2023 Hyundai Kona

Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, My name is [XXX], and I am submitting this correspondence as a formal safety and customer-service complaint concerning my 2023 Hyundai Kona SEL, the recurring failure of its horn, and the treatment I received at Capitol Hyundai in San Jose, California. I am requesting that Hyundai Motor America immediately open a corporate case, investigate the dealership’s handling of this matter, preserve all relevant records, and provide me with a written resolution. This complaint involves an unresolved vehicle safety concern. My vehicle’s horn has failed repeatedly. I previously presented the vehicle to Hyundai for this same horn issue in 2024. One of those visits was properly documented. I subsequently returned regarding the horn again, and the horn was made operational; however, to the best of my knowledge, that subsequent visit and/or work was not properly documented in my service history. The horn has now failed again. A functioning horn is an important vehicle safety device. Without it, I cannot reliably warn another driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or other road user when immediate warning may be necessary to avoid a collision. On August 11, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Capitol Hyundai, 1050 Capitol Expressway Auto Mall, San Jose, CA 95136, seeking assistance with this recurring problem. What occurred is particularly concerning because Capitol Hyundai’s own Repair Order documents the situation. The Repair Order states: “CUSTOMER STATES HORN IS NOT WORKING PLEASE CHECK AND ADVISE” and also states: “DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO SERVICE CLIENT DUE TO CUSTOMER ISSUE.” I am attaching a copy of this Repair Order. Therefore, there should be no dispute that Capitol Hyundai had actual written notice on [XXX] that I reported an inoperative horn and that the dealership documented its refusal to service me. Instead of resolving the safety concern, I left without the horn being repaired. I was also told that the dealership would INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

After a routine service visit, the vehicle’s braking and speed‑control systems began to behave abnormally. The ABS/ESC control module was replaced or reprogrammed without documentation, and immediately afterward the vehicle’s braking feel, speed‑control behavior, and forward‑collision warning timing changed noticeably. These changes created a safety risk because the vehicle no longer responded in a predictable way compared to its original performance. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. The issue was reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. Braking response became inconsistent, and the speed‑control system no longer behaved as it did before the service. The timing and behavior of forward‑collision alerts also changed compared to pre‑service operation. These changes created unpredictability in traffic, especially during following‑distance adjustments, stop‑and‑go situations, and sudden‑braking scenarios. The dealership did not provide technical documentation or explanation for the module replacement or configuration changes and did not acknowledge the change in system behavior. The manufacturer’s customer service reviewed the case but did not provide technical findings. An independent service center could not verify the original configuration because the manufacturer did not provide the Manufacturer Build Sheet. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or after the issue. The only indication of a problem was the sudden change in braking, speed‑control, and forward‑collision system behavior immediately after the service visit.

Vehicle was service at a Hyundai Dealer for routine required maintenance to continue the warranty. Less than 24 hours later I was driving my special needs, handicap daughter to breakfast and pulled into a handicap parking space and placed my foot on the brake. The pedal seemed to not have any tension and go to the floor. The emergency collision warning went off, but the brakes did not work. The vehicle jumped over a parking curb, knocking over a handicap sign, going across the sidewalk, hitting a garbage can and finally coming to a stop in a brick building.

Forward Safety Mode is the default setting on every time you start the vehicle and this mode when entering from side streets or any strip center or lane into on coming traffic lanes the vehicle senses you crossing the road lines and kills the Accelerator ! When trying to enter onto the main road even if you allow enough time to accelerate to pull out onto main road : The vehicle thinks you are off raod or in some sort of danger and kills the accelerator and if you think fast enough after the 2-3 second delay you can floor the accelerator and the vehicle will then start picking up after a dangerous delay that can get someone t-boned and very serious accident if not possible death. Its a very dangerous function. Note: I manually go in and turn this forward safety to warning only or off. I use the warning but the real problem is you have to do this upon every start after turning the engine off. I think this needs to be seriously looked into.If you dont turn to warning setting and go to say pull out of a store onto the highway and dont leave enough time to avoid on coming traffic and or you freeze due to no accelleration you are in deep trouble and maybe an accident !! Or Death..

Had left Costco and while driving away down road to intersection, the 2023 Kona SEL abruptly locked the brakes and briefly skidded, as it displayed Emergency Braking Activated message on display. I had crossed a dotted line to enter a left turn lane at about 20 mph to make a turn which should not have triggered the AEB-there wasnt anything in front of me whatsoever except empty road, the roadway was dry and unobstructed. I maintained control of the car after being surprised by the brakes locking up for a second or two without any warning. I have not experienced this before after driving the Kona for little over a year and a half, with 22, 000 miles. I experienced repeated phantom braking problems with a 2120 Mazda Cx30 I previously owned; the Kona braked harder into a brief skid but shorter in time than the CX30. This was more dangerous!

While driving on the highway on an extended trip my cruise control dropped its speed from 71 to 65 without warning. On one occasion it happened while I was in the passing lane with a lot of traffic behind me. It created a very dangerous situation before I could get into the right lane. Another incident was when again I was driving along, no one in front of me, beside me or behind me and the speed dropped once again. Had I been in traffic who knows what would have happened. I have turned the automatic breaking system off because while on a trip I was in the right lane when a car cut me off. The breaks went on and the car went totally out of control! I have filed a complaint with Hyundai and after waiting 8 weeks for a call regarding my case number they refuse to acknowledge that it is a manufacturing issue. I have had the vehicle into the dealer 3 times and they have not been able to replicate it by driving around the area, but have not taken it out on the highway at a higher speed which is when it occurs and when one would use the cruise control. I have only 9,000 miles on the car at this point and no remedy in sight.