Model year record

2019 Hyundai Kona

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 261 owner complaints on file.

Hyundai Kona, 2018–2023 generation
Pictured: the 2018–2023 generation. Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V301000

Engine

Component
Engine
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
158,493
Reported to NHTSA
2021-04-28
Owners notified
2021-08-24

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine13655,000 mi
Unknown or other201,577 mi
Power train191,900 mi
Electrical system178,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system103,000 mi
Vehicle speed control990,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling7113,000 mi
Air bags53,400 mi
Structure: body5—
Exterior lighting4—
Forward collision avoidance: warnings4—
Lane departure: blind spot detection4—
Service brakes33,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance28,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2—
Lane departure: assist2—
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: sump/tank: drain plug158,200 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1—
Lane departure: warning1—
Latches/locks/linkages110,228 mi
Seat belts13,400 mi
Seats1—
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler18,000 mi
Steering18,300 mi
Suspension1—
Visibility/wiper1—

The 2018 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2020 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Hyundai Kona model years

All Hyundai Kona recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.