2021 Hyundai KONA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
23,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 115 complaints (66.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 33 | 28.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 11.3% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.3% |
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 | 76 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 3 |
Engine: 76; Unknown Or Other: 18; Power Train: 13; Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 86 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 24 |
2021: 23; 2022: 18; 2023: 12; 2024: 17; 2025: 21; 2026: 24
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 11406057 · 2021-04-02 (April 2, 2021)
CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT SINCE A WEEK OLD. DEALER ADJUSTED ALIGNMENT AND STILL DOING IT. WHEEL IS OFF CENTER AND MORE RESISTANCE GOING LEFT THAN RIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413081 · 2021-04-20 (April 20, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, RAIN WATER WAS ENTERING THE HEADLAMPS WHICH DIMINISHED THE ILLUMINATION FROM THE HEADLAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RED HOAGLAND HYUNDAI (6375 CYPRESS GARDENS BLVD, WINTER HAVEN, FL 33884, [phone removed]) AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO LET THE HEADLAMPS DRY OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,052.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413166 · 2021-04-21 (April 21, 2021)
BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2020. IN FEBRUARY 2021 THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL FREQUENTLY AND IT WAS RUNNING VERY LOUD. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL IN THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR (BUT STILL PAYING FOR IT MONTHLY) SINCE MID-FEBRUARY. IT IS NOW LATE APRIL.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11414159 · 2021-04-27 (April 27, 2021)
HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE! THEY GET FULL ON CONDENSATION OBSTRUCTING THE LIGHTS AND ROAD AHEAD. THEY GO OFF AN ON WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SEND A BULLETIN TO ALL THEIR DEALERS NOT TO REPLACE THEM. THIS IS COMPROMISING OUR VIEW AT NIGHT SINCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT! HELP
Owner-reported narrative. 5,331 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415480 · 2021-05-06 (May 6, 2021)
VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE EASILY AND GAS PEDDLE MUST BE SHARPLY APPLIED TO MOVE FORWARD. SYMPTOMS OCCUR DAILY WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421351 · 2021-06-18 (June 18, 2021)
After loud explosion sound, the engine stalled 3 times recently while driving and today. No brake, hard steering wheel, and almost bumped the car front of me. I took my car to a dealer last week and they said no fix despite of safety recall. Without any warning, first it happened 3 weeks ago.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421651 · 2021-06-21 (June 21, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21V301000 (Engine). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11421651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421821 · 2021-06-22 (June 22, 2021)
I had a flat tire (passenger side right front tire). Triple AAA removed tire and replaced with my spare tire. While driving to the Hyundai dealership, massive clouds of smoke poured out of my exhaust pipe in rear of car. I also had trouble steering the car. The result of using the spare tire burned the transmission fluid (also contained metal shavings). The transmission had to be replaced along with the fluids in my car.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421821 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 ↗