Most common 2019 Hyundai Kona problems
Share of the 196 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Kona complaints by model year
Best Kona years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2020. Compare all years →
2019 Hyundai Kona recalls (1)
Engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2019 Hyundai Kona:
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.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
What 2019 Hyundai Kona owners say
Engine & cooling all 142 →
The contact owns a 2019 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 while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk. The dealer was made aware of the recall and failure but informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,285. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph a knocking noise and burning odor was present coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The VIN look-up confirmed the vehicle was listed in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21v301000 (engine).The failure mileage was 70,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
My 2019 Hyundai Kona SE (2.0L Nu MPI/Atkinson engine) was previously subject to NHTSA Recall 21V301000 (Hyundai Recall 203) for defective piston oil rings that can chip and cause accelerated oil consumption, engine knocking, and stalling. That recall's remedy was performed under a prior owner in December 2021. In November 2025, a Hyundai dealership installed a Cylinder Noise Diagnostic System (CNDS) software update (Service Campaign 974) specifically meant to detect this defect's vibration signature before it causes engine damage. Approximately 7,000-8,000 miles and about nine months after that software update, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly while being driven on two separate occasions, with no check-engine light or other warning beforehand. A third stall left the vehicle unable to restart. It was towed to a service station, which found no engine oil and no external leak. …
My check engine lights come on and then the front collision lights come on which reduces speed while on highway and then the engine turns off making it very unsafe driving on the highway. I have tried to schedule appts with dealerships to have it checked telling them how unsafe it is and I need my car to get to work. But they never have any openings except months down the road. I am afraid it will cause a terrible accident. I have taken my vehicle to repair shops ... some said it was the spark plugs so I got them changed and other maintenance costing me over $800 and the problem still exists ... still trying to get an appt with the dealership which will cost me another $220 just to get it diagnosed. There need to be a recall if it's happening to alot of people. I am very afraid if this issue isn't fixed and it's gonna cost me to repair it in the thousands that I don't have. …
Electrical system
While stopped our 2019 Kona EV at a traffic light with my foot on the brake, the car spontaneously accelerated and crashed into the car also sitting at the light about eight feet in front of us. If there wasn't a car in front of us, we would have gone through a busy intersection at very high speed. The front end of the car was destroyed and both airbags deployed. The car was towed to a collision center and is considered: "Totaled" . We tried to get it inspected for the computer system to confirm what happened, but there was no interest by any party. There was no pre-warning or issues with the vehicle before this happened. The incident happened about ten miles from our house, and we had been driving it for about 15 minutes. The temperature outside was extremely cold at about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Driving on the highway [redacted] ) during rain. Traffic moving stop and go slow. Before I knew what had happened, my car hit the back bumper of a Chevy Suburban. My car gave no auto warning, the windshield wipers barely worked, and I believe the electric systems had stopped. Radio and air-conditioning. [redacted] My car bumper and grill were messed up. And I received pain in my right shoulder. The Suburban had a trailer hook-up jammed inside my front bumper grill; my vehicle received all the damage. The other driver's vehicle had no harm. My vehicle damage to the car was over a thousand dollars. And I was left with a shoulder injury. Car insurance paid for the damage to my 2019 Hyundai Kona SUV's all-wheel drive, with me paying a portion. After work was completed, all the electrical systems, including air conditioning, lights, wipers, and radio, didn't work. …
2019 Hyundai Kona engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 132 / 108 / 120 MPGe | 258 mi |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 28 / 32 / 30 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 33 / 30 | — |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 26 / 29 / 27 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 25 / 30 / 27 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Kona to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
The engine & cooling — 142 complaints, 72% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication › sump/tank › drain plug. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (19) and electrical system (18).
How many recalls does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have?
There is 1 recall for the 2019 Hyundai Kona, the most recent from April 28, 2021 (engine). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020. See the full Hyundai Kona years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Kona problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 53% 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.