2019 Hyundai Kona Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 22, 2026 · Filed: October 24, 2026

I have a 2019 Kona that has an issue with excessive oil consumption. I know that Hyundai issued a recall for this problem in 2019 Konas, but they claim my car isn’t included in that recall, and they refuse to help me. It feels like a scam on Hyundai’s part. my plate is: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: December 4, 2025 · Filed: October 23, 2026

My vehicle was brought into Kerry Hyundai of Alexandria in December 2025 and is still there. It was brought in for warranty work. The original complaint was oil consumption. It is supposedly getting a replacement engine but it has been 10 months of them giving me the run around. I feel this timeline is unreasonable.

Incident: October 17, 2026 · Filed: October 20, 2026

My 2019 Hyundai Kona (VIN: [XXX]) experiences violent shaking and complete engine stalling in active traffic when braking, creating an immediate safety hazard on public roads. This directly mirrors the failure mechanics of Safety Recall 203 ([XXX]). Upon inspection, physical evidence of massive silver aluminum metal flakes was discovered clogging the VVT solenoid mesh screens, originating from internal cylinder/piston ring degradation. However, the dealership Universal Hyundai in [XXX] (RO# XXX) issued a fraudulent diagnostic report stating 'no metal found' to evade recall liability. Hyundai Motor America subsequently closed corporate case XXXwithout an internal engine or borescope inspection. I have retrieved the vehicle under financial protest and possess full photographic evidence of the aluminum contamination. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: September 14, 2026 · Filed: October 16, 2026

While driving my 2019 Hyundai Kona with the 2.0L engine, the engine suddenly began making a loud knocking sound. Immediately after exiting the highway onto a main street, the vehicle stalled in active traffic, causing a sudden loss of motive power and creating a significant safety hazard. The first Hyundai dealership documented an engine knock and reported diagnostic trouble codes P0011, P0014, P0017, and P0366, involving camshaft timing and correlation. I was subsequently informed that the engine had suffered a catastrophic internal failure. A second Hyundai dealership later diagnosed a connecting-rod bearing failure affecting Cylinder 2. My vehicle is covered by Hyundai Recall 203, which concerns defective piston oil rings that can lead to abnormal oil consumption, engine damage, and potentially engine stalling. The vehicle previously passed Hyundai’s recall inspection/software procedure, but the engine has now experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure involving knocking and sudden stalling while driving. Hyundai has declined to replace the engine under the recall and has attributed the failure to an out-of-warranty maintenance/oil-related issue. I am also concerned about the reliability of the diagnostic process: the first dealership initially told me that a compression test had been performed and supported its conclusion about the engine failure, but later confirmed that no compression test had actually been performed. I am concerned that the prior recall remedy or inspection did not adequately identify or prevent the defect, and that an affected vehicle was allowed to remain in service until it suffered sudden engine failure and loss of motive power in traffic. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this failure is related to Recall 203 and whether the recall remedy adequately protects owners whose vehicles initially passed the inspection but later experience engine damage, knocking, or stalling.

Incident: September 30, 2026 · Filed: October 13, 2026

Large amounts of oil slipped past the damaged rings into the engine. Oil could not stay no matter how many oil changes and proper maintenance. Hard metal shards got loose into the engine causing the engine to blow. Many codes came up in the diagnoses done by a Hyundai dealership. This has been reported to be a common complaint and problem with this make and model/year of the car. It should not be my responsibility to fix. Its 100% a manufacturer error. Please assist me!

Incident: September 11, 2026 · Filed: September 30, 2026

On September 11, 2026, while driving my 2019 Hyundai Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. The engine began vibrating violently, lost power significantly, and a strong chemical burning smell entered the cabin. I was forced to pull over immediately in traffic to avoid a catastrophic fire or highway collision. The vehicle had to be towed to McGrath Hyundai. The official dealership inspection (RO# 949326) confirmed severe internal manufacturing defects: cylinder wall scoring on cylinders 2, 3, and 4 due to premature piston ring wear, which caused massive oil fouling on the spark plugs and total ignition failure. This defect creates an immediate highway safety hazard and risk of engine fire due to oil entering the combustion chamber. Hyundai Motor America refuses to issue a safety recall for this 1.6L Gamma engine defect, leaving consumers driving unsafe vehicles with active loans.

Incident: July 15, 2026 · Filed: September 29, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, the contact was informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired under recall. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 – 35 MPH, and releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE). The failure mileage was 90,000.

Incident: July 20, 2026 · Filed: September 19, 2026

My Blue Hyundai Kona Ultimate paint is peeling from the roof. This can create a hazard if the paint chips in large pieces and flys obstructing visibility. The paint chipping is also close to the front windshield which can block the path of the wiper blades. Hyundai has acknowledged that certain year vehicles have a manufactures default of delaminated paint that could possible fly off in sheets. However, they have only recalled white colored vehicles for repair while doing nothing about other colored vehicles.

Incident: September 5, 2026 · Filed: September 16, 2026

I took my vehicle to a dealership for a recall and they refused to honor it. They made excuses and performed an unrelated service.

Incident: August 23, 2026 · Filed: September 14, 2026

Vehicle starting using extreme amounts of oil, lose acceleration and stalling while driving and making klicking noises. All symptoms point to Hyundai recall 203 (NHTSA campaign number 21V301000). Dealer and manufacturer refuse to fix it, citing lack of extended warranty and high mileage, as well as insist of oil consumption test that would require me to drive the vehicle for another 1000 miles for them to be able to determine the oil consumption. Because I don't fee it is safe to drive the vehicle, I declined the test, but was willing to allow the dealer's service employees to drive it. They refused. I ended up donating the vehicle to Kars for Kids and notified them about the situation.