2019 Hyundai Kona problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2019 Hyundai Kona has 193 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 1 of 2 Hyundai Kona model years by complaint volume. That is the highest of any year in the run — the 2022 car has 100. 1 recall entry cover this year.
Which recalls cover the 2019?
Engine
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Free 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.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Hyundai dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2019 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Hyundai Kona?
Across every Hyundai Kona year, not the 2019 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Engine — 125 reports
- Power Train — 36 reports
- Electrical System — 34 reports
- Unknown or Other — 32 reports
If your 2019 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Hyundai Kona years should you compare?
If you are deciding between years, the Hyundai Kona page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2019 before you commit
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