10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,588 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Hyundai Kona engine problems

engine problem

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2019 Hyundai Kona Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #62

Nov 152023

Kona

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the car, the engine stalls and I'm no longer able to accelerate, despite pressing the gas pedal. I'm able to turn and brake. When this happens, the check engine, oil, and battery lights come on. It is sometimes accompanied by a grinding/banging sound. In order to get my car running again, I have to park it somewhere safe, turn it off, and turn it back on. This is difficult to do on a highway or when surrounded by a lot of traffic. This started occurring in November 2022 and has happened many times since then.

- Marshall, MI, USA

problem #61

Dec 252023

Kona

  • miles
We were driving on the interstate when suddenly the check engine light began flashing and the engine began to lose power. We were able to coast to a safe location to pull off, but had it not been Christmas day and there was more traffic, the situation would have been much more dangerous. Once pulled over we shut off the engine. Upon trying to restart the vehicle it would not start up again. After having it towed to a repair shop they stated the engine had pieces of metal throughout and would need to be replaced. It appeared to be a failure of the piston rings.

- Coraopolis, PA, USA

problem #60

Sep 082023

Kona

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast off to the side of the roadway and attempted to restart the vehicle. After several attempts the contact stopped and waited for approximately 30 minutes and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to an unknown dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

- Cidra, PR, USA

problem #59

Jul 152022

Kona

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle began making a clicking/ticking sound under acceleration and deceleration. The noise progressively worsened until The dealer diagnosed the motor as failing internally and replaced it under warranty. Several people online in forums have experienced the same issue, some cases resulted in the reduction gear catastrophically failing causing the vehicle to suddenly stop accelerating. I worry that this issue may result in more sudden drivetrain failures because of how widespread the problem is. Hyundai does not seem to have a definite solution as the noise comes back for many owners.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #58

Aug 312023

Kona

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and accelerating to merge onto the highway, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and was able to restart the vehicle on the first attempt. The contact continued driving but became aware that the engine was making an abnormal sound and was laboring while attempting to accelerate. The contact checked the oil level after arriving to his destination and became aware that the oil level was low. The vehicle was taken for an oil change and then taken to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic found no failure or an oil leak. The contact called another independent mechanic who related the engine failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Prospect Heights, IL, USA

problem #57

Jun 292023

Kona

  • miles
car shut down while driving, would not turn back on. My safety was put at risk when I was driving on the highway and my car shut off 3 times without warning. I noticed rapid oil consumption, and now my engine has seized.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #56

Jan 012023

Kona

  • 63,819 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, she was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact was referred to a dealer for assistance. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall; however, the dealer performed a vibration test which the vehicle passed. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact linked the failure to the previous recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 63,819.

- North Branch, MN, USA

problem #55

Jun 062023

Kona

  • miles
Driving at highway speed 65MPH, the car stalled and slowed down, not moving forward when pressing the gas. No dash indicators were present. I pulled to the side of the highway, turned the car off, and turned it back on. The check engine and oil indicator came on, and the engine began to smoke. The engine temperature was normal. I immediately turned the car back off and called a tow truck. I waited for about two hours for the tow truck, and multiple times, my car was almost struck by traffic coming from behind. I was pulled off the road as far as I could go without going into the ditch. When the tow truck driver came, I got the tow tools from the back. There was sticky dark residue all over the back hitch, getting on my hands and clothes. When the tow truck driver got to the mechanic, oil was *pouring* out of the bottom. The bed of tow truck was covered in oil. Mechanic stated that oil drain plug was missing, but it had been 3000 miles since my oil change was performed by them, and there were zero signs of it not being tightened enough. No oil leaking at any time in the last 3000 miles. Car was at mechanic 200 miles prior for nail in tire, and no oil leaking at that time either. They are denying responsibility, and have paperwork to show they did oil change correctly. At no point in the last 3000 miles did a dash indicator come on for check engine or oil.

- Colburn, ID, USA

problem #54

Jun 052023

Kona

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH in heavy traffic, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and turned into a service station however, the vehicle stalled again and was unable to be restarted. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to her residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #53

Jun 162022

Kona 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced excessive oil consumption and while driving the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that the engine was faulty, and the top of the engine and part of the engine lubricated by the engine oil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was previously inspected under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced that failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 55,000. The contact stated the repairs were made at the tune of $1885, but would like to know if the damage done to the vehicle was in relation to oil ring not being replaced as part of the recall.

- South Euclid, OH, USA

problem #52

Apr 252023

Kona

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased a 2019 Hyundai Kona electric from dealership. They said they had to change the electric battery before selling it to us and now the emergency light went on the dash we brought it back to the dealership and they said the battery the installed is not safe and will take 6 months to get a new one and are not giving us a car to drive.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #51

Apr 032023

Kona

  • miles
Camshaft pin sheared with 66,000 miles leading to severe engine damage and expense. No known cause but consistent with many online reports of engine issues with this make and model year. Vehicle was well-maintained prior to the incident. No warning lights present until after engine damage occurred.

- Wadsworth, OH, USA

problem #50

Apr 232023

Kona

  • miles
After the recall was corrected, the engine light came on two months later. I noticed the car will not accelerate and now will not start. The engine rumbles on the occasion that it does start.

- Hauppauge, NY, USA

problem #49

Apr 012021

Kona

  • miles
The car used extremely amounts of oil yet showed no signs of a leak and the car would shut off randomly while driving. Took it to the first dealership and they refused to acknowledge any problem while we had it towed into them. They had it for 2 months and we showed them problems noted about faulty piston rings in these cars. They made us take the car back and we continued to drive it with the extremely dangerous issue of shut downs with the car and still heavy oil usage. We took it to an independent mechanic who stated scored cylinders due to oil problems from bad rings then towed it to a different dealership that also stated same and recommended engine replacement. Hyundai is refusing the dealer-??s recommendations even though these cars are noted as having these problems and yes each time the engine light comes on. Extremely dangerous to continue to drive this car. Car is still at San Tan Hyundai in Gilbert Az for second week waiting for approval of necessary recall repair have also contacted Hyundai corporate and they deny any problems with this car. We first took this car into dealer 2021 now we have it back with continuous problems

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #48

Mar 242023

Kona

  • miles
I took my car to the dealership to have the campaign 200 recall fixed. When my vehicle was there, they found that the battery needed to be replaced, however found that there was "front end damage to the battery" and it would fall on me as the owner to replace the battery, and once the battery was replaced, they would fix the recall. (Which replacing the battery would fix in the first place). My issue is, there is no alert on my dashboard or on the app that shows that there are zero diagnostic trouble codes. My concern is that if the battery has such significant damage, there should be some type of alert or warning with this occurring. Also the fact that there is a recall that requires a battery replacement and suddenly damage is noticed on the battery. Unfortunately, it seems that Hyundai is not willing to honor their warranty and "found" a way to blame me as the owner.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #47

Jan 042023

Kona

  • miles
Engine light turned on, was told by dealer to keep driving on it unless engine light was blinking or the car started driving differently. Made a right turn and during the turn the vehicle shut off in the roadway. Brought car to dealer, dealer stated the car was low on oil and that was the reasoning, the car was not due for its routine maintenance yet for the oil. Oil was changed. Engine light came on four more times after that and each time was another reason. Within the month I was told it was the oil, a sensor, and then the ignition coil.

- Lockport, IL, USA

problem #46

Jan 312023

Kona

  • miles
The turbo. When you accelerate the RPMs go high up to 4 and the car will barely move. Had it repaired (under warranty). But few months later, happening again. This is a scary situation as the car behind you almost rear ends you if you are at a light, making a turn, etc..

- Farmingtn Hls, MI, USA

problem #45

Jan 312023

Kona

  • miles
Oil consumption!! No low oil lamp!! Just cuts off. Then there is no oil. The engine can blow up and catch fire!! Having a oil consumption test now. First 1000 miles it's already burned half quart!!

- North Fort Myers , FL, USA

problem #44

Nov 092021

Kona 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was inspected, and no repairs were needed at the time. The contact stated on January 1, 2023, while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed there was no oil in the engine. Additionally, the contact was informed that the timing chain and engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic performed an oil change. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the timing chain and engine replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Fort Montgomery, NY, USA

problem #43

Dec 132022

Kona

  • miles
Engine burn oil excessively about 1.5 quarts every 5000 miles. Car has roughly 60000 miles.

- Maybrook, NY, USA

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