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2021 Hyundai Kona

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Kona do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 74.

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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

29 reports with mileage · 87 unknown

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.

  • Engine. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2022
Unknown Or Other

The horn stopped working shortly after purchasing the vehicle in July 2021. We have been waiting for an appointment to get it looked at for months with our local Hyundai dealer but they don't have any service appointments. There have been several close calls with other vehicles and pedestrians and it is only a matter of time bef…

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The horn stopped working shortly after purchasing the vehicle in July 2021. We have been waiting for an appointment to get it looked at for months with our local Hyundai dealer but they don't have any service appointments. There have been several close calls with other vehicles and pedestrians and it is only a matter of time before something happens.

NHTSA ODI #11498069

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2021
Unknown Or Other

Having acceleration problems. 1. While driving in normal mode, when accelerating from 55 to pass cars on the highway, the tach moves to higher levels but the car doesn't accelerate. I need to take my foot off the Gas Pedal and wait then try to accelerate again. 2. When a stop light, at a full stop (or stop sign) - the car buc…

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Having acceleration problems. 1. While driving in normal mode, when accelerating from 55 to pass cars on the highway, the tach moves to higher levels but the car doesn't accelerate. I need to take my foot off the Gas Pedal and wait then try to accelerate again. 2. When a stop light, at a full stop (or stop sign) - the car bucks before accelerating. 3. when I start my car from a cold start and in idle mode - still in park - the tach hops for 30 seconds before settling. All these issues do not happen all the time. Hard to replicate.

NHTSA ODI #11434388

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2021
Unknown Or OtherInjury

I'm trying to find out when my 2021 KONA SEl PLUS was built and where ? When did the maker of the oil rings notify Hyundai of the defect to the rings why was Hyundai able to sell of these Kona's with the 2.0 engines from dealers lots after they knew there was a problem with the engines. My Kona was sold to me on 25 Feb. …

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I'm trying to find out when my 2021 KONA SEl PLUS was built and where ? When did the maker of the oil rings notify Hyundai of the defect to the rings why was Hyundai able to sell of these Kona's with the 2.0 engines from dealers lots after they knew there was a problem with the engines. My Kona was sold to me on 25 Feb. 2021 they had to know of the problem by than. I was so angry and upset with my dealer when I check with them about the recall and THEY TOLD ME to DRIVE IT TILL IT BLEW UP OR CATCHES FIRE and have it Towed IN. I sold it back to them and loss 3,000 dollars rather than drive it another mile. Please email me @ [XXX] I'm a 75 year old US navy Combat veteran thats hard of hearing with PTSD under Doctors care because of the problems with my dealer and the KONA with the bad engine PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11432560

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2021
Unknown Or Other

with the recall in effect on 7 July,2021 and nothing being done to correct the problem not even the software up date installed and the dealer not being able to tell me when any thing ging on to correct the problem I could no longer drive this 2021 KONA SEL with the 2.0 engine as I'm 75 years old and my wife is 74 both of us have…

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with the recall in effect on 7 July,2021 and nothing being done to correct the problem not even the software up date installed and the dealer not being able to tell me when any thing ging on to correct the problem I could no longer drive this 2021 KONA SEL with the 2.0 engine as I'm 75 years old and my wife is 74 both of us have a very hard time getting in and out of the KONA . I took it back to my dealer and dumped if off and told them that I couldn't drive this car and in danger my wife and 4 grand babys. I was in a really bad mental state and end ed up taking a lower grade Kona and losing $$$.

NHTSA ODI #11431690

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

on 1, JULY 2021 receive notice from HYUNDAI USA about Recall of car due to bad Rings that might cause Engine failure due to engine running badly and might cause engine to lock up and throw a rod and catch fire, I am 75 years old US NAVY COMBAT VERERAN with PTSD and other serious medical problems and My wife is 74 years old her…

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on 1, JULY 2021 receive notice from HYUNDAI USA about Recall of car due to bad Rings that might cause Engine failure due to engine running badly and might cause engine to lock up and throw a rod and catch fire, I am 75 years old US NAVY COMBAT VERERAN with PTSD and other serious medical problems and My wife is 74 years old her knees and hips have ben operated on but she still has problems getting in and out of the car. We take our 4 GRAND BABYS to and from school and the sitter 5 days a week. the youngest turned 1 year old on July 7th this year and the oldest is 81/2 years old. we would not able to get our self's and the Grand kids in and out of the car in a Emergency On 7 JULY , I returned to my Dealer BENTLEY HYUNDAI in Huntsville Al. they told me that there was :NO FIX: or test that they could do on My KONA SEL and to drive it until it "Catch's Fire and Breaks down." Than to have it" towed into they Dealer ship" using the HYUNDAI tow Service. This was totally out of the question as they knew about my wife and Grand kids most days of the week! At that time I didn't Remember about my 2016 SONATA SE that was brought new from BENTLEY HYUNDAI that had a software up grade to monitor the engine's operation to tell if problems were developing and Warn the operator. This was done back in 2020 ? I was under a lot of stress over this recall and they were telling me "Not to Worry" about it they showed me several other cars model of Hyundai's and I even drove one home to show my wife, which she didn't like as the color wasn't right and the trim options and safety options didn't compare to the 2021 KONA SEL. After dealing with the sales man who was really trying to help me and the General manager MR. JOHNSON ,who I felt just was just trying to get me to leave as I was really loud and very up set about they were handing the matter. they drove a 2022 KONA Se up for me to look over. It was very funny that only a few hours before there we're none.

NHTSA ODI #11429959

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2021
Unknown Or OtherInjury

Transmission slip out of park I was at a complete stop in park got out of the car to get my purse an as I pull the hacker it was still locked so I came around and reached in the car to turn the car off an as I attempted to pull the key out the car started roll back drugged me about 150 feet down the inbank.

NHTSA ODI #11429683

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I had a flat tire (passenger side right front tire). Triple AAA removed tire and replaced with my spare tire. While driving to the Hyundai dealership, massive clouds of smoke poured out of my exhaust pipe in rear of car. I also had trouble steering the car. The result of using the spare tire burned the transmission fluid (al…

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I had a flat tire (passenger side right front tire). Triple AAA removed tire and replaced with my spare tire. While driving to the Hyundai dealership, massive clouds of smoke poured out of my exhaust pipe in rear of car. I also had trouble steering the car. The result of using the spare tire burned the transmission fluid (also contained metal shavings). The transmission had to be replaced along with the fluids in my car.

NHTSA ODI #11421821

5,331 miles · Apr 27, 2021
Unknown Or Other

HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE! THEY GET FULL ON CONDENSATION OBSTRUCTING THE LIGHTS AND ROAD AHEAD. THEY GO OFF AN ON WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SEND A BULLETIN TO ALL THEIR DEALERS NOT TO REPLACE THEM. THIS IS COMPROMISING OUR VIEW AT NIGHT SINCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDEN…

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HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE! THEY GET FULL ON CONDENSATION OBSTRUCTING THE LIGHTS AND ROAD AHEAD. THEY GO OFF AN ON WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SEND A BULLETIN TO ALL THEIR DEALERS NOT TO REPLACE THEM. THIS IS COMPROMISING OUR VIEW AT NIGHT SINCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT! HELP

NHTSA ODI #11414159

Official recalls

1

21V301000 · Engine

Apr 28, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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.