Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's wife owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that upon warming the vehicle in cold weather, an abnormal, wire-burning smell would emit from the vehicle without warning. The manufacturer was initially notified about the failure and was informed that he would receive a callback; the contact had yet to receive a callback. The contact then took the vehicle to the dealer where they found no failure with the vehicle. The contact stated that he had a young child and that the odor could be toxic to his child's breathing. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that she initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V127000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the battery was reduced to 80%. The contact was instructed to park the vehicle away from structures until a final remedy was available. The contact never received information about the final remedy from the dealer. Months later, the contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer for a maintenance repair and the battery was reset to 100%. After a few weeks of driving the vehicle, the EV warning light appeared on the instrument panel and the dealer was notified of the issue. The contact was then instructed to bring the vehicle back to the dealer where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and provided the contact a case manager. …
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he continued to drive to his destination with the warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V127000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and Alexandria Hyundai (1707 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301: [phone]) 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 made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Component Failed: Electric transmission/drive unit failed twice before 150,000 miles. Still in vehicle, available for inspection. Safety Risk: Loss of propulsion while driving creates risk of being rear-ended or stranded in dangerous traffic conditions. Right now the car is not drivable Confirmed By: Problem confirmed by Hyundai dealership/service center on both failures. Inspection: Inspected by authorized Hyundai service center; manufacturer was notified. Warning Symptoms: Before the failure there was a screeching sound coming from the hood. In both failures, these warnings appeared shortly before or during the loss of propulsion.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V127000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. Parts distribution disconnect. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V127000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who stated 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 notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
I received recall 200 notice from Hyundai regarding my Kona EV 2019 in June.(my mileage was around 14,000) After calling the dealer I got the appointment on 07/16. On 07/16 the service advisor said she fixed all recalls as per the instructions from Hyundai and said recall 200 is also fixed. (see attached service record) I asked how you fixed the folded anode issue without replacing the battery. They said, they did the software update and the battery now doesn't have the fire risk. Called Hyundai and opened a case 18464387 asking them how is recall 200 is fixed without battery replacement. They admitted that recall 200 was not performed and they will replace the battery very soon. Its not still 2 months and they don't have any battery replacement plan. Also my car is making some strange sound while charging and abruptly stopping charging around 70%. …
Hyundai has been unable to complete a recall on the Kona EV's battery for nearly a year, which is not "reasonable" by anyone's definition of the word. During that time, we've been unable to charge our car in our garage (where our charger is installed) and haven't been able to use the car on roadtrips as we have to limit the charging capacity (per the recall instructions). I requested a buyback under my state's lemon laws but they claimed it wasn't applicable (I disagree based on the law and will be filing a complaint with the state as well). I've been waiting months for the battery to arrive at the dealership. There have been no updates from corporate since they denied the buyback request. Local dealerships have complained that corporate keeps changing the rules and how they're supposed to handle the recall, and are of no help. …
I was directed by Jennifer Kruger at the NHTSA to complete this form. My 2019 Hundai Kona EV is part of the EV battery recall. On August 27, 2021, my local dealer took my car while waiting for a replacement battery. I do have use of a rental vehicle. I've reached out to Hyundai Customer Service many times in an attempt to find out when my care will be fixed and returned to me. I've not been able to get any answers. My car is 17 months old and they have now had it for over 4 months. That is unacceptable. I filed a Lemon Law request in July after months of 20% battery reduction with no indication of when that would be fixed. My request was denied. One month later they determined that my car was part of the recall. I'm not sure why the manufacturer gets to make that determination - that seems self serving to me. Can you help me find some resolution to this issue? …
We brought our 2019 Kona EV in for the battery recall and the Battery Maintenance System (BMS) recall. The reduced charge amount to 80% and ran the BMS software update. This was on a Friday (5/7/21). We picked up our car that same day and drove home. Drove the car twice over the weekend and charged the car overnight, Sunday-Monday. When we got in the car Monday morning (5/10/21), the car would not go into gear (forward or reverse). On the dash and the info screen, was a message about an Electrical System Failure. We had to have the car towed to the local Hyundai dealer (Curry Hyundai, Cortlandt, NY). The told us the BMS caused the battery to go into lockdown mode and that there was no resolution except for the battery to be replaced. We were told to get a battery could take several months. They gave us a loaner but it is not an electric vehicle. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and as an interim action, owners have the option to follow provided…
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery › Management system/energy control module (BMS/becm) › Software
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Battery Management System (BMS) software and inspect the Li-ion battery, replacing it if necessary, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Kona Electric years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric, 78% of the model year's 54 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-127 (traction battery, Mar 1, 2021); NHTSA recall 20V-630 (software, Oct 13, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.