2019 Hyundai Kona Engine Problems
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2019 Hyundai Kona, 69% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 68,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (13% of reports).
- 134engine complaints
- 68,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 17 of 134 complaints (13%)
- Able restart: mentioned in 10 of 134 complaints (7%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 8 of 134 complaints (6%)
- Piston rings: mentioned in 7 of 134 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 41 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 134 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
Hyundai Kona engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Hyundai Konas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints about engine for the 2019 Hyundai Kona (69% of the 194 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Hyundai Kona engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 68,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 17 of 134 complaints, followed by “able restart” (10).
See all 2019 Hyundai Kona problems or engine problems across all Kona years.