2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kona Electric years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. That ranks 3rd out of 7 Kona Electric model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (10 complaints, 38%), typically at around 23,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 26owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 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 | 10 | 38% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 27% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 15% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | 1,700 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 4% | 86,612 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery:thermal management:fluid/coolant
Problem: 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.
Risk: Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 239.
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.
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.
On February 3, 2026, while driving in a high-traffic turning lane, my Hyundai Kona Electric vehicle suddenly lost propulsion and would not accelerate. The vehicle shut down without warning and could not be restarted. Traffic was building behind me, creating a safety hazard. I felt unsafe due to…
File with NHTSA now please!!!! What do you have to lose??? If anything If they do an investigation we are safe post warranty. Report a Vehicle Safety Problem, Equipment Issue | NHTSA [XXX] The Hyundai Kona Electric Vehicle (EV) has experienced issues with its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU)…
Potential Fire and safety risk ... The Hyundai Kona Electric Vehicle (EV) has experienced issues with its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) due to problems with the low-conductivity coolant (BSC-1) used in models produced between 2018 and October 2021. This coolant can crystallize, forming…
Manufacturing defect ... Took it in 4 times for "refill inverter coolant" warning . They had a campaign ' tried by couldn't get the light to go away . It was their first time ever performing this on an EV at Kerry hyundai alexandria . Now TD EV in mason Ohio is confirming my inverter failed as a…
Hyundia has had my car in for the SAME recall 4 to 5 times . 6 total weeks this time around. The ""refill inverter coolant" light kept coming back on . The last time I got it home it had more issues than when I took it in and wouldn't even catch a charge . (EV) They fried my compassitor trying to…
Other Hyundai Kona Electric years
← 2020 Kona Electric · 2022 Kona Electric →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kona Electric | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 Kona Electric | 15 | 1 |
| 2023 Kona Electric | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 Kona Electric | 21 | 0 |
| 2021 | 26 | 2 |
| 2020 Kona Electric | 27 | 3 |
| 2019 Kona Electric | 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 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 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 2021 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.