2020 Hyundai Kona Engine Problems
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2020 Hyundai Kona, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 12,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (8% of reports).
- 108engine complaints
- 12,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 23%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 9 of 108 complaints (8%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 7 of 108 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 108 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 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.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle hesitated, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was advised to take the…
COMPONENT THAT FAILED: The engine short block piston rings (related to NHTSA recall 203) failed, causing severe cylinder wall scoring. The vehicle is currently located at an authorized Hyundai dealership and is available for manufacturer or NHTSA inspection. SAFETY RISK; The defective piston rings…
I was fortunate to check my daughter's oil and noticed that it was almost empty. I alerted the dealer because I recently got an oil change and thought there was a leak, but no oil was on the driveway. The dealer performed an oil consumption test. They said it was 1 quart per 1,000 miles and this is…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 Hyundai Konas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 108 owner complaints about engine for the 2020 Hyundai Kona (67% of the 161 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 2020 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 12,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2020 Hyundai Kona?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 9 of 108 complaints, followed by “motive power” (7).
See all 2020 Hyundai Kona problems or engine problems across all Kona years.