Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the instrument cluster, radio, and headlights inadvertently turned off for 20-30 seconds; however, the vehicle remained operational. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a loosened coaxial cable behind the radio, but no DTC codes were stored in any modules. The dealer related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 24-BE-013H (Software Reset for Connected Car Service (CCS) Disconnection). The dealer disconnected and reconnected the PDC connector, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to McCarthy Olathe Hyundai (681 N Rawhide, Olathe, KS 66061); however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure worsened while driving up an incline. The contact stated that on one occasion during the failure, the vehicle hesitated and the driver behind had to swerve and ended up striking the rear of another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was in communication with the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Electric Vehicle System" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the heater sensor was replaced; however, the failure recurred a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175.
The horn has been replaced multiple times for failing without ANY warning. The service department at the Hyundai dealer said that this is a known problem for the horns. The horns short out because moisture builds up and damages the wiring, causing them to fail without warning. At this time, Hyundai does not have a "fix" nor does it have any horns available to replace my failed horn. Hyundai has not offered a loaner vehicle. This vehicle is currently leased from Hyundai and I am current on my lease payments. This vehicle is due for inspection in May 2025 and it will not pass without a horn. I have had several near-miss situations in which I had to brake hard to avoid pedestrians - a horn would have alerted the pedestrians to my presence. Because this is an electric vehicle it runs very quietly and pedestrians need to be alerted with a horn.
The following was posted on 12/5/22 on Kona Owners Forum: "USA location. Have a '22 Kona (EV; but, that apparently that not relevant to problem). Horn stopped working at about 7500 miles. Immediately made appt with dealer. On day of service there was another 2022 Kona (gas powered) in shop for same thing. Since I only have one car and wife with Alzheimer's, dealer checked obvious things and released me, saying the other owner could leave their Kona for detailed diagnosis. Dealer reported back to me that they believed they had found problem with other Kona, ordered part and would let me know if problem would be solved for the other Kona. If problem solved they would replace my part, of course under warranty. Today I was informed part didn't fix other Kona. So, I am without horn and dealer back to square one. Dealer said there is no recall and no tech bulletin addressing this problem. …
After only having 2300 miles on my 2022 Kona electric I received a warning indicator on my dash, "Electrical system error." I looked in the manual and was directed to take the car to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the issue and shared that the battery itself is defective and a new one will need to be ordered. As a result, I began some online research into the issue. It appears that similar issues arose within previous year models, and some even resulted in fires once the battery reached 100%. I also read other stories about how batteries had inconsistent charging rates. I Experienced an issue with inconsistent charging rates prior to the error message but assumed it was simply me not remembering the percentage it was at when initially plugged in. After reading the issues I quickly realized it was not a fluke. …
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that the battery had discharged. The contact stated that the 12-volt battery and "Bring in for Service, and key not detected messages were displayed. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled on two occasions. The vehicle flickered, and the vanity lights dimmed and flickered. The contact called the local dealer, where the vehicle was rebooted. The contact stated that five attempts were needed to unlock the parking brake. The tow truck mechanic informed the driver that the 12-volt battery was not registering. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery › Thermal management › Fluid/coolant
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Kona EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Kona Electric years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (42), 2020 (17), 2022 (15), 2021 (10) and 2024 (10) model years. Electrical complaints make up 78% of all complaints for the 2019.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Kona Electric electrical problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 22V-941 (fluid/coolant, Dec 16, 2022); 21V-127 (traction battery, Mar 1, 2021); 20V-630 (software, Oct 13, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Kona Electric electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles; 100% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the 12v/24v/48v battery (3 mentions), followed by the instrument cluster/panel (2).
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.