2019 Hyundai Kona Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kona years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Kona. That is the most of any Kona model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is engine (134 complaints, 69%), typically at around 68,000 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 194owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2019 Hyundai Kona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 134 | 69% | 68,000 | “oil consumption” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 20 | 10% | 2,489 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 9% | 11,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 9% | 1,950 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 5% | 3,677 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 5% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 5% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 3% | 3,400 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2% | 9,100 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 10,228 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 3,400 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 8,300 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2019 Hyundai Kona recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Large amounts of oil slipped past the damaged rings into the engine. Oil could not stay no matter how many oil changes and proper maintenance. Hard metal shards got loose into the engine causing the engine to blow. Many codes came up in the diagnoses done by a Hyundai dealership. This has been…
On September 11, 2026, while driving my 2019 Hyundai Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. The engine began vibrating violently, lost power significantly, and a strong chemical burning smell entered the cabin. I was forced to pull…
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, the contact was informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired under recall. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 â 35 MPH, and releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle…
My Blue Hyundai Kona Ultimate paint is peeling from the roof. This can create a hazard if the paint chips in large pieces and flys obstructing visibility. The paint chipping is also close to the front windshield which can block the path of the wiper blades. Hyundai has acknowledged that certain…
I took my vehicle to a dealership for a recall and they refused to honor it. They made excuses and performed an unrelated service.
Other Hyundai Kona years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kona | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 Kona | 28 | 1 |
| 2024 Kona | 52 | 4 |
| 2023 Kona | 66 | 1 |
| 2022 Kona | 101 | 0 |
| 2021 Kona | 120 | 1 |
| 2020 Kona | 161 | 2 |
| 2019 | 194 | 1 |
| 2018 Kona | 75 | 0 |
See all Hyundai Kona 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?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 134 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2019 Hyundai Kona a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Kona model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.