NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
158 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 28, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling
2020 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL CONSUMPTION SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A TAPPING SOUND. A MALFUCNTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 1,000 MILES THEN R…
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2020 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL CONSUMPTION SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A TAPPING SOUND. A MALFUCNTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 1,000 MILES THEN RETURN IT.
NHTSA ODI #11449246
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2022
Unknown Or Other
2020 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 21V-301. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED AS DESCRIBED IN SAFETY RECALL 21V-301. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11449232
13,000 miles · Jan 24, 2022
Power TrainFire
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving the vehicle stalled. The gear shifter was stuck in reverse and drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer w…
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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving the vehicle stalled. The gear shifter was stuck in reverse and drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but, the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to turn on and there was an abnormal odor of fire. Additionally, The vehicle failed to start. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000. The contact mentioned a complaint was filed with the BBB.
NHTSA ODI #11448690
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2022
Electrical System
Since the October 2020 recall requirements, I have been told not to park in my garage (thereby exposing my car exterior paint and plastic to the elements) and I have not been able to use my battery at 100% (forced to change limit to 80%). I would not have bought this car if I was going to be limited to 80% of the estimated milea…
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Since the October 2020 recall requirements, I have been told not to park in my garage (thereby exposing my car exterior paint and plastic to the elements) and I have not been able to use my battery at 100% (forced to change limit to 80%). I would not have bought this car if I was going to be limited to 80% of the estimated mileage and gone with a Tesla instead. I live in a desert climate so exposing my car each day to sand and sun is aggravating when I normally park in my garage to protect my car's plastic elements and paint. It has been 16 months without a resolution to the issue and no reasonable compensation for loss of use of vehicle and increased damage to exterior of car since October 2020. Hyundai sold 2020 Kona EV owners a defective car. Had I known I would have been limited to about 200 miles, I would have chosen a different car.
NHTSA ODI #11447669
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2021
Engine
Leased 5/24/2020. Poor mileage . Told had to break in. On 3/24, 3/29 and 3/30, 2020, car stalled out in traffic. Called for service and given date 3 weeks later. Called Another dealer and got appt. for next day.Spoke to Hyundai Ca. (Sonia) and got case number(1811 5897). On 4/2/2020Blue Link advised to take to dealership, that t…
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Leased 5/24/2020. Poor mileage . Told had to break in. On 3/24, 3/29 and 3/30, 2020, car stalled out in traffic. Called for service and given date 3 weeks later. Called Another dealer and got appt. for next day.Spoke to Hyundai Ca. (Sonia) and got case number(1811 5897). On 4/2/2020Blue Link advised to take to dealership, that there was a problem with Engine Control System.The service report was written up that customer states check engine light on.We told them that the car stalled in traffic(very dangerous), but they wouldn’t write that up. They state that they repaired the car and no code was found. An recall was mailed to house. Made appt for 11/15/2020. Had engine rings recall, they said they did an Atkinson Engine Insp.On 12/6/2020 we received from Blue Link a notice for a possible condition with Engine Control System. At the same time notice appeared car stalled, again in traffic.Called Hyundai Ca. Talked to a Jordan who started another case number, 1905 7159 and he contacted Centereach Hyundai and we had an appt for 12/8/2020. They had to keep the car which meant we were without a car. On 12/16/2020 Centereach gave us a loaner which we were very appreciative of. The car was finally repaired and given back to us on 12/31/2020. Engine was replaced or rebuilt. We had car in for recall on 11/15/2020 and nothing showed up on Engine. Yet on 12/08/2020 they say the engine noise was caused by faulty bearing and piston slap, did a test and found a passing result. They continued to diagnosis and found scoring on all cylinder walls an indication of piston slap to be confirmed, submitted all proper paper work, photos and video evidence to Hyundai for engine approval. After reading in the newspaper about troubles with Hyundai I felt I should write as we could have numerous times accidents with the stalling of car. Hyundai did not acknowledge and repair car right the first time. It was a dangerous situation.
NHTSA ODI #11445745
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2021
Engine
...three times in one week (twice with me, and once with my wife), while driving in traffic the engine shut down completely, and we had to coast off the road to restart the engine...could easily have been deadly...I have tried to contact my dealer, but continually on hold...have left message for call back...afraid to drive car..…
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...three times in one week (twice with me, and once with my wife), while driving in traffic the engine shut down completely, and we had to coast off the road to restart the engine...could easily have been deadly...I have tried to contact my dealer, but continually on hold...have left message for call back...afraid to drive car...
NHTSA ODI #11443797
5,000 miles · Nov 15, 2021
Engine
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while starting the vehicle he heard an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he needed to add a 1½ quart of oil to the engine. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where an unknown test was completed however, t…
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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while starting the vehicle he heard an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he needed to add a 1½ quart of oil to the engine. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where an unknown test was completed however, the result was not yet provided. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
NHTSA ODI #11440522
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2021
Unknown Or Other
Felt shudder and felt like transmission not catching, later a “ping” sound, then sounded like something dropped or hit (though didn’t see anything in front of me when driving) and then didn’t look behind as on interstate. Then the oil and engine lights and one other came on and the car lost power.
NHTSA ODI #11440141
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2021
Engine
2020 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A NOTICEABLE LEAK AND TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL STATING THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEST THEREFORE, DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED …
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2020 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A NOTICEABLE LEAK AND TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL STATING THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEST THEREFORE, DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11439490
12,448 miles · Oct 26, 2021
Engine
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, knocking noises were heard and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer performed an oil change and oil cons…
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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, knocking noises were heard and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer performed an oil change and oil consumption test after every thousand miles on three separate occasions. The first time the vehicle consumed half a quart of oil. The second and third times, the vehicle consumed a quart of oil. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the engine vibration test and the recall was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,448.
NHTSA ODI #11438279
NHTSA investigations
2DP22005 · 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.
DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.