2019 Hyundai Kona

I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving engine stalling in active traffic due to excessive oil loss and internal component failure. This has occurred three times within approximately 12,000 miles and has created dangerous conditions for my family, including my 2.5 year old child who rides in the vehicle. Summary of incidents: • May 15, 2025 – 61,736 miles: Vehicle stalled in traffic and lost acceleration. Dealership confirmed abnormal noise and low oil, but no oil consumption test was ordered. • Fall 2025 – 66,448 miles: Vehicle stalled and died on the highway. Diagnosis showed broken camshaft timing components. Service invoice states the engine oil system was too low and caused internal failures. Major timing components replaced. • October 30, 2025 – 69,175 miles: Vehicle stalled in traffic again. Oil was low after only 2,727 miles since previous repair. Dealer advised oil consumption test after another 1,000 miles, but I do not feel the vehicle is safe to drive due to repeated stalling and internal failures. At the most recent incident the dealership confirmed the oil level was again low, but did not identify the cause or perform consumption testing until after repeated failures. These repeated stall events are serious safety hazards and could result in a collision or injury. I have lost confidence in the safety of the vehicle. Based on consultation with an experienced engine mechanic, underlying internal damage from oil starvation is likely and may indicate piston ring or engine defect consistent with known Hyundai/Kia oil consumption issues. Hyundai has declined to provide a buyback or full repair solution and the vehicle continues to demonstrate dangerous conditions. We have purchased a full warranty for the engine but warranty company will not cover it as they are saying this is a pistons issue - wear and tear. I am requesting NHTSA investigation and assistance to ensure this defect is addressed before someone is injured.

I'm the owner of a 2019 Hyundai Kona (US spec) imported to Poland. The VIN is included in recall 21V-301 (fire risk). The engine showed symptoms consistent with this defect and failed at 44,000 miles. Photos confirm cylinder damage. Following Hyundai Motor America (HMA) instructions, I completed diagnostics at an authorized Hyundai service center in Poland. Results: error P0366, compression 2–3 bar. HMA refused to accept these documents, demanding a specific “Repair Order” format, which European dealers cannot issue. No real coordination with regional offices occurred, making compliance impossible. HMA then issued a warranty-related denial (not requested), citing salvage status, although it is irrelevant to the mandatory recall remedy. HMA also stated diagnostics must be done in the USA, which is impossible for a non-operational vehicle located in Poland. At the same time, Hyundai Motor Poland provided incorrect information (claiming two total-loss incidents instead of one) and advised dealers not to perform any work. As a result, Hyundai service centers in Poland refused further diagnostics and repairs, blocking access to the recall remedy. The manufacturer provided no feasible path to obtain the remedy and created barriers that made the recall effectively inaccessible. I also incurred unnecessary diagnostic costs. I request that NHTSA review HMA’s actions under campaign 21V-301 regarding my VIN, assess the creation of barriers preventing remedy access, evaluate Hyundai’s refusal to provide a feasible solution, and determine whether Hyundai fulfilled its obligations to ensure remedy accessibility for an owner located outside the USA. Additional evidence and a detailed timeline are attached. Details are provided in the attached file COMPLAINT.pdf.

My Kona has been stalling/hesitating when accelerating. It has been happening for a little over a year. It got very bad and the check engine light came on. I had it towed to Hyundai dealership and they said it was the fuel injectors so I paid to have those replaced, they said my warranty didn’t cover it. Replacing the fuel injectors made the car drivable but it was still stalling/hesitating but Hyundai said it was working properly. So I took it home. I have been driving it and it just keeps stalling and hesitating more and more. It is stalling and hesitating and has lack of power when I try to accelerate. I am afraid one day I’ll stall in traffic and get hit or cause an accident. I have also just realized my Kona has been using excessive oil. I just had an oil change mid August and today had to add at least 3 quarts. Even when I had my oil changed, the shop said I barely had maybe a quart in there, when it was just changed in May. We do not see any oil leaking out from anywhere. I have no choice but to use it to get around and Hyundai said it was working properly. I have recently looked online and I seen a lot of other owners reported the same issues. I have contacted Hyundai but they say theres nothing they can do. I am not sure where to go from here.

My vehicle turns off while driving, which has almost cost mine and my child's life twice on the highway and once inside a roundabout. It often happens after acceleration and slight braking soon after, RPM goes to zero and a few dash lights come on. I am completely unable to accelerate, have to coast to a full stop until I can brake and put it into park and then push to start again. I'm sure you can see how absolutely life threatening this situation is when it happens in moving traffic! I have replaced spark plugs, ignition coils, all fuel injectors, camshaft sensor. The mechanic cannot get it to replicate the problem when he has it as it does not happen every time but I see that this is a COMMON problem with Hyundai. After all above repairs, this problem persists and I have no direction as to how to remedy this, but driving this vehicle now has me completely anxiety ridden and terrified for my life.

I own a 2019 Hyundai Kona with around 110,000 miles. The vehicle has been consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, approximately one quart every 1,000 miles. I first noticed the issue around 80,000 miles when oil levels began dropping significantly between oil changes. The problem has worsened over time, and during a long family road trip, I had to add a total of about 8 quarts of oil just to keep the engine from running dry. I took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership for an official oil consumption test, which confirmed the loss rate (1 quart per 1,000 miles). However, Hyundai Motor America stated that this level of oil consumption is "within factory specifications" and denied any repair or assistance. This seems unreasonably high for a modern engine and creates both a safety concern (risk of running low on oil during travel) and a financial burden (frequent oil top-offs between changes). I am concerned this may indicate a defect similar to oil consumption issues seen in other Hyundai and Kia engines.

On Monday [XXX] I was driving to work when my vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of traffic. I had several cars behind me slam on their brakes due to my vehicle stopping. It was super scary and dangerous and at a four way stop. There was loud knocking from the engine seconds before it stopped on me. I called roadside assistance and had it towed to the dealership I work at. I looked up my VIN and was informed that my vehicle has an engine recall. It was sent to Hyundai river Oaks in Calumet City who I do NOT recommend. They never once called me with an update. They then informed me via text that my vehicle would not be covered under the recall due to, “jumped timing”. I then opened a case with Hyundai and they were not any better and closed my case and said there was nothing they would do for me and case was closed. I am furious that my vehicle has an engine recall and my engine failed on me and almost caused a very serious wreck for myself and others. They can get away with not covering the recall due to “jumped timing”. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled while driving uphill, and the contact heard a loud clanking sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer suggested that an oil consumption test be performed and return the vehicle be returned to the dealer every 1,000 miles. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

On June 18th I was driving my car home when the engine shut off. I had it towed to my mechanic who ran a diagnostic test and told me the problem was under an active recall and I needed to take it to the dealership. I had it towed to the dealership, who informed me it would 300+ dollars to run a diagnostic test, I agreed to it, and then they took almost a month to notify me that my troubles were a timing chain and not the engine recall (which matches my symptoms exactly) The dealership said I could pay 5K+ to have the timing chain replaced but they would NOT be doing the active recall work on the vehicle and if I wasn't going to have the 5K in repairs done I could come pick up the car. I contacted the Corporate complaint, and was assigned a case manager who just relayed the same information from the dealership, I asked to speak with a supervisor and was denied. Multiple times I asked and multiple times I was told there was no one above my case manager so I would not be transferred to a supervisor. The dealership relayed that it was "not practical" to fix the recall work until I had the timing chain repaired. On a recorded line they stated they would not be fixing the recall work.

This vehicle was sold to me advertised as a certified pre-owned by Somersworth Hyundai in New Hampshire. They have since shut down and I now see that they have a long history of bad reviews and scamming. When I had my first issue with this car, I brought it in thinking that it was covered by a certified pre-owned situation only to find out that it was not. I had a rare, bizarre, and expensive transfer case replacement done and was forced to pay out of pocket. Now, my check engine light has been flashing for about a month. It also started having a slight stutter or shudder in low speed acceleration. It hesitates or feels like I let off the gas for a split second even though I didn't. This happens everyday. I had the spark plugs replaced and that did not turn the flashing check engine light off. The service shop that installed the new spark plugs printed out an nhtsa recall bulletin on my vehicle for piston oil rings that may not have been properly heat treated which could result in engine damage. Consequences being damaged engines may stall and increase the risk of a crash. As well as oil leaks may leak on to hot exhaust components increasing the risk of a fire. Hyundai dealership and Hyundai corporate. Both say there are no open recalls on my exact vehicle. It is not included in this recall. I need the diagnostic process including knock test performed on this vehicle.