Hyundai Kona Complaints (2022)

123 consumer complaints on file.

#11771602October 16, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
We took this car in to the dealer to implement the "BMS Battery Logic Improve (26-01-065H)" update on 9/17/26. We have had two issues that appear to be software related and might be caused by improper voltage from the 12 volt battery. The issues are: - Warning messages appeared "Check forward safety system" and "Smart cruise control conditions not met”. The Smart cruise control stopped working. This is still happening. Started on October 10. - The Charging Port door release required 3 or more clicks of the "unlock" function to open. We resolved this by changing the unlock setting in the settings software, making us think this is a software issue from the update. Started on September 18. Safety is decreased by not having Smart Cruise and Forward Safety Systems available. We will go to the dealer today. We have reported this to Hyundai, case #43378707. No one else has inspected the car. The warning lights appeared on October 10th.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770622October 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The vehicle is a 2022 Hyundai Kona N Line, VIN [XXX]. The driver-assistance/safety systems have intermittently malfunctioned. The reported problems include false forward-collision warnings, unintended automatic emergency braking when there is no apparent obstacle or collision threat, false blind-spot/side warnings, and unwanted steering intervention from the lane-assist system. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. Possible involved systems include the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system, Lane Keeping/Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning/Collision-Avoidance Assist, related cameras/radar sensors, control modules, wiring, or software. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. These malfunctions create a serious crash risk because the vehicle may unexpectedly brake or steer while traveling at highway speed. Three different drivers in my household have independently experienced abnormal behavior from these systems. My greatest concern is that sudden braking or steering intervention could cause the vehicle to be struck from behind, leave its lane, enter another lane, or collide with another vehicle or fixed object. The vehicle was taken to AutoFair Hyundai for inspection and diagnosis. The dealership stated that it could not reproduce the condition during its evaluation and did not find a stored diagnostic trouble code. The dealership therefore did not identify a specific cause or perform a repair directed at the reported forward-collision, blind-spot, braking, or steering malfunction. A rocker cover assembly was replaced under warranty for a separate issue. The dealership has stated that it is checking whether the affected driver-assistance systems can be permanently disabled. Hyundai Motor America has also been notified through a national customer-care case. Hyundai is aware that the complaint remains unresolved. There are not always warning lamps or stored fault codes associated with the events. The symptoms are INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768313October 1, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I purchased this 2022 Hyundai Kona used in May 2025 with approximately 55,000 miles. Within about one to two months of purchase, in June 2025, the transmission began to malfunction. When I pressed the accelerator, the speedometer and engine speed would climb but the vehicle would not accelerate, resulting in a sudden loss of acceleration while driving. This happened in traffic on a public road, which put me at serious risk of being rear-ended and left me unable to safely merge, cross intersections, or maintain speed. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership service center, which diagnosed a transmission failure and performed a transmission repair in August 2025. In October 2026, about 14 months after that repair and about 17 months after I purchased the vehicle, the exact same symptom returned. When accelerating, the speedometer surges while the vehicle fails to accelerate and loses drive. This has again occurred on public roads. The vehicle now has approximately 78,000 miles. This is a serious safety concern, not only for me but for everyone driving around me. The loss of acceleration is sudden and unpredictable, and it occurs while the vehicle is in motion, including in traffic. It puts the driver and surrounding vehicles at risk of a collision. I have stopped driving the vehicle until it is repaired. Warning signs: No warning lights or messages appeared before the failure. The first symptom was the speedometer surging with no corresponding acceleration. Confirmation and inspection: The first failure was diagnosed and repaired by a Hyundai dealership service center in August 2025. The current failure will be taken to the same service center for diagnosis. The vehicle and transmission are available for inspection. I am reporting this because the same symptom has led to transmission failure twice in only about 17 months of ownership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767691September 29, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Today, my Kona tried to kill me. I was traveling on a freeway in a construction zone. Road conditions were clear: no fog, precipitation, potholes or obstructions. Traffic slowed down to 30 mph as the rightmost lane becomes an exit only lane (and people exchanged between the middle and right lane). Traffic continued to flow freely around 50 mph in the left lane. I was in the middle lane, and after passing the off ramp my lane was clear for at least an eighth of a mile ahead (all visible traffic in front of me had taken the exit). I began to accelerate back up to freeway speeds when the "Automatic Emergency Braking" engaged for no reason. There was a curved driving path on the display (which read "Automatic Emergency Braking"), and it seemed like the car was trying to force me into the left lane (underneath a semi truck). I could feel the same motored pull that the Kona has while using the "lane keeping assistance" feature. But unlike the lane assist which takes 20 pounds to manually override, this took approximately 80 pounds of force to fight. Even fighting the turn, I was multiple feet into the left lane. The only reason I was not crushed by the wheels of the semi trailer is because the driver was hugging the left side of their lane. I was nearly rear-ended and the 4 cars behind me nearly had a pile-up because of this as well. My best guess is that it detected the cement barrier along the side of the curved road and incorrectly determined that I was on a collision path with it. Since it was a construction zone, the cement barrier was approximately 3 feet outside of the lane. In reality, this feature is not production ready and needs to be fixed/removed from the fleet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765879September 21, 2026
ENGINE
My radiator has coolant leak. I noticed the fluid getting low and the smell. I had to put fluid in 2-3 times the last month. I took it into the shop and they confirmed that it is the lower left part of the radiator that it’s leaking from and it has to get replaced. I did notice on a campaign 24\-EM\-005H\. for the Hyundai Kona 2022. But my VIN number wasn’t part of that. It is having the same leak and I have to get the radiator replaced. My car has 65000 miles on it so it wasn’t covered under warranty. It is in the auto shop now and will cost me over 1200 to get it fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766004September 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving my 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric at a low speed, pulling into a parking space, the electronic braking system suffered an immediate, catastrophic failure. Upon pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle completely failed to provide power brake assistance or slow down, resulting in a low-speed collision. The airbags did not deploy. Immediately following the crash, a diagnostic scan of the vehicle’s chassis network revealed active diagnostic trouble code C160404 (ECU Hardware Error / Internal Self-Test Failure), confirming a hard electronic fault within the Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) module. This vehicle platform has a documented history of dangerous IEB signal and software anomalies under past federal actions like NHTSA Campaign 20V748000, where regulators explicitly stated that these failures significantly reduce braking performance, extend stopping distances, and cause crashes. My vehicle suffered this exact failure mechanism, posing an immediate threat to life and property. I am requesting a formal federal investigation into this specific electronic brake computer failure to prevent further consumer injuries or collisions.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763673September 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission (7 speed DCT) partial failure causing intermittent lack of acceleration, bucking, violent shifts. No warning lights are displayed. Despite being only days and about 1000 miles beyond the warranty neither Hyundai nor the dealer show interest in repairing this except at my cost, which is not feasible.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755087August 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (POWER TRAIN); by the owner, but the remedy failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the issue would be escalated. The failure mileage was 27,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753892July 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
COMPONENT/SYSTEM: Air Conditioning (HVAC) / Climate Control System and closed-loop refrigerant lines. The vehicle and all climate control components are available for immediate inspection. SAFETY RISK: Total loss of cooling in peak summer heat (90°F-95°F+) causes cabin temperatures to rapidly exceed 110°F. This sudden heat trapped in the vehicle caused me (the driver) acute heat exhaustion, culminating in a medical fainting episode. The vehicle regularly transports my newborn baby and toddler, subjecting them to severe heatstroke risks. Additionally, an ongoing 4-year chemical refrigerant leak inside an enclosed EV cabin creates an active toxic inhalation hazard for all passengers. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Yes. The failure has been repeatedly confirmed and documented by authorized Hyundai dealerships, including Paramus Hyundai, Garvey Hyundai, and Liberty Hyundai. Technicians repeatedly measured zero refrigerant charge/pressure, performed UV dye tests, and completed major repairs including AC line and radiator rebuilds without resolving the leak. INSPECTION HISTORY: Yes. Inspected multiple times by authorized Hyundai dealership technicians under official Corporate Case Nos #42549212, #41020884, and #23781133. WARNING LAMPS/SYMPTOMS: No dashboard warning lamps or error messages ever appeared. The only symptom was the AC suddenly blowing boiling hot air as refrigerant leaked out. This failure first appeared in Summer 2022 (shortly after vehicle purchase) and has recurred every summer for 4 consecutive years despite repeated warranty repair attempts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743054June 9, 2026
TIRES
The tread came off the tire on the highway causing me to crash off I 75. The tires were made 6 of 2025 and the pressure was 31.5 according to the highway patrol officer on scene. I have the paperwork for the tires I purchased at Sams Club in Cape Coral Florida on 7/29/25. The tires are less than 11 months old and this shouldn't have happened. The tread damaged multiple parts of my car.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741721June 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Charging port door will not open. Not sure if it is an issue with acuator, which employee in service dept at dealer said that is common problem. Seems like if this issue with less than 20k, perhaps should also be recall item.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741719June 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Recall with car regarding coolant. Last year Hyundai apparently addressed; however, coolant light came on, despite coolant being full. Told by different dealership that with these issues, it needs to be checked and rechecked multiple times; otherwise, issues arise again (as in my case). Want this addressed by dealership. They are charging me a diagnostic fee of $198. Previously, when brought car in for recall work, equipment not always working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738915May 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle trunk doors pops open. This has been happening for several months. We’ve taken it to the dealership. They said that it was not covered and there has been no recall on this, but it’s still happening and it’s very dangerous. It’s happened on the freeway on the back roads at night it doesn’t matter it just when it feels like it wants to open up it beeps loudly and light comes on the dashboard as something is wrong and It will just pop open.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738820May 19, 2026
ENGINE
I purchased my 2022 Hyundai Kona on August 28, 2024, and I am the first registered owner. Only 48 days after purchase, the vehicle suddenly broke down without warning while stopped at a red light in [XXX] after traveling from [XXX] . The vehicle had to be towed. Since then, the vehicle has repeatedly experienced dangerous engine and timing-related issues despite major repairs, including an engine replacement, timing chain repairs, and multiple dealership inspections. The most dangerous incidents involve sudden power loss and large clouds of smoke while driving. On January 1, 2026, while attempting to pass a semi-truck on a multi-lane highway, the vehicle suddenly lagged, lost acceleration power, and emitted a large cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. This created an extremely unsafe situation because I was actively passing traffic at highway speeds and could have been struck by surrounding vehicles. I have also experienced these failures late at night on busy highways while traveling between [XXX] and [XXX] . In March 2026, the vehicle again emitted a large cloud of smoke and resumed lagging during acceleration. On April 23, 2026, Hyundai of Meridian informed me they personally witnessed the vehicle emit another large cloud of black smoke during test driving. These smoke events can reduce visibility for surrounding drivers and create hazardous roadway conditions. The vehicle has spent approximately 149 days in repair facilities, nearly 24% of the time I have owned it. Multiple dealerships documented timing chain slack, cam timing issues, and major engine concerns. Despite the recurring failures and safety concerns, Hyundai denied replacing the engine again and denied buying back the vehicle. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle due to the risk of sudden power loss, engine failure, and smoke emissions while driving in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730758April 13, 2026
ENGINE
In January 2026, my engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The dealership found a sudden loss of compression across all four cylinders, requiring a total engine replacement. This occurred without warning, only two months after a routine oil change at the same facility where no issues were reported. Despite opening a case with Hyundai corporate, there has been no progress. My research indicates that while NHTSA Recall 21V301 (Safety Recall 203) specifies 2019–2021 models, the 2022 model shares the same engine design and identical reports of stalling and compression loss. My vehicle has been at the dealership for three months with no resolution. The dealership says they are running tests requested by tech line without providing documentation of the tests or the results. Although, the initial test performed indicated that it was a compression ring issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724172March 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I found a lot of shaved metals when I did the oil change for the Gear Reduction. It made a lot of noises when driving or the wheel of fortune sounds whether the car is in Regenerative Braking. The sounds developed as time goes on but Hyundai failed to recall this issue. I found this has been an ongoing issue since 2019 when Hyundai make this Kona EV, but their engineers didn’t fix this type of issue and continue to manufacture the Kona EV with the same Gear Reduction Assembly and it caused a lot of noises with these shaving metals found in the oil changes. This is abnormal for a GRU to have so many metals found in the oil. Thus, it made a lot of noises. Now my car can’t even drive because of this. The GRU has been broken because of this issue that Hyundai didn’t even fix since 2019.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712162January 20, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle displayed a warning lamp indicating a Cooling System Performance failure. The specific defect relates to the Integrated Thermal-Management Module (ITM) and the thermostat opening prematurely, corresponding to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P218100. This issue requires a repair outlined in Technical Service Bulletin 25-EM-007H, involving a spring installation and ECU update. This failure creates a serious safety concern because improper thermal management can cause the engine to overheat or force the vehicle into a reduced-power 'limp mode' without warning. A sudden loss of acceleration or engine stall while driving in traffic significantly increases the risk of a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704314December 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
December 2025: Yet ANOTHER horn failure. Pressed the vehicle's horn to alert another driver that they were drifting into my lane on the highway, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make. It needed to be replaced again for the FOURTH time. Part 96611-J9500 was replaced—AGAIN. This is a continued safety issue that Hyundai has neglected to address and fix. Spontaneous horn failure is a HAZARD. The horn is there to warn others of possible danger.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704312December 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
August 2024: Horn malfunction/failure. Pressed the car's horn, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make to warn others of possible danger. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced for the third time. Part 96611-J9500 (Horn Assembly) was replaced for the THIRD time on this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704307December 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JANUARY 2024: HORN FAILURE. Pressed the car's horn, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make to warn others of possible DANGER. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced. Part 96611-J9500 was replaced AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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