Model year record

2021 Hyundai Kona

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 211 owner complaints on file.

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.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine	111	60,000 mi
Unknown or other	25	5,331 mi
Power train	16	—
Electrical system	13	21,400 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	8	—
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	4	—
Lane departure: blind spot detection	4	—
Service brakes	4	—
Vehicle speed control	4	35,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	3	60,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	3	—
Wheels	3	—
Electrical system: horn	2	60,000 mi
Seats	2	—
Steering	2	25 mi
Structure: body	2	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages	2	170,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	5,052 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	1	96,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	1	—

The 2020 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2022 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

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.