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This vehicle is subject to a recall. Find out if your Hyundai Kona is included in the recall.
Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Kona prepared for a fun drive, especially since the automaker claimed it is a “small SUV that’s big on adventure.” However, the adventure some owners are experiencing is different from what they expected thanks to unreliable engines, malfunctioning electrical systems, and dud batteries.
Click on another model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2022
Contents
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Kona
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Wheels | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection |
Most Common Problems with the 2021 Hyundai Kona
More than half the complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between the beginning of April 2021, and the end of February 2023, relate to engine problems. A few of these are also regarded as electrical issues, some of which are associated with the battery. Most of the battery-related complaints come specifically from owners of the 2021 Hyundai Kona EV. But the bulk of complaints relate to all 2021 Hyundai Kona models.
Other components and system categories used for complaints include Exterior Lighting, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure, Powertrain, Service Brakes, Steering, Tires, Vehicle Speed Control, Visibility, and Wheels.
There are also quite a lot of complaints listed in the Unknown or Other category. These include battery problems, transmission issues, and complaints that the parts required for an engine-related recall aren’t available. It’s not clear whether the parts referred to are available now, but the recall, issued on April 28, 2021, is still active, although no longer labeled urgent.
NHTSA Campaign Number 21V301000 states that the piston oil rings of as many as 158,493 Hyundai vehicles may not have been properly heat-treated. These include 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster, as well as 2019-2020 Elantra vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The danger is that these engines may be damaged, causing them to stall, and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, oil may leak onto the hot exhaust components, which increases the risk of a fire.
Owners of these Hyundai vehicles were told that dealers would inspect their cars and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. They were also going to utilize Piston Ring Nosing Sensing System software for the repair.
Typical symptoms include excessive oil consumption as well as knocking noises. Sometimes vehicles stall or their engines seize because of improperly heat-treated piston oil rings.
Problems with the Engine
The engine is arguably one of the most important parts of any vehicle. If it stops working, your vehicle’s not going anywhere, and nor are you.
A lot of NHTSA complaints state that the engine cuts or fails completely. Commonly, they report knocking noises, as well as excessive oil use, both of which are symptoms of piston oil rings that haven’t been correctly heat-treated. Some report stalling and a lack of acceleration, while others say their Konas suddenly lose motive power. There have also been numerous complaints from owners who received the engine recall notification only to discover that the part to do the recall repair wasn’t available. Perhaps it’s the new engines they are waiting for.
The first NHTSA complaint about the engine was lodged on April 21, 2021, a week before the publication date of the recall. It refers to an incident on February 15, 2021, when a Kona began to stall frequently. It was also “running very loud,” and the owner “discovered that there was almost no oil in the car with less than 5,000 miles on it.” The dealer determined that the engine was defective and would have to be replaced. At the time of the complaint, the owner from New York had been without the car for more than two months but was still paying the monthly repayment.
An owner from Illinois describes hearing a “loud explosion” before the engine stalled 3 times. Then, another time, while driving, there was no brake and the steering wheel felt hard. “I almost bumped the car (in) front of me. I took my car to a dealer last week and they said (there was) no fix despite the safety recall.”
No Fix for the Recall
After receiving a recall notification letter in July 2021, an elderly owner of a 2021 Kona went to a dealer only to be told there was “no fix or test that they could do on my Kona Sel.” Instead, they suggested he “drive it until it catches fire and breaks down” and then have it towed into the dealership. He eventually took it back to the dealer and said he couldn’t drive it anymore because it was endangering the lives of his wife and 4 grandchildren whom he transports to and from school. The dealership agreed to a buyback, but he maintains he lost $3,000.
No Need for a Fix?
There are numerous complaints that state dealers maintain there is nothing wrong with their Konas. For example, an owner from Pennsylvania was told that the part needed for the recall repair was unavailable. But then they did an engine check and found no fault with it.
An owner from Maryland who received the recall notification was also told after a dealer inspection that there were no issues. But while starting the Kona, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine. The dealer made another no-issues-found diagnosis. When the failure persisted she took it back to the same dealer who discovered the vehicle had lost 3.5 quarts of 4 quarts of oil within 4,000 miles. No repairs were attempted, but the dealer said to take the Kona back after another 1,000 miles for an oil consumption evaluation.
An owner from Kansas states the engine of his Kona was “knocking” and had been using a large amount of oil. But, despite being part of the recall, he was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. “We are afraid to park it in our garage due to fire risk.” His theory is that dealers are forced to charge Hyundai a “greatly reduce price” for repairs, which is why they “are getting nothing done.”
Dealers Unable to Diagnose Failures
A Pennsylvania owner also experienced loud engine noises and excessive oil consumption. Taking the Kona to the dealer 8 times didn’t help. All they did was refill the oil reservoir every 1,000 miles. The vehicle wasn’t repaired. Eventually, the manufacturer informed the owner that the engine needed to be replaced.
About 8 months after the recall was announced, a New York owner took a 2021 Kona to a dealer because it kept shutting off without warning. The dealer said that the oil level was “severely low,” but could not determine the cause of the failure.
Despite passing the dealer’s safety recall inspection, an owner from Indiana stated that there were ongoing issues with excessive oil consumption. There were also knocking issues and the engine light kept coming on. For 6 months there were also issues with stalling and the motor locking up. But the dealership wasn’t able to fix the problems.
It isn’t only the failures that relate to oil consumption, stalling, and the engine shutting down that baffles dealers. An owner from Maryland complained to the NHTSA in February 2023 that a Kona kept losing motive power and stalling. It had happened 4 times and the dealer was unable to correct the failure.
Battery Failures
Some of the complaints about batteries failing are listed as electrical system problems. Some are listed as engine issues, and others can be found as unknown or other problems. Most are specific to the 2021 Kona EV. The problem is that there is a shortage of batteries and recalls relating to several previous model Konas indicate that the problem may also affect the 2021 model.
An owner from California states that their Kona EV battery needs to be replaced. In September 2022, the dealer was unable to estimate how long it would take to get a new one, probably 1-3 months.
There already appears to have been a shortage of batteries in July 2021 when an owner from Colorado experienced problems. “After charging the vehicle at home with (a) level 2 charger to 100% it would not go into drive or reverse. It can go to neutral or Park only. The car is at the dealership and they told (me that) the battery must be replaced when one is available.”
One of the more serious complaints is from an owner in New Jersey who states that warning lights indicated that “the lithium battery was inoperable but fully charged in danger of catching fire.” The dealer immediately towed the Kona away and disconnected the battery. The complaint states that the “recall for battery replacement due to fire risk for the 2018-2020 (models) now appears to be affecting the 2021 model year. The dealer is telling me they have no replacement batteries and cannot give me a timeline for replacing mine nor can they assure me that will resolve the problem. The recall needs to be extended to all model years.”
What to do if your 2021 Kona is a Lemon?
If you are experiencing recurring problems with your 2021 Hyundai Kona that affect its value and your use of it, you might have bought a lemon. The best way to check is to contact an experienced lemon law firm.
Lemberg Law has been helping ‘lemon’ owners get recompense from manufacturers for many years. So, if you think you have a lemon, contact us and we’ll assess your problems at no cost to you. The law makes Hyundai pay legal fees for lemon law cases, so you’ve got nothing to lose.
Complaint Data
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 15, 2023 |
| State | UT |
| Description | When you press on the gas, many times there is a very delayed reaction for power. This resulted in my safety put at risk. I have mentioned this to mechanic, they say it is the transmission. I see where there was a recall for 'automatic transmission that may disengage when the car is being driven'. This is nhtsa campaign number 22v746000. And hyundai's number for this recall is 236. I would like to know if my car should be included in the 236. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Feb 27, 2023 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly lost motive power and stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as designed. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred on four occasions while driving. The vehicle was serviced at the local dealer, but the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,400. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Feb 24, 2023 |
| State | MD |
| Description | My car has approximately 14,000 miles on it and was purchased brand new. It still has 1,000 miles to go before the next servicing. Saturday I when driving approximately 40 miles an hour, the engine suddenly cut off and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I was able to start the car and drive for approximately 15 minutes before it slowed to 3mph and shut off again. I called the dealership where I purchased it and explained what happened. Initially they said they had not serviced the car in a year. I let the car sit for a day then checked all the fluids. The coolant level was fine and so was the oil. Monday, it cut off twice on my way to work. I drove to the nearest dealership and left it there. I had to rent a car as no loaners are available. It has been at the dealership for 5 days. They thought they fixed but when they test drove it, the car cut out again. Later that day, I received an email from hyundai blue link with an automatic dtc notification that a possible condition has been detected with my engine control system. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Feb 23, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona electric. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v941000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Engine, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Feb 10, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Vehicle will not go out of 3rd gear when on the interstate. The vehicle will go pass the redline and hit the fuel cut off and will not accelerate. Have to slow the car down and attempt to speed up again. Vehicle has almost been in accident multiple times due to almost being rear ended because can not get the vehicle up to speed. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 31, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | July of 2022, vehicle went in due to battery not charging. Vehicle kept at temecula hyundai repair until september 2022 for ev battery replacement. Upon return, ev battery still didn't change. September 2022 vehicle went back for repairs. Returned october 2022. Was told battery overheating sensor was faulty and was turned off. As a result the ev battery will not be able to charge beyond 90%. Was told nothing else they could do to repair the car. When I asked if there was an increased risk of battery getting too hot, the response was " their should not be". My concern is that their going to be an overheating issue while the vehicle is changing at my home. Contacted hyundai about it; they did an investigation and determined there was reason for them to buy back the vehicle. They offered to buy it back at less that what the buy out the finance company states. It is now february 2023. Hyundai still has yet to buy back the vehicle at what is owed on it, and still have no idea how to due the proper repairs. They still cannot assure that the battery won't overheat and there are no sensors to notify if it does. |
| Category | Electrical System, Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System |
| Date | Jan 28, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | After just 18 months and about 5,000 miles, the heater/defroster system stopped working. My local hyundai dealer (dick hannah volkswagen/hyundai) confirmed the failure. Even after installing a new heater unit, the dealer reported the system is still not working. My car has been at the dealer since 1-17-23. Having no defroster is a serious safety issue in the winter here in portland, oregon, as the car can become unsafe to drive when the windows fog-up (as is common in the winter here). There were no warning lights or notifications to indicate that anything had failed; I just noticed that heat was not coming on, and only cold air was blowing through the defroster vents. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Dec 31, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The car has never been good on gas or changing gears when drive mode was changed to sport from the beginning. It would say 200 miles to drive I will drive 30 miles and it will go down to 130. Recently the engine light has come on the car stalls when going a very low speeds and appears to have problems changing gears. Now I am receiving a crankshaft position camshaft powertrain system code p0017. Not even a year old 28k miles. I understand there are recalls on this make model and year yet my vin is not registered. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Service Brakes |
| Date | Dec 26, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | Driving 60mph on I-5 in may 2021. Dry roads, no wind. Vehicle suddenly surged (as if we ran over a speed bump at 60mph) despite there being no debris nor damage on the road surface. The surge felt like the abs system triggered a single pulse, and then car completely turned off: no engine power, no radio power, no cabin lightning power, no dash lighting nor warning lights. Toggling the ignition to accessory didn't help. I had steering authority and brake authority. With no engine power, I pulled over to the side of the road. I inspected the exterior of the vehicle and there was no damage. I entered the vehicle and I was able to restart the vehicle normally. I drove it to a dealership and described the problem, they didn't know what it could be and were 30 days out on booking appointments, so I gave up. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Dec 19, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | The horn stopped working shortly after purchasing the vehicle in july 2021. We have been waiting for an appointment to get it looked at for months with our local hyundai dealer but they don't have any service appointments. There have been several close calls with other vehicles and pedestrians and it is only a matter of time before something happens. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Dec 15, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | The headlights even though they are led they have a terrible beam pattern with noticeable dark spots in your field of view. Also I get flashed from oncoming traffic because of the low mounting position of the head lights easily blinds on coming traffic with the slightest bump or incline in the road. I had the dealer check out their alignment and was told they are fine. I myself have been dazzled by other kona's coming at me. I feel these lights are an issue and I see more and more cars with these low mounted headlights which I feel is a design issue that needs to be addressed due to the angle the lights need to shine they easily dazzle oncoming traffic. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Oct 10, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Please refer to complaint 11488659 filed 10/10/22. I erroneously listed date of incident as 10/4. Incident occurred on 10/5/22, while driving on highway check oil light suddenly came own with knocking and other noises. I was able to pull onto exit ramp before deceleration and total stall with oil running out of bottom of car. I called 911 due to large trucks and traffic stopped behind me. State police came and stayed until aaa towed car to freysinger hyundai in mechanicsburg , pa (717) 766-8422, where regular maintenance has been done on the car as recently as sept. 20, 2022. I was advised by [xxx] in service dept. That engine had failed with at least 3 months or more wait for replacement parts. I was forced to purchase another vehicle at great expense. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6). |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Oct 10, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Oct 4,2022, 2021 kona, 17,600 miles, was operating on highway when suddenly "check oil" light came on and knockin noises began. Able to pull onto off ramp before deceleration and total stall with oil running out of bottom of car. State police stayed with vehicle due due heavy truck traffic until aaa towed to freysinger hyundai in mechanicsburg, pa. Diagnosed engine failure with 3 to 6 month wait for necessary parts for repair. Had to purchase another car at great financial loss. |
| Category | Wheels |
| Date | Oct 07, 2022 |
| State | IL |
| Description | I recently blew out my front tire and put on the hyundai supplied emergency spare. Within 15 minutes of driving, no more than 10 miles, I was flagged down by another driver because a huge cloud of smoke was coming from my car. I had the car towed into a dealership and they informed me that the spare tire that hyundai supplied me damaged the transfer casing on the front tire, causing the smoke. I was told to never put that tire on the front of my car or it will again damage my car. I contacted first my local selling dealer. They were no help. They informed me that the spare tire was the correct part and I needed to contact hyundai directly, which I did. After a week of investigation, [xxx], from their national consumer affairs department, indicates that hyundai has essentially washed their hands of my problem and said it is the correct part and I should use that. I said it damaged my car and the response was it is only supposed to be on long enough to get to a repair shop. My car was overheating after only 10 miles. Smoke was coming from my car after 15 minutes. What if I was on a highway when the tire blew? It could be much longer than 10 miles. Would the car catch on fire? Will hyundai take responsibility for the possibility of my car catching on fire? What about the dangers to myself and my family? Hyundai is taking no further action on this. I am to use the supplied part, damage, or no damage. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6). |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Sep 23, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | My 2021 hyundai kona ev battery need to be replaced. But the dealer would not have estimated time when my kona ev get new battery. It could take 1 month or 3 months. No clues. I would not make a mistake to buy another car like hyundai ev. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Sep 09, 2022 |
| State | CO |
| Description | While driving up a steep mountain road in heavy traffic and snow the transmission on my hyundai kona overheated and failed. The car began to buck back and forth and a transmission light came on. Unfortunately I was on a mountain interstate in heavy traffic with no real shoulder due to snow. I attempted to limp the car to the top but moved towards the right lane in case. The transmission did it's bucking thing 3 times total and then I noticed smoke coming from the powertrain area. At this point I pulled over and put my car basically into a snow bank so as not to get run over by semi trucks. I called aaa but was able to get the car up the hill after letting the transmission cool for around an hour. This entire situation was completely unsafe and had I been informed I would not have purchased the car because I know that I spend most of the winter in traffic on a mountain interstate. What's even more concerning, this issue is documented heavily online yet the sales reps for hyundai are not aware. The service department is aware and told me that they couldn't do anything because it was working as it is designed. See here an additional forum which outlines the same issue for another driver. Https://www. Hyundaikonaforum. Com/threads/dct-shifting-annoyances. 2428/ best, greg |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 06, 2022 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | I have a 2021 hyundai kona electric vehicle with approximately 20,000 miles. On august 26, 2022 several warning lights came on indicating that the lithium battery was inoperable but fully charged in danger of catching fire. The dealer immediately towed my vehicle and disconnected the battery. The recall for battery replacement due to fire risk for the 2018-2020 now appears to be affecting the 2021 model year. The dealer is telling me they have no replacement batteries and cannot give me a timeline for replacing mine nor can they assure me that will resolve the problem. The recall needs to be extended to all model years. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Aug 16, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut off without warning. The vehicle would restart soon after failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where he was informed that his oil level was severely low; however, they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 28, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | I was parking my hyundai kona electric car going very slow when without warning it took off going over 100 miles per hour. I couldn't control the vehicle. The brakes didn't stop the car. It ran over a wood parking beam, hit two light posts, and went over a concrete structure before finally stopping on its own. I was not hurt. Fortunately, no one else was hurt. I had my seat belt on. The air bags did not deploy. It was witnessed by another person. I had it towed to the hyundai dealer in webster. It is at vision collision. State farm is paying for the repairs. When I got home after the incident I went online and discovered that acceleration problems with this car and year had been reported by others. This is a serious car defect that could result in the loss of life. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 28, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil. Additionally, the vehicle made loud noises while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on eight separate occasions, and the dealer refilled the oil reservoir every one-thousand miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 16, 2022 |
| State | IN |
| Description | Ongoing issues with the motor consuming oil despite passing a safety recall inspection. Issues with knocking, oil consumption, engine light on. Issues with the dealership fixing the problem. Issues since january of this year. Issues with stalling and motor locking up. Now no oil and not due for oil change, knocking, hesitates, motor light on. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jun 12, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Check regenerative brake warning comes on and the emergency brake applies while driving also when I come to a stop. When I started my car the immediately the light came on. When I cut my car off the light clears. It happens when I'm braking. The regenerative brake light warning is becoming more frequent. I took my car back to the hyundai dealership and they “checked†it out and found no problem with my vehicle. They ran a diagnostics and a update for my car, but 4 days later the warning can on again, after the repair. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | May 11, 2022 |
| State | IN |
| Description | While driving to work car started knocking. As soon as I arrived not even 5 miles from my home, died in my parking lot. Car had no indications of issues. Only information was due for oil change. Checked oil there was none. I was taking it in for service the next day for my regular service check. I was 62 miles over the standard time. Had to pay a tow and found out there is a hole in my engine block. Well with no indication of "low oil" this brings a question of a information failure>? |
| Category | Electrical System, Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection |
| Date | May 09, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | I've had this car since end of september 2021. The blind spot monitor on the right side of the vehicle lights up and beeps at random times, even when there is nothing in the blind spot itself. Happens mostly while driving on the highway. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Apr 25, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated that she received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed her that no issues were found. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle had lost 3. 5 quarts out of 4 quarts of oil within 4,000 miles. The dealer informed the contact to bring the vehicle back for an oil consumption evaluation after 1,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,500. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 22, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The engine failed at 12,034 miles. I was at the stop light right before the bay bridge and my life and others were severely put at risk. Had I been on the bridge when the engine seized it would have meant imminent death. The hyundai dealership said they expected it because engines on the 2021 hyundai kona have been recalled. This vehicle was supposed to be fitted with a safety light warning the driver of an imminent fire or engine failure after 2019 but that didn't happen. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 09, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph for an extended period of more than 30 minutes, the engine would remain running 8-10 minutes after the vehicle had been turned off. On another occasion while driving approximately 35 mph and entering a highway ramp, the vehicle lost motive power and power steering functionality before independently restarting and operating as designed. The contact stated that the vehicle also stalled while reversing and would restart after shifting into park. The contact stated that three or four attempts were necessary to restart the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 09, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | While driving on cruise control set for 45mph the vehicle accelerated to 53 mph. Noticed this multiple times. Also steering wheel making noise and at times hard to turn. All fluids at good level. Then burning smell coming and vehicle revs up when at stop light. And then hard to start. Have had multiple issues with this vehicle. Dealer states all is good. Hyundai is no help. This is a 2021, a new vehicle that should not be acting like this. |
| Category | Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
| Date | Jan 27, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Sunroof exploded. On 19 january 2022 around 15:45 (pacific time) while driving approximately 65mph in my 2021 hyundai kona electric on hwy 60 (moreno valley, california), west-bound I experienced a loud explosion sound in my kona and glass raining down on me and the inside of the car. I looked up and noticed there was a hole in the sunroof (see attached photos). I immediately found a safe place to exit the highway and stopped. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jan 03, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost electrical power. The battery warning light, engine warning light, and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact waited an hour and was able to restart the vehicle and drive; however, the vehicle was shaking while driving. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her own expense. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 21,605. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jan 02, 2022 |
| State | KS |
| Description | We have a 2021 hyundai which is the subject of an engine recall. There have been no repairs to the car and we just turned 5000 miles. When the car is cold and first started the engine knocks and it has gone through 2 quarts of oil so far. The dealership says nothing is wrong with it. I have video of it being started and knocking. We are afraid to park it in our garage due to fire risk and due to the greatly reduced price of repairs the dealer can charge hyundai, are getting nothing done. The number 1 driver of this car is 88 years old and does not need this stress. Help, please? |
| Category | Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Dec 08, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | The contact's father owned a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact stated that while her father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was stuck and the seat belt did not lock the contact's father into his seat during impact. The vehicle crashed into a traffic light pole, went uphill, and then flipped before stopping. The air bags deployed, but the steering wheel air bag caught fire. The contact's father was able to exit the vehicle. The contact's father suffered fractured back, chest, ribs, and lumbar spine injuries, as well as head injuries with a brain bleed. The contact's father was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. |
| Category | Electrical System:propulsion System:charging:module:accessory |
| Date | Oct 27, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona electric. The contact stated that while his wife disconnected the charger, the vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries. The installation plug was melted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the connection wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An inspector was able to inspect the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified however no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Oct 02, 2021 |
| State | WA |
| Description | We bought the car in july and owned it 70 days and 1,530 miles. The automatic emergency breaking engaged several times without any reason. Sometimes at lower speeds 60. The last time was at 20 mph in a school zone and we were rear ended because of the unexpected stop. We had several near misses on the freeway, but the cars behind us managed to avoid us. The car has severe damage to the bumper, tailgate and blind spot warning, parking collision warning and rear cross traffic warning because of the accident and the car has been in the body shop awaiting parts/repair for the nearly entire month of september. No one was hurt and we didn't have the car long enough to take it back to the dealer to have the brake system checked. The accident would not have happened if the automatic emergency braking had worked properly. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 26, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Having acceleration problems. 1. While driving in normal mode, when accelerating from 55 to pass cars on the highway, the tach moves to higher levels but the car doesn't accelerate. I need to take my foot off the gas pedal and wait then try to accelerate again. 2. When a stop light, at a full stop (or stop sign) - the car bucks before accelerating. 3. When I start my car from a cold start and in idle mode - still in park - the tach hops for 30 seconds before settling. All these issues do not happen all the time. Hard to replicate. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 11, 2021 |
| State | AL |
| Description | I'm trying to find out when my 2021 kona sel plus was built and where ? When did the maker of the oil rings notify hyundai of the defect to the rings why was hyundai able to sell of these kona's with the 2. 0 engines from dealers lots after they knew there was a problem with the engines. My kona was sold to me on 25 feb. 2021 they had to know of the problem by than. I was so angry and upset with my dealer when I check with them about the recall and they told me to drive it till it blew up or catches fire and have it towed in. I sold it back to them and loss 3,000 dollars rather than drive it another mile. Please email me @ [xxx] I'm a 75 year old us navy combat veteran thats hard of hearing with ptsd under doctors care because of the problems with my dealer and the kona with the bad engine parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6) |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Sep 07, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine). The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer also performed an engine check on the vehicle and found no fault with the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 03, 2021 |
| State | AL |
| Description | With the recall in effect on 7 july,2021 and nothing being done to correct the problem not even the software up date installed and the dealer not being able to tell me when any thing ging on to correct the problem I could no longer drive this 2021 kona sel with the 2. 0 engine as I'm 75 years old and my wife is 74 both of us have a very hard time getting in and out of the kona . I took it back to my dealer and dumped if off and told them that I couldn't drive this car and in danger my wife and 4 grand babys. I was in a really bad mental state and end ed up taking a lower grade kona and losing $$$. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Aug 31, 2021 |
| State | CO |
| Description | After charging the vehicle at home with level 2 charger to 100% it would not go into drive or reverse. It can go to neutral or park only. The car is at the dealership and they told the battery must be replaced when one is available. It is a safety concern because one can get stranded on the road with vehicle that does not move although is fully charged. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Aug 29, 2021 |
| State | AL |
| Description | I brought the hyundai kona sel from bentley hyundai of huntsville, al on 25,feb 2021 on 1 july hyundai sent me a notice of the recall. After going on line to there web site I saw that the recall was posted 28, april 2021 why did it take hyundai 2 months to let me know of the recall. Is it possible that hyundai tried to sell off all the cars with the recall on the 2. 0 engines before the nhtsa. Org posted the recall. If the recall was posted to hyundai would they still be allowed to sell the cars with the recall on the 2,0 engines to get them off the dealers lots bentley hyundai gave me a ,500. 00 rebate off the sticker price of ,000. 00 it made me think they we're dumping the kona"s asap thanks [xxx] @ [xxx] |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Aug 26, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | On 8/11/21, I tried to start my hyundai kona ev, and it displayed the high voltage warning . The car would not start or go into gear and had to be towed to the dealership. We purchased the car in may 2021, and it had about 3000 miles on it at the time. At the dealership, the mechanic diagnosed it as a faulty battery and indicated that the whole lg battery underneath for the electric car would need to be replaced. After doing further research, there is already a recall on the 2018 to 2020 models for the same issue, with the battery catching fire in some instances. The car has the same battery a the 2018 to 2020 models. The guidance for those model years has been to park the car outside, in case there is a fire. We live in an hoa condo (and do have the option to park outside our garage). As of today, there is no eta of a fix for a new battery. If they end up replacing it with another lg battery with the same faulty cell issues, I feel like this is a danger to my and my family's lives. Due to the battery issue, they also quit selling the kona in korea in april, a full month before we purchased our car. They sold us a car with a known issue. I want them to buy back this car, due to the safety issues. |
| Category | Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Aug 21, 2021 |
| State | AL |
| Description | On 1, july 2021 receive notice from hyundai usa about recall of car due to bad rings that might cause engine failure due to engine running badly and might cause engine to lock up and throw a rod and catch fire, I am 75 years old us navy combat vereran with ptsd and other serious medical problems and my wife is 74 years old her knees and hips have ben operated on but she still has problems getting in and out of the car. We take our 4 grand babys to and from school and the sitter 5 days a week. The youngest turned 1 year old on july 7th this year and the oldest is 81/2 years old. We would not able to get our self's and the grand kids in and out of the car in a emergency on 7 july , I returned to my dealer bentley hyundai in huntsville al. They told me that there was :no fix: or test that they could do on my kona sel and to drive it until it "catch's fire and breaks down." than to have it" towed into they dealer ship" using the hyundai tow service. This was totally out of the question as they knew about my wife and grand kids most days of the week! At that time I didn't remember about my 2016 sonata se that was brought new from bentley hyundai that had a software up grade to monitor the engine's operation to tell if problems were developing and warn the operator. This was done back in 2020 ? I was under a lot of stress over this recall and they were telling me "not to worry" about it they showed me several other cars model of hyundai's and I even drove one home to show my wife, which she didn't like as the color wasn't right and the trim options and safety options didn't compare to the 2021 kona sel. After dealing with the sales man who was really trying to help me and the general manager mr. Johnson ,who I felt just was just trying to get me to leave as I was really loud and very up set about they were handing the matter. They drove a 2022 kona se up for me to look over. It was very funny that only a few hours before there we're none. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Aug 19, 2021 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Transmission slip out of park I was at a complete stop in park got out of the car to get my purse an as I pull the hacker it was still locked so I came around and reached in the car to turn the car off an as I attempted to pull the key out the car started roll back drugged me about 150 feet down the inbank. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Aug 09, 2021 |
| State | TN |
| Description | The manufacturer is taking 2 long to repair or replace the engine. They started the recall at end of april. In may my mycarfax told me about recall and the manufacture didn't send anything out in the mail about the recall till almost end of june. They are taking 2 long to fix this engine. I drive daily for my job. Sometimes 4,000 miles a month. I need this recall fixed now. |
| Category | Tires:sidewall |
| Date | Jul 22, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | tire installed as new oem on hyundai kona with 650 miles. Driving at 40 mph and sidewall of tire blew out. Tire did not strike any object or curb. 215/55r17 |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jul 19, 2021 |
| State | OH |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification for nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts were not available for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jul 09, 2021 |
| State | LA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the message for oil change due in 28 days was displayed on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was approximately 8,900. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jul 09, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number 21v301000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 28, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 hyundai kona. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v301000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jun 22, 2021 |
| State | CT |
| Description | 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. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 21, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | 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. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 18, 2021 |
| State | IL |
| Description | 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. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | May 06, 2021 |
| State | WA |
| Description | Vehicle hesitates to accelerate easily and gas peddle must be sharply applied to move forward. Symptoms occur daily when driving on city streets. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Apr 27, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | 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 |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Apr 21, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | 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. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting:headlights |
| Date | Apr 20, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | 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, (863) 326-6999) 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. |
| Category | Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Apr 18, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I was entering my neighborhood and slowed down as we neared our house with my foot on the brakes so that I can open my garage door, as I released the brakes, the car started accelerating by itself really fast and I had to slam on my brakes to stop the car from speeding up on its own. |
| Category | Steering |
| Date | Apr 02, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | 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. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I have had my 2021 Kona for 10 months now. I bought it from the dealer used at the time it had 17,000 miles now it has approximately 27,000 miles.
Two months after I got it I started hearing a horrible noise so I got it home and parked it called for an appointment at the dealership had to wait a week to get it in only to be told it was my fault because I let it run out of oil. When I told them I just bought the car from them and the sticker shows it just had an oil change I didn’t think about checking the oil after only 2 months.
Another couple of months went by and I started hearing the noise again this time I had to add 2 qts. of oil again. I called to get it into the shop again this time I was told they didn’t see anything wrong and sent me on my way. Another month or so went by and because I know it is using oil I continued to check it. I took it back and told the dealer I am needing to add oil all of the time. This time they changed the oil and said we need to to what they call is an oil consumption test. I have had to take it back every 1,000 miles they write down how much oil they have to add. I’ve done this 3 times now and they always have to add 1.5-2 qts every time.
This is not normal what can I do? I feel like they are giving me the run around because I am a 61 year old female.
And now the car is in the shop again because someone tried to steal it, they didn’t get it but it was still damaged.
I Had a 2021 Hyundai KONA SEL-PLUS Night Edition, a beautiful ride. And it handled the road like a Porsha. I loved to drive it. However; the following issues are:
1. Slow gear transfer from start as you pull out.
2. Head lighting at night is not good. Needs better lighting for night time use. we had to up grade our
head lights bulbs in order to see better at night. Head light kept blowing out. With in one year, we had to replace the head lights 4 times. The Kona would have electrical surges then the light issues would begin each time.
3. The Blind side sensors work when they feel like it, which is rare… Along with front end collision warning. The sensors go off when nothing is there, and when you need the sensors to work….they are not there for you.
4. Fuel per mile reader is off I have had reading where it was reading 9 mile to the gallon usage even thought we were driving conservatively. Some time it reads easy and other time you would think your driving a late 60’s muscle car.
5. On the 28th of Sept.2022 I was involved in a accident and the blind side sensors didn’t go off and the airbags failed to deploy.
6. Electrical issues: there were electrical power surges blowing out the radio and the other electrical related components including the warning sensors.
We took the Hyundai Kona to the Dealer several times to have it checked. they checked all the sensor issues and the head light bulbs blowing out issues. They were unable to fix and kept trying to blame me for the issues. And we have it all document on the Hyundai paperwork.