2019 Hyundai KONA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 11231681 · 2019-07-14 (July 14, 2019)
CAR AT TIMES WILL NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS AFTER ACCLERATER IS PUSH.
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231681 at NHTSA ↗
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 11258755 · 2019-09-28 (September 28, 2019)
WHEN LEAVING HOME THE VEHICLE HAD LITTLE ACCELERATION AND POOR SHIFTING. TOOK TOO MUCH TIME MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM CLEARED UP AS IT HAD DONE BEFORE. DROVE TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. OBDII CODE READ P0193.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11281003 · 2019-11-19 (November 19, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM SUDDENLY ACTIVATED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN SWITCHING TO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. JIM BURKE HYUNDAI (4445 13TH ST NORTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11281641 · 2019-11-21 (November 21, 2019)
UPON COLLISION (FRONT END) AT ABOUT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP. IN ADDITION, THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. DRIVER'S CLAVICLE WAS FRACTURED AND DISPLACED UPON IMPACT.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281641 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V301000 · Engine
Reported: 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA campaign record ↗