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2020 Hyundai Kona Electric

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2026
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appea…

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While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appeared, as I attempted to exit the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and rapidly slowed. The vehicle came to a complete stop and could not accelerate, move forward, or reverse. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle lost propulsion while traveling at highway speed. The vehicle had approximately 62,000 miles at the time of the incident. The vehicle was towed to Giles Hyundai where the dealership diagnosed an internal temperature sensor and resolver failure. Because these components are integrated into the drive system, the dealership replaced the entire traction motor assembly. The repair cost was approximately $9,000. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed created a dangerous situation for both the driver and surrounding traffic.

NHTSA ODI #11722050

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2024
Electrical SystemPower Train

We just had our 2020 Kona updated from the dealer with major software and recall updates. Since that point the car has been draining from the 12volt battery on it's own and killing the charging circuit for the battery. It has caused us to have to jump start the car and not be able to keep the 12 volt charged which runs all of th…

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We just had our 2020 Kona updated from the dealer with major software and recall updates. Since that point the car has been draining from the 12volt battery on it's own and killing the charging circuit for the battery. It has caused us to have to jump start the car and not be able to keep the 12 volt charged which runs all of the environmentals and car systems. Unless you have a jump pack with you, you have to jump it after every stop. I have tested the battery and it is fine but the system needs a high end initial draw and is not getting it. I have contacted the dealer but they are saying it is not their problem. This needs government address, as it is the same issue in the NHTSA recalls or Hybrid and EV Sonata and Ioniq 5 models.

NHTSA ODI #11580665

10,000 miles · Sep 21, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that several unknown recalls related to the battery were performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that after the recall repairs were performed and while starting the vehicle, the battery warning light illuminated. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift into gea…

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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that several unknown recalls related to the battery were performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that after the recall repairs were performed and while starting the vehicle, the battery warning light illuminated. Additionally, the transmission failed to shift into gear as needed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #11433804

Official recalls

3

21V127000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery

Mar 1, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

20V748000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:electric:control Module:software

Dec 1, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

20V630000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery; Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm):software

Oct 13, 2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm):software

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.