed a huge puddle on the pavement under the fuel tank. At least a gallon of gasoline must have leaked out overnight while the car was parked. I also noticed that gasoline continued to drip down from the fuel tank to the ground. I then had the car towed to the mechanic and they discovered a crack in the mounting flange on the top of the plastic fuel pump. The car was not in a collision and there was no external force that could hav…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11623149 at NHTSA ↗