Most common 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Kona Electric complaints by model year
Best Kona Electric years: 2023, 2021. Compare all years →
2020 Hyundai Kona Electric recalls (3)
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…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Electric › Control module › Software
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
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 defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric:
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.
What 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that several unknown recalls related to the battery were performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that after the recall repairs were performed and while starting the vehicle, the battery warning light illuminated. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift into gear as needed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
6/17/2024 12 volt battery was dead; EV was fully charged 6/16/2024 using Level 2 charger in my home garage. AAA charged the battery; I drove to Crossroads Hyundai Loveland, CO and asked to have the converter to the main battery checked; this was not done. Crossroads checked the battery via CADEX with "good battery charge" as result. No other diagnostic work was performed. 8/26/2024 12 volt battery again depleted; AAA charged twice 11:06 am (recharge and retest ) and 3:51pm (Bad & replace). I drove again to Crossroads Hyundai which claimed battery test showed good battery. Technician found a draw dropped after pulling fuses F6 multi media and F16 memory. Techline at Hyundai was contacted and tech was instructed to install junction box for fuses (91950-K4061 Junction Box assembly I/PNL 91). The car was undriveable on the Crossroads lot until part received and replaced 9/20/2024. …
Brakes
I was driving at about 45mph and my vehicle brakes suddenly stopped responding. The car alarms went crazy and said "regenerative brake failure" which is fine and all, but why the hell would the regent failing impact my ability to stop entirely? I could not get the vehicle to respond by pumping the brakes, so I put my flashers on and rolled into a lot and thankfully didn't kill anyone. Rolled into an uphill spot, thanked the curb, and engaged the ebrake which I'm not sure actually worked. The brake was both firm and soft when pressed. That was terrifying and I was literally just on the freeway.
Braking: When coming to a stop, the vehicle slows as expected. at about 10 MPH or less, while still continuing to apply braking pressure by foot, the vehicle stops braking and a sudden acceleration kick occurs, propelling the vehicle forward an additional 10 feet or so, then the brake kicks in again. Was able to duplicate this issue with a Tech from Hyundai of Moreno Valley riding as a passenger. This is hazardous, because it could result in striking a vehicle or pedestrian in a crosswalk for example.
Driver assistance
My wife was pulling into a parking place at Home Depot when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb & hit a tree on the sidewalk. It did significant damage to the front bumper of the car but the airbags did not deploy & my wife was not hurt. I am guessing that it will be several thousand dollars to repair.
I am concerned about the safety of my car and have little faith that there are qualified mechanics who understand EVs and can properly service an EV car. Two times on April 9, 2024 (and on at least 4 other occasions in 2023) while drive at approximately 45 miles an hour on a RI State highway at a safe distance from any care in front of me, my vehicle went into the fail-safe mode while I was driving causing a sudden significant loss of power to the car and it appeared to be that it was going to stall. There was no warning sound indicating that I was going to crash into the forward vehicle (again, I was at a safe distance). In order to continue driving, I had to pull onto the road shoulder, shut off the car, which seemed to reset it. On this particular day/occasion, this situation occurred twice in the span of about 10 minutes. …
2020 Hyundai Kona Electric engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 132 / 108 / 120 MPGe | 258 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Kona Electric to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric?
The electrical system — 17 complaints, 63% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the brakes (5) and driver assistance (5).
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric, the most recent from March 1, 2021 (traction battery). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Kona Electric?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2021. See the full Hyundai Kona Electric years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 4,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.