2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kona Electric years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric. That is the most of any Kona Electric model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (42 complaints, 78%), typically at around 17,286 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 54owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 42 | 78% | 17,286 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 19% | 17,286 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 9% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 7% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 7% | 17,286 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2019 Hyundai Kona Electric recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction batteryPark outside
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 instructions to perform a battery update through the vehicle's infotainment system or request a Hyundai dealer to provide the update. Once parts are available, dealers will inspect the Battery System Assembly (BSA), and replace it if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk, and the interim action, with a letter mailed April 9, 2021. Final owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 200.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:software
Problem: 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.
Risk: Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery:management system/energy control module (bms/becm):softwarePark outside
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. The recall began November 13, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 196.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated rapidly through a busy intersection on its own and would not slow or stop, despite the brake pedal being depressed. As a result, the contact briefly lost control of…
Component Failed: Electric transmission/drive unit failed twice before 150,000 miles. Still in vehicle, available for inspection. Safety Risk: Loss of propulsion while driving creates risk of being rear-ended or stranded in dangerous traffic conditions. Right now the car is not drivable Confirmed…
-the gear drive was diagnosed as needed to be replaced -the GRU may lock up during driving causing the vehicle to stop -dealer confirmed needs replacing -no warnings or lights on vehicle, it was noticed that the vehicle made a louder noise while driving but could be confused with tires or normal…
The Charging unit made by Enel X called a JuiceBox 40 failed to complete a charge. Upon examination of the charger it was determined that the plug from the unit to the 240V receptacle was fused to the outlet and could not be removed. When my electrician opened the box he was able to force the plug…
I started directing the car to the side of the road to park. As I was guiding the car to a stop, with my foot on the brake, I was about 12 ft. from the car in front of me when the car suddenly accelerated. The vehicle accelerated for approximately 10 ft. before the anti-collision system auto-braked…
Other Hyundai Kona Electric years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kona Electric | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 Kona Electric | 15 | 1 |
| 2023 Kona Electric | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 Kona Electric | 21 | 0 |
| 2021 Kona Electric | 26 | 2 |
| 2020 Kona Electric | 27 | 3 |
| 2019 | 54 | 3 |
See all Hyundai Kona Electric problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 42 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Kona Electric model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.